Chapter 120: The Court

“Master Dao, were there this many people in past years?”

Sha LiFei secretly startled, quickly whispering a question.

“Of course not.”

Wang Daoxuan’s face grew grave as he shook his head: “Mount Taibai stands imposing, with wind and rain ever-present; only during the peak heat of June do travelers pass through—this is called ‘Opening the Mountain.’ In all other seasons, fog and snow block the path, leaving it nearly deserted—commonly known as ‘Sealing the Mountain.’”

“Now that winter has arrived, the mountain roads have grown even more treacherous. Devout pilgrims go only as far as the old temple halfway up, but Daoists must reach the summit—yet the path is perilous, and there should never be this many people.”

Li Yan nodded: “Then something must have happened. Be careful once we enter—find out what’s going on.”

Saying this, the three dismounted and led their horses toward the wubao.

The wubao’s gate was clearly a later repair, crudely made from charred logs; now wide open, with no one guarding it.

Inside, Li Yan realized it was an entirely different world.

The entire wubao resembled a small village, with a ancestral hall and the Temple of the Three Officials at its center, surrounded by six large residences, and beyond them various big buildings—likely storehouses and stables.

Of course, the structures here were more severely damaged; many old houses had completely collapsed and were hastily rebuilt by merchants.

Shops flew colorful banners: there was a Bai Family Inn, tea houses, wine stalls, clothing and hat shops, incense and candle stalls, and even a blacksmith’s forge.

Though small, it had all the essentials.

Dusk was near, and the high walls blocked the light; lanterns had already been lit. Voices clamored, mules and horses neighed, steam rose from food stalls, and wandering shamans and sorcerers passed by—creating an eerie, surreal atmosphere.

“Three guests, would you like to stay the night?”

Before they could recover, a young servant scurried over, bowing and scraping as he asked.

Wang Daoxuan frowned: “A few years ago, wasn’t this the Gao Family Inn? Has the proprietor changed?”

“How strange…”

The servant sneered: “Business always has profits and losses—if you can’t make it, you leave. This inn is now under our master’s ownership.”

He raised an eyebrow: “To be honest, our master is a direct descendant of the Qin general Bai Qi. This wubao is said to have been built by the Bai family—so in truth, everything here belongs to our master…”

“You’re full of nonsense.”

The blacksmith, passing by, scoffed: “Back in Qin times, there wasn’t even a wubao—if there had been, it would’ve vanished long ago. And your master? We all know what he really is.”

“A descendant of General Bai? How dare you boast!”

The servant’s face flushed crimson, but he clearly feared the blacksmith and dared not retort. He turned to Li Yan and the others with a hostile tone: “Listen up—twenty taels per night, no meals included, hot water extra. Will you stay or not?”

Sha LiFei glared: “Twenty taels? You’re robbing us!”

The servant showed no fear, lifting his chin: “That’s the current rate—clearly posted. Stay if you want, leave if you don’t!”

Saying this, he turned and walked toward another new arrival.

Sha LiFei was furious, but the servant’s brazenness implied he had backing; since they were newcomers and unfamiliar with the situation, they could only hold their anger.

The new arrival was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a dark robe, carrying a seven-star sword and a peachwood sword, over which she wore bamboo armor, with a soul-stilling bell at her waist. Her face bore strength and weathering—clearly a Daoist.

To their surprise, upon hearing the price, she nodded without hesitation: “Alright, lead the way. One room, and help me feed my horse.”

“Yes, yes, honored guest, this way!”

The servant beamed, bowing deeply as he led her away.

Before leaving, he turned and shouted: “All rooms are full! Those wishing to stay must wait until tomorrow!”

Saying this, he swiftly departed.

Sha LiFei was stunned: “Business this booming?”

Li Yan watched the woman’s retreating back and murmured: “Master Dao, this woman is no ordinary person—can you tell what school she belongs to?”

As soon as he spoke, the woman suddenly turned her head, casting a cold glance at them, then continued following the servant.

Ear-spirit power!

Li Yan’s expression remained unchanged, but his mind tightened with caution.

This place attracted many Daoists, each with spiritual abilities—words and actions must be carefully chosen.

“Let’s find a place to stay first.”

Wang Daoxuan shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.

But trouble came again.

Wang Daoxuan remembered that, besides the Bai Family Inn, other ruined buildings in the wubao could serve as temporary shelter—they only planned to stay one night before ascending the mountain.

Yet after circling the entire wubao, every sheltered, windproof spot was occupied. Around bonfires, the occupants eyed them with clear suspicion.

“Brother, mind if I ask something…”

“Don’t know.”

“Mountains and rivers follow the Dao—where are you from?”

