Chapter 120: The Imperial Court's New Policy

"Daoist, were there this many people in previous years?"

Sha Lifei was secretly shocked and hurriedly asked in a low voice.

"Naturally not."

Wang Fu's expression was solemn as he shook his head, "Mount Taibai's momentum is towering, and wind and rain are constant. Only in the midsummer of the sixth month does it begin to allow pedestrians, which is called 'Opening the Mountain.' Apart from this, in other seasons, the roads are blocked by fog and snow, and human footprints are rare, commonly known as 'Closing the Mountain'."

"Now that winter has entered, the roads on the mountain are becoming increasingly difficult to walk. Those devout pilgrims will go to the old temple halfway up the mountain, but those in the Mystic Sect will definitely want to reach the summit. The journey is dangerous, so there shouldn't be this many people."

Li Yan nodded, "Then it's highly likely that something has happened. Be careful after we go in and find out what's going on."

Having said this, the three jumped off their horses and led them toward the fortress.

The fortress gate was clearly renovated later, simply made of charred logs. At this moment, it was wide open, and no one was guarding the gate.

Upon entering, Li Yan discovered that it was a world of its own.

The entire fortress was similar to a small village, with an ancestral hall and a Three Officials Temple in the center, surrounded by six large mansions, and various large houses on the periphery, which should be things like warehouses and horse stables.

Of course, the buildings inside were more severely damaged, with many old houses having completely collapsed, only to be simply rebuilt by merchants.

Shop flags were fluttering, and there was a Bai Family Inn, as well as teahouses, wine shops, clothing and hat shops, and incense and candle shops, and even an iron smithy.

Though the sparrow is small, it has all the internal organs.

At this moment, it was nearing dusk, and with the high walls blocking the fortress, the light was dim. People had already lit lanterns, and the noise of people, the neighing of mules and horses, the steam rising from food shops, plus the witches and shamans walking past from time to time, gave it a rather bizarre and grotesque feeling.

"The three of you, do you want to stay at the inn?"

Before they could recover, a servant ran over, nodding and bowing to ask.

Wang Fu asked suspiciously, "In previous years, wasn't it called the Gao Family Inn? Why, has the proprietor changed?"

"How strange..."

The servant sneered, "Business always has gains and losses. If they couldn't make it work, they left. The inn has been taken over by our proprietor."

As he spoke, he raised his eyebrows and said, "To tell you the truth, our proprietor is a descendant of the Qin Dynasty's Divine General Bai Qi. Legend has it that this fortress was built by the Bai family. Speaking of which, it's all our proprietor's property..."

"You'd better stop."

A blacksmith happened to walk past and mocked upon hearing this, "In the Qin Dynasty, let alone whether there was a fortress, even if there were, it would have been gone long ago. And your proprietor, what the situation is, we know clearly in our hearts."

"A descendant of Divine General Bai, you actually dare to brag!"

The servant's face turned red, but he was clearly afraid of this blacksmith and dared not refute. He said viciously to Li Yan and the three, "Let's be clear first, 20 taels of silver a night, food not included, hot water is extra. Are you staying or not?"

Sha Lifei stared, "20 taels of silver, you're robbing us!"

The servant was fearless, stiffened his neck and shouted, "This is the market price now, the price is clearly marked, stay if you want, don't if you don't!"

Having said this, he turned and walked toward another new guest.

Sha Lifei was furious, but since this servant was so rampant, he must have something to rely on. Plus, being new to this place and unfamiliar with the situation, he could only hold it in for now.

The new guest was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a black robe, with a Seven-Star Sword and a peach wood sword on her back, wearing bamboo armor on the outside, and a soul-suppressing bell hanging at her waist. She had a heroic look and a face full of wind and frost; at a glance, she was someone from the Mystic Sect.

Contrary to their expectations, upon hearing the servant's quote, the woman nodded without hesitation, "Hmm, lead the way. One room, and feed my horse while you're at it."

