[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-13":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262318,4415,"Chapter 13: Sha Li Fei","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-13",13,"\u003Cp>Dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this news, Li Yan was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course he’s dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gui cursed: “That dog Yuan Xizhong—he’s older than me, and back when we crushed the northern frontier rebellion, he came back covered in wounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten years ago we heard he was bedridden, suffering for three whole years before he finally died, skin and bones from starvation. His kids were no better—committed grave crimes, got the whole family executed. Served them right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s how it was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan scratched his head after hearing this, feeling uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like you’d planned to kill someone, only to find they’d already been run over by a cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan couldn’t help asking again: “What exactly happened back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandfather Li Gui smoked in silence for a long while before speaking: “Fine. It’s been so long—I don’t want to carry this grudge into the afterlife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’d already entered the white mountains and black waters. We’d crushed Guo Mao, the northern frontier traitor, and broken the allied barbarian tribes that had joined his rebellion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because the previous dynasty’s Great Xing and the Golden Yurt Khanate stood opposed across the north, there were still many Han villages left. But Yuan Xizhong went mad—he burned every single village along the way, even the old, weak, sick, and helpless Han civilians…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My old comrades and I merely voiced objections—and he had us publicly whipped ten times each, mocking us with cruel words…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that were all, fine—war is brutal, and innocent deaths aren’t rare. But when a group of Jurchen royalty escaped, he acted blind, ignoring them completely…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We reported this to General Zhang, but he blocked us outside the camp. Yuan Xizhong sabotaged us again—he rose steadily in rank, while we were forced to lay down our arms and return to farming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, court politics are dark, the jianghu is treacherous—what’s wrong with living peacefully as a simple farmer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s how it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan pondered, sensing something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Grandfather’s account, Yuan Xizhong had been only a junior officer during the northern frontier campaign—his promotion and wealth came later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial plaques bestowed by court, sorcerers’ tricks, the precious Three Talismans of Demon-Sealing coins…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of these were things Yuan Xizhong could have arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who cast the curse must be someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What grudge could drive someone to pay such a heavy price?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandfather, what happened to your old comrades?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the first few years after we returned home, we occasionally exchanged letters—but then contact vanished. Most are probably old or dead by now, few left…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man sighed at this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed into the distance, smoking his long pipe, lost in memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan asked no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was certain now—there was more to this story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he had no intention of telling Grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was frail, in poor health, had just broken the curse and put the past behind him—if he learned his father’s death was sabotage tied to Li Yan himself, it might break him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly, this world has demons and spirits—if the old man died with a bitter grudge, his soul would never rest, and that would be Li Yan’s sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feud? Let the younger generation settle it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After changing the subject casually, Li Yan returned to his room, fried two simple dishes, ate them with steamed buns, and shared a few cups of wine with Grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared indifferent, but had already made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who cast the curse would eventually show themselves—and when they did, he’d repay them tenfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, the most urgent thing was to enter the Xuan Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Du Daya, Sha Li Fei knew these people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he didn’t rush to find Sha Li Fei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: summer harvest was coming—this man would come knocking soon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the Li family had some history with Sha Li Fei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei’s real name was Sha Guangsheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old saying: traveling the jianghu is about profit, and about fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, building a reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But reputation is usually given by others—for example, Li Yan’s father, Li Hu, earned the nickname “Sick Tiger,” meaning he seemed unremarkable until he struck, then he roared like a tiger descending the mountain, fierce and brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “Sha Li Fei” was a name he gave himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded imposing, but those in the know laughed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the man was slick, skilled at reading the wind and adjusting his stance, well-versed in jianghu rules, so he never suffered major losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, “Sha Li Fei” became his true name—even many forgot his real one…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a blade-wielder doesn’t mean slashing people every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traveling the jianghu means building a reputation and earning your keep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though risking your life for pay is profitable, it’s not constant—these aren’t chaotic times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, only those with a strong reputation get hired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Famous blade masters in a region are often kept on retainer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But young upstarts or failed old blade-wielders must find ways to survive—they can’t just starve to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their usual paths were three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One: join a famous blade master, escorting caravans, guarding gang strongholds, or smuggling salt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two: become bandits. Several notorious outlaws on the Guanzhong road had once been blade-wielders—either unwilling to work hard, or refusing to serve others, preferring to take their meals with their blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three: become lone wanderers—do whatever you can before gaining fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, his father, when young, each harvest season organized teams of wheat harvesters from nearby villages to work elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an old custom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost every wheat-harvesting crew had a blade-wielder as leader—this ensured they got good jobs and protection against landlords turning hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they’d take a cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, they were like contractors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after becoming famous, Li Hu kept doing this job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, he didn’t care about the meager pay—he wanted to