“Get lost!”

Sha LiFei tried gathering information, but met only rejection—whether with smiles or Jianghuchundian , none would respond.

Yinyinzhong , everyone guarded against each other.

“Damn it, this is weird…” Sha LiFei cursed inwardly; the atmosphere made him uneasy.

Li Yan’s mind stirred—he recalled the blacksmith who had mocked the servant—and led the two to the forge.

Inside the forge, no furnace was lit.

The blacksmith was tall and broad, with a full beard and bulging muscles, currently leading two apprentices in burning incense and offering worship.

Li Yan and the others did not interrupt, waiting outside.

On the Lower Yuan Festival, some craftsmen worship the Furnace God—this deity is Laojun, the ancient master of furnace and alchemy.

Interrupting such worship is a grave taboo.

They waited a full incense-burning period before the blacksmith finished, wiped his hands, and turned: “You’ve come with good intent—where are you from?”

Perhaps their courtesy softened his tone.

Li Yan bowed: “We come from Xianyang, preparing to ascend the mountain.”

He had noticed the lingering heat of incense within the forge—this man was clearly a Daoist artisan.

“Xianyang…” The blacksmith pondered. “Do you know Master Wan of Wensheng Pavilion?”

“We know him well!”

Sha LiFei seized the opening, quickly ingratiating himself: “We’re close—he once stayed with us in Shangyi Village. You know Master Wan too?”

The blacksmith nodded: “Yes, we have ties. Master Wan recently sent a batch of drums up the mountain; he descended just yesterday.”

“Too bad we missed him…”

With Master Wan as a link, the group soon grew familiar.

The blacksmith’s surname was Hong, Hong Mushan—a true Daoist artisan who inherited the forge from his master. He regularly worked for mountain temples and never lacked business.

“Brother Hong, the atmosphere here feels off…”

Li Yan couldn’t hold back his question.

“You don’t know?” Hong the blacksmith looked astonished.

“We’ve been on the road—heard nothing.”

“No wonder…”

After hearing Li Yan’s explanation, Hong shook his head: “Normally, this time of year, there are few people—but something major happened. Right after Cold Clothes Festival, several orthodox state Daoist masters petitioned the court, claiming that in Jiangnan, heretical Daoists were deceiving villagers, lurking by day and emerging at night, worshipping false gods, calling themselves ‘Holy Yuan General,’ and plotting rebellion.”

“The Emperor flew into a rage, ordering the Daoist Sacristy to tighten control. Rumors have spread: from now on, any orthodox sect wishing to use a spiritual aperture in a blessed mountain must obtain a Daoist Permit issued by the Daoist Sacristy.”

“It’s said this will begin after the New Year—so many have rushed here, hoping to practice during this final window.”

The three exchanged glances.

Sha LiFei muttered: “This is clearly an excuse—they’re using blessed mountains to control all Daoists.”

Li Yan instantly understood.

Warriors break laws with force; scholars disrupt order with words; if Daoists turn rebellious, they can plunge the entire realm into chaos.

From Han palace witchcraft scandals, emperors’ quests for immortality, rebellious prophecies in turbulent times, to famines sparking uprisings—every dynasty has struggled with this.

But like the Jianghu, Daoists cannot be eradicated—and the court still needs them to calm the people and suppress evil spirits—so control, not destruction, is the way.

Thus, the Da Xuan Dynasty has a law: all Daoists—monks, priests, shamans, or sorcerers—must register with the Daoist Sacristy and receive a Daoist Permit.

But like gunpowder, this law is repeatedly flouted; many folk sorcerers ignore it entirely, let alone heretics.

!.

Sorcerers seeking to build spiritual towers find it nearly impossible to succeed in ordinary places; using spiritual apertures in blessed mountains greatly increases their chances.

The court clearly intends to choke off this lifeline to control Daoists.

Li Yan neither deceives nor uses magic to harm others—he had no objection, and even asked Luo Mingzi to help register him; he planned to collect his Daoist Permit in Chang’an before the New Year.

But this matter now brought him trouble.

The Doumu Courtyard on Mount Taibai holds a grand ritual on Winter Solstice, during which the spiritual aperture will be sealed until next year.

Though the mountain range is vast, the known primordial Gangqi apertures are exceedingly few.

With so many sorcerers, competition will be fierce.

Thinking of this, Li Yan’s mind stirred—he asked: “Master, why are so many paying high prices to stay? The Bai Family Inn seems suspicious…”

He had felt something familiar—this situation resembled certain tourist traps from his past life.

“Exactly!”

Hong the blacksmith grew angry: “The former owner, Master Gao, was a good man—we all got along, making a decent living from this wubao.”