"Yes, yes, please, guest!"

The servant was full of enthusiasm, nodding and bowing as he led the person away.

Before leaving, he turned around and shouted loudly, "Guest rooms are full. Guests who want to stay at the inn, wait until tomorrow."

Having said this, he turned and left quickly.

Sha Lifei was stunned, "Business is this hot?"

Li Yan looked at the woman's departing back and whispered, "Daoist, this woman is not simple. Can you tell what her background is?"

Just as he finished speaking, the woman turned her head abruptly, gave them a cold look, and then continued to follow the servant away.

It was the Ear supernatural ability!

Li Yan's expression did not change, but he was already vigilant in his heart.

This place gathered quite a few people from the Mystic Sect, all of whom had supernatural abilities. It seemed one had to be careful in speaking and acting.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

Wang Fu shook his head slightly, his eyes full of doubt.

However, trouble came again.

Wang Fu remembered that apart from the Bai Family Inn, there were some broken houses elsewhere in the fortress that could be used for a temporary rest, and it wouldn't matter since they were prepared to go up the mountain after one night.

But after walking around the fortress, every place that could shelter from the wind and cold had been occupied. People sat around campfires, and the looks they gave them were full of defensiveness.

"Brother, let me ask you something..."

"I don't know."

"Mountains and rivers all have their paths, where do you come from, brother?"

"Get lost!"

Sha Lifei inquired for news but also hit a wall; whether it was a smiling face or underworld slang, this group of people wouldn't take the bait.

Vaguely, everyone was guarding against each other.

"Damn it, this is really strange..." Sha Lifei cursed under his breath. The atmosphere here made him feel vaguely panicked.

Li Yan's heart stirred, remembering the blacksmith who had mocked them earlier, so he led the two to the front of the smithy.

Inside the smithy, the furnace was not lit for work.

The blacksmith was tall, with a full beard and bulging muscles, and was burning incense and worshipping with two apprentices.

Li Yan and the three did not disturb them and waited outside.

On the Lower Yuan Festival, some craftsmen had to worship the Furnace God. As for this Furnace God, it was Laozi, who burned furnaces and refined pills.

Being interrupted during worship was a great taboo.

After waiting for a full stick of incense, the blacksmith finished, wiped his hands, turned his head and said, "You all have good intentions, where do you come from?"

Perhaps it was because the three understood etiquette that his tone became much kinder.

Li Yan cupped his hands, "Returning to the senior, we come from Xianyang and are preparing to go up the mountain."

He had already seen that in this smithy, there was a lingering aura of scorching incense, so he should also be a craftsman of the Mystic Sect.

"Xianyang..." The blacksmith pondered for a moment, "Do you know Manager Wan of the Wensheng Pavilion?"

"We are very familiar with him!"

Sha Lifei was a climber who followed the pole, hurriedly trying to get close, "Our relationship is not ordinary. We lived in Shangyi Village for a while before. Does Old Brother also know Manager Wan?"

The blacksmith nodded, "Hmm, we have a friendship. A while ago, Manager Wan sent a batch of drums up the mountain and just left yesterday after coming down."

"Oh, what a pity, we missed him..."

With Manager Wan as a lead, the group soon became familiar.

The blacksmith's surname was Hong, named Hong Mushan. He was indeed a craftsman of the Mystic Sect, having taken over the shop from his master, and often worked for Daoist temples and shrines on the mountain, never worrying about business.

"Brother Hong, the atmosphere here is a bit wrong..."

Li Yan couldn't help but voice his doubts.

"You don't know?" The blacksmith was full of surprise.

"We've been on the road and haven't heard any wind."

"No wonder..."

After hearing Li Yan's explanation, the blacksmith shook his head, "Originally, there weren't many people at this time in previous years, but a big event happened before. Just after the Cold Clothing Festival, several National Preceptors of the Orthodox Sect in the imperial court submitted a memorial, saying that there were evil paths in the Jiangnan Circuit bewitching the villagers, hiding during the day and coming out at night, worshipping evil gods, and even calling themselves the 'Marshal of the Holy Duke,' attempting to rebel."

