[{"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-14":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},2262319,4415,"Chapter 14: The Moment You Step Out, You Enter the Jianghu","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Sha Lifei’s heart skipped a beat. “What’s up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew better than anyone that this kid wasn’t harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time he came here years ago, he thought: an old crippled man and a half-grown boy—what trouble could they cause?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just showing up to say hello was already giving them face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could say a word if word got out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So back then, he acted loud and careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he neglect proper etiquette—he barked orders, flaunting his senior status, demanding Li Yan prepare him wine and food, just to score a free meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was still young then, but he wasn’t one to be taken advantage of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did prepare the wine and food—plenty of it—but slipped in some castor bean powder, carefully dosed so the diarrhea wouldn’t hit until after he left the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had enraged Sha Lifei to no end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he was leading a team of seasonal laborers, and grain raids at Dragon Mouth weren’t a joke, he had no choice but to press on, vowing to teach the brat a lesson next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never entertained killing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had plenty of ways to handle a greenhorn kid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, under the guise of a sparring match, give him a solid beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he never expected Li Yan, using the power of the substitute spirit statue, trained like a man possessed—and by next year, he’d already made modest progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His experience was still lacking, but he wasn’t so easy to handle anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From then on, Sha Lifei became much more courteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, out of the blue, he called him over—was he looking for trouble, or trying to reclaim the position of leader of the seasonal laborers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Sha Lifei smiled on the surface, but grew quietly wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These young wolves just entering the Jianghu were the most ruthless, acting without restraint, willing to do anything to make a name for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t let me get tripped up here today…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he fretted inwardly, Li Yan spoke: “I heard you have connections with the Xuanmen. Could you introduce me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei froze, then exhaled in relief—and his curiosity flared. “What’s going on? You run into something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you get haunted? Or is your feng shui off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t answer directly. “Nothing serious. Just curious. Be honest—do you have this connection or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei immediately puffed out his chest, laughing heartily. “Don’t you know who I am? I’m Sha Lifei—friends everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On this Guanzhong road, there’s nothing I can’t settle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan’s blank expression, he glared. “What? You don’t believe me? I do know one person from the Xuanmen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a fire-dwelling Daoist—expert in Qimen Dunjia, divination by characters, fortune-telling, feng shui for graves and homes, exorcising ghosts and subduing demons—master of all. Wealthy families in Chang’an compete to invite him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei spoke with flying spittle, but Li Yan grew increasingly skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though an outsider, he’d had some exposure to folk customs in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just in Yi Shu alone, there were Ba Zi, Liu Yao, Plum Blossom Yi Shu, Liu Ren, Qimen Dunjia, Taiyi Shen Shu, Zi Wei Dou Shu… countless schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mastering one required immense effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those lacking talent couldn’t even get through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And exorcising ghosts and subduing demons? That sounded like pure fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, of course, didn’t know—he kept boasting: “His name is Wang Daoxuan. Rumor says he’s connected to the Tai Xuan Zhengjiao in Chang’an, and he’s even issued Wáng Bǎng in Xianyang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Li Yan’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tai Xuan Zhengjiao was the true orthodox Xuanmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And issuing Wáng Bǎng? Not just anyone had the qualification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wáng Bǎng was a funeral document listing the deceased’s birth and death dates, along with exact times for cremation and burial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only with a Wáng Bǎng could the authorities permit burial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Daya had once mentioned: those who issued Wáng Bǎng were almost always from the Xuanmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan guessed they also served as coroners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For cases of unclear death or poisoning, the yinyang masters had the authority to withhold the Wáng Bǎng, report it to officials, and even refuse to certify suspicious corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, Wang Daoxuan was likely a genuine insider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he could ask how to join Tai Xuan Zhengjiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Li Yan smiled, speaking more politely: “Then I’m in your debt, Uncle Sha. I’ll repay you properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei laughed, then shook his head. “But there’s a catch—you’ll have to come with me. You can join the team tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned. “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei clicked his tongue. “Wang Daochang is very busy. He follows strict etiquette—can’t expect him to come to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luckily, we’re heading to Xianyang—we’ll handle your matter along the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan thought for a moment. “Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei spoke half-truths and loved to boast, but Li Yan could tell—he only knew Wang Daoxuan, not well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was a lead. Maybe something useful would come from meeting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Xuanmen couldn’t wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d opened his Yang Six Roots—if something targeted him now, he had no Chuma Xian to advise him on warding off evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xianyang wasn’t far, but not close either—five or six days round trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking neighbors to look after his grandfather was no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him agree, Sha Lifei’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He waved dismissively. “Alright, it’s settled. We leave at dawn tomorrow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, he hurried off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his retreating figure, Li Yan shook his head slightly, turned, and went inside to pack for tomorrow’s journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, before dawn, hooves clattered closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Brother Yan, we’re off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei’s booming voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was already ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nearing Mangzhong—the heat was intense, so he wore only a black cotton short tunic, a straw hat for shade, a pack on his back, and the Guanshan knife slung across his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to his grandfather Li Gui’s door and knocked. “Grandpa, I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer came from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sighed, resigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d told him yesterday—his grandfather naturally refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this trip was vital for his future survival—he