“This Bai fellow, using his kinship with the temple’s overseer, seized Master Gao’s business and drove him out of town.”

He glanced toward the inn and whispered: “After hearing the court’s decree, the Bai family’s owner hatched a scheme—charging twenty taels per night here.”

“It’s not for lodging—it’s a ticket to secure a chance to rent a spiritual aperture from the overseer after you climb the mountain!”

Indeed!

Li Yan sneered; his guess was correct.

“Coward! Who’d have thought even this sacred Xuan Gate site is corrupt and foul!”

Sha Lifei cursed, then asked: “If you buy a ticket, do you get a chance? If so, twenty taels isn’t too much.”

“Heh!”

Hong the Blacksmith sneered: “Let me put it this way—since a few days ago, the boss has been selling tickets daily. I’ve secretly counted; he’s sold at least a hundred already.”

“There are only a few spiritual orifices on the mountain. I suspect they’ll scramble to auction off leases afterward…”

Sha Lifei gasped: “A hundred tickets, twenty taels each—that’s two thousand taels just for a glimpse!”

“Rip-off! Pure rip-off!”

“Why didn’t we get this chance…”

“Yeah.”

Hong the Boss murmured in agreement, then looked at Sha Lifei and felt an unexpected kinship.

Wang Daoxuan sighed helplessly: “Didn’t expect this to happen. Our funds may not be enough—what do we do?”

They had plundered the bandit stronghold near Xianyang and seized spoils from Chen Fa’s puppets—quite a fortune.

After deducting the cost of building the Lingguan, they still had plenty left, so along the way they spent lavishly: hiring porters for the coffin, renting carriages, drinking fine wine and tea, and enjoying hot springs in Shangluo—expenses were substantial.

If it comes to bidding, we won’t stand a chance against others.

Li Yan paused, then asked: “Elder, since you often assist on the mountain, do you know a Daoist named Yulinzi in the Doumu Court?”

When he left Xianyang, Luo Mingzi gave him a letter of introduction, instructing him to seek out Yulinzi if he encountered trouble on Taibai Mountain.

The Tai Xuan Zhengjiao sect is vast; Luo Mingzi’s Xuan Jisi and the Doumu Court belong to different factions, yet they are still fellow disciples and frequently interact.

The fact he gave me this letter means their bond is close.

“Yulinzi?”

Hong the Blacksmith was startled, then nodded: “Of course I know him—he’s exceptionally gifted. At a young age, he’s already reached the Third Floor of Dao cultivation, and his master is a high-ranking Daoist of the Doumu Court.”

“If you can get him to help, this matter should be manageable. But now too many people are climbing the mountain—chances are, others are also seeking favors.”

“Then let’s leave tonight!”

Sha Lifei clapped his hands hard: “We can’t even get a room here—sleeping in the wild is no different.”

“Didn’t the Daoist say the paths up Taibai Mountain are treacherous? Below, summer is scorching; above, snow blankets the peaks. Now it’s winter, the mountain’s closed—many must be stranded on the road.”

“If we move fast, maybe we can snatch one of the spots!”

Li Yan hesitated, glancing at Wang Daoxuan.

He and Sha Lifei had no issue—they trained daily, their endurance extraordinary, fatigue meant nothing.

Wang Daoxuan was different—he might not hold up.

“Don’t worry about this Daoist.”

Wang Daoxuan chuckled wryly: “Though my legs aren’t strong, I’ve traveled far and wide—climbing mountains for two or three days straight was common.”

“Good.”

Li Yan rose: “Let’s buy supplies and go!”

Preparing for the climb requires many things.

Thick sheepskin coats, fire-starters, some dried rations.

Many were taking advantage of the chaos—these items, usually cheap, now doubled or tripled in price.

Li Yan and the others didn’t waste time—bought them outright, left their horses at the stable, and departed the wubao under cover of night.

The wubao’s atmosphere was clearly off—many sat silent, yet all watched others’ movements.

Seeing the three leave, some immediately changed expression, muttering: “Climbing at night? Are they fools?”

“What if… we go too?”

“Why the rush, friend? The mountain paths are perilous—one misstep and you’re dead. Besides, do you really think you’ll get a spot just by showing up?”

“No rush—I’ll wait until tomorrow when my disciple brings the money…”

Leaving aside these thoughts, shortly after Li Yan’s group departed, the middle-aged woman with twin swords at the Bai family inn silently left the wubao.

Outside the wubao, three lanterns slowly rose on the pole.

A weathered voice intoned:

“Offering to the Three Officials, on the Lower Yuan Night, the Water Official relieves calamity…”

(End of Chapter)