"The Emperor was furious and ordered the Mystic Sacrificial Division to strictly manage them. News has already spread that for the blessed lands occupied by the various Dharma lineages of the Orthodox Sect, from now on, to borrow the spiritual apertures, one must have a Daoist certificate issued by the Mystic Sacrificial Division."

"I heard it starts around after the New Year. That's why many people received the news and rushed over, wanting to take advantage of this last time to cultivate..."

Upon hearing this, the three looked at each other in dismay.

Sha Lifei said speechlessly, "This sounds like an excuse. It's clearly to borrow the blessed lands to control the Mystic Sect of the world."

Li Yan understood immediately upon hearing this.

"Knights use martial arts to violate prohibitions, scholars use literature to disrupt the law." If people in the Mystic Sect have ideas, it will be a disaster for the whole world.

The witchcraft chaos in the Han Palace, the Emperor's dream of immortality, the prophecy of the chaotic world, the famine causing civil unrest... successive dynasties have had a headache about this.

But just like the Jianghu, the Mystic Sect cannot be killed off. Moreover, the imperial court still needs to use them to soothe the hearts of the people and suppress evil spirits, so they can only focus on management.

Therefore, the Great Xuan Dynasty has a law: all people in the Mystic Sect, whether monks, Daoists, witches, or sorcerers, must register with the Mystic Sacrificial Division and be issued a Daoist certificate.

But just like gunpowder, it is repeatedly banned but never stopped. Many folk sorcerers simply ignore this decree, let alone those on the evil path.

!.

For sorcerers to build temples and cultivate, it is extremely difficult to succeed in ordinary places. Borrowing the spiritual apertures of blessed lands gives a greater chance.

It seems the imperial court wants to pinch this to restrain the Mystic Sect.

Li Yan neither cheats nor deceives, nor does he have the heart to harm people with sorcery, so he naturally does not exclude this. He even asked Luo Mingzi to help register, and he will go to Chang'an to collect his Daoist certificate before the New Year.

But this matter has added trouble for him.

The Doumu Temple on Mount Taibai will hold a grand ritual during the Winter Solstice, during which the blessed land apertures will be temporarily closed until the following year.

One must know that although the grotto-heaven mountain range is vast, the number of innate vital energy apertures that have been explored is very few.

With so many sorcerers, there will definitely be a struggle.

Thinking of this, Li Yan's heart stirred, and he asked, "Senior, with so many people paying high prices for accommodation, that Bai Family Inn is a bit wrong..."

He felt familiar with it just now. This situation seems to be the same as some scenic spot routines in his previous life.

"Isn't it!"

The blacksmith was angry when he heard this, "The original Boss Gao of the inn had a good relationship with us. Everyone guarded this fortress to make money, and the days were quite carefree."

"This guy surnamed Bai, relying on his relationship with the manager of the Daoist temple on the mountain, snatched Boss Gao's business and forced him to go far away."

As he spoke, he glanced at the direction of the inn and whispered, "After learning the news from the imperial court, the boss of the Bai Family Inn had ideas. Staying there is 20 taels a night."

"There is a mystery in this. What is collected is not accommodation money, but the opportunity to rent a spiritual aperture from the manager after going up the mountain!"

Sure enough!

Li Yan sneered; he had guessed correctly.

"Fool, I didn't expect this Mystic Sect holy land to be so foul!"

Sha Lifei cursed, but then asked, "Is there a chance if you buy a ticket? If so, 20 taels isn't expensive."

"Hehe!"

The blacksmith sneered, "Let's put it this way, since a few days ago, this boss has been selling tickets every day. I secretly estimated that at least 100 tickets have been sold."

"There are only a few spiritual apertures on the mountain. I think, when the time comes, I fear there will be another round of extortion, making you bid for rent or something..."