protect his fellow villagers and earn a good name, avoiding gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he’d only help arrange work—never took payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his father’s death, the wheat harvesters in several villages lost their leader. That’s when Sha Li Fei showed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father, besides his family’s martial arts, had once studied under a renowned blade master. Sha Li Fei had been one of the disciples too—technically, they shared the same master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But later, their paths diverged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father had carved out a name for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei, however, still wandered village to village in Guanzhong, earning pennies from common folk, never daring to approach Changancheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading wheat harvesters was still a profitable gig—he wasn’t about to let it slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his annual visits, that was jianghu custom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever arriving in a new place, you paid respects to the local power—acknowledging you were eating on someone else’s turf—and if you benefited from your master’s legacy, you owed yearly tribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Sha Li Fei’s slippery nature, he’d never give anyone cause to complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, each visit he’d just bring some random pastries, barely enough to appease them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, he should be arriving soon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, a lone rider galloped down the official road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse was a yellow-maned steed, old but sure-footed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On its back sat a man in gray cloth and black trousers, tall and broad, twin blades at his waist, face heavy with muscle and thick beard, radiating brute strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most striking was his bald head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiny with oil, gleaming under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Sha Li Fei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Sha Li Fei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few children at the entrance of Li Family Village shouted excitedly upon seeing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind anything else—Sha Li Fei’s appearance was impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least to these children, he looked exactly like a legendary jianghu hero, and they cheered with flushed faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their eyes, this was what a true jianghu man should be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan in the village was a blade-wielder too—but he was prettier than a drama prince, sharper and more troublesome, nothing like a real hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the children’s cheers, Sha Li Fei felt delighted and burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tugged the reins—the yellow-maned horse reared up, neighed, then charged into the village, the children clapping wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the horse galloped over the yellow earth, two copper coins clinked to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hearty voice echoed through the air:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kids, go buy candy with this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the village, Sha Li Fei rode around once, ringing his copper gong loudly: “Listen up! Anyone wanting to earn money—bring your gear and follow me tomorrow morning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reaper’s three essentials: sickle, whetstone, and bedding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, labor is scarce, so employers are willing to pay well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news was already common knowledge, so anyone hoping to earn money had long prepared their tools and rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would head toward Xianyang and Xingping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they worked fast, finished there, and turned back, they’d just make it home in time to harvest their own wheat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Sha Lifei’s voice, many came out to inquire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sha, how much will you pay this year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sha, have you already arranged any deals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the repeated “Master” flattered Sha Lifei, he still kept a stern face, rubbed his bald head, and growled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why ask so much? Follow Sha Lifei, and you won’t go hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he dismounted and tossed the reins carelessly aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shuzhu, feed my horse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving the order, he took a paper-wrapped bundle of pastries from his saddle, hummed a tune, and walked toward Li Yan’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the door, he met the old man Li Gui, who was about to go play chess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei laughed heartily and bowed. “Old Man Li, you’re looking fit! I’ve come to visit you—these are osmanthus cakes from Xiangyuan Pavilion in Chang’an, a real delicacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Don’t come next year!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gui snorted, leaned on his cane, and walked off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man despised Sha Lifei—too slick, full of lies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Osmanthus cakes from Xiangyuan Pavilion…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he got his hands on something like that, Sha Lifei stuffed his own belly first—he’d never give it away. These were plainly bought casually in Lantian County, just to fool people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, this man’s visit was just a formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only sought to boost his own reputation, always making a loud, showy spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei had the thickest skin; seeing the old man’s reaction, he didn’t care at all, laughed loudly, and walked in with the gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was practicing martial arts: a fierce Tiger Climbs the Wall, then twisted his body, raised his left elbow, and followed with a Lotus Hidden Beneath the Leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei cried out in approval, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He too practiced Hong Quan, spent years wandering the martial world, and had sharp eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Hong Quan proverbs say, “Hands are two gates, legs do the striking,” and “Hands strike three parts, legs strike seven,” technique is the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, supporting hands with cloud hands—strike, and none in the world can match you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Binghu’s son, though young, has already grasped its essence; every motion sends a roar of fist-wind, bones and sinews crackling—he’s reached the peak of Ming Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, he may even surpass his father!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei already felt a pang of regret, silently planning: next year, bring something decent as a gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he kept fooling around like this, he might face trouble later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he rubbed his bald head and laughed. “Young Master Yan, keep at it—I’ve urgent business, no time to disturb you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he set down the gift and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan finally spoke with a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Sha, don’t rush off—I have a question for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s novel is too competitive; even if you’re just keeping it, please help click and follow. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1975,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8d5fb3e322fe3556dd8f1b0a0a36eeb369615df5ef31fdf810525b5017d2cdbd","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-14","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-12",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]