Sha Lifei was surprised, "Over 100 tickets, 20 taels each, it's easily 2,000 taels of silver just for a meeting."

"Black, too black!"

"Why didn't we have this opportunity..."

"Yeah."

Boss Hong echoed, and looking at Sha Lifei again, he inexplicably felt a sense of sympathy.

Wang Fu was a bit helpless, "I didn't expect this to happen. I fear the money we prepared is not enough. What should we do?"

They dug up a bandit stronghold in Xianyang and also had the spoils obtained from Chen Fagui, so their wealth was quite abundant.

After deducting the money for building the temple, there was still plenty left, so they were extravagant along the way—hiring people to carry coffins, renting carriages, good wine and tea, and enjoying the hot bath in Shangluo, so the expenses were indeed not small.

If it were bidding, it is estimated they couldn't compete with others.

Li Yan pondered for a moment and asked, "Senior, since you often go up the mountain to help, do you know a Daoist named Yu Linzi in the Doumu Temple?"

When he left Xianyang City, Luo Mingzi gave him a visiting card, telling him that if he had any inconvenience when he came to Mount Taibai, he should look for this Yu Linzi.

The Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect is huge, and Mingzi's Mystic Sacrificial Division and the Doumu Temple belong to different factions, but they are ultimately of the same sect and often interact.

Since he gave him the visiting card, it shows their relationship is extraordinary.

"Yu Linzi?"

The blacksmith was surprised and nodded, "Of course I know him. This person has extraordinary aptitude. At a young age, his cultivation has already reached the Third Floor, and his master is also a high-merit master of the Doumu Temple."

"If you can get him to help, this matter should be easy to handle, but there are too many people going up the mountain now, and I fear there are more than just you looking for connections to plead for mercy."

"Then let's leave overnight!"

Sha Lifei slapped his palm and said fiercely, "Anyway, we can't stay at the inn here, and it's no different from sleeping in the wilderness."

"Didn't the Daoist say that the road on Mount Taibai is not easy to walk? It's scorching hot in summer at the foot of the mountain, but covered in ice and snow on the mountain. Now it's winter and the mountain is closed, so quite a few people must be trapped on the road."

"As long as we walk fast, maybe we can grab one!"

Li Yan hesitated for a moment and looked at Wang Fu.

He and Sha Lifei were naturally fine, practicing martial arts all year round, with extraordinary endurance, so it didn't matter even if the journey was tiring.

Wang Fu was different, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold on.

"Don't worry about me."

Wang Fu laughed dumbfoundedly, "Although my footwork is not good, I have also traveled all over the place. Sometimes climbing mountains and crossing ridges for two or three days is a common occurrence."

"Alright then."

Li Yan stood up, "Let's buy some things and go!"

To go up the mountain, there were quite a few things to prepare.

Thick sheepskin coats, fire strikers, and some dry food.

It wasn't just one family taking advantage of the fire; these things were not worth much on weekdays, but now they were all doubling in price.

Li Yan and the others didn't bother with nonsense, bought them directly, deposited their horses in the stable, and left the fortress overnight.

The atmosphere in the fortress was clearly a bit wrong. Many people were silent, but in fact, they were all paying attention to the movements of others.

Seeing the three leave, some people's expressions changed, and they cursed in a low voice, "Going up the mountain at night, could they be fools?"

"Or... should we go too?"

"What's the rush, fellow Daoist? The mountain road is steep, and one slip will lead to a fall off the cliff. Besides, do you really think you can grab one if you go?"

"No rush, wait until tomorrow when my disciple sends money, then it won't be too late..."

Not mentioning the thoughts of these people, not long after Li Yan and the others left, inside the Bai Family Inn, the middle-aged woman with two swords on her back also left the fortress in silence.

Outside the fortress, the Heavenly Pole slowly raised three lanterns.

A vicissitudinous voice sounded:

"Fast for the Three Officials, the night of the Lower Yuan, the Water Official dispels disasters..."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 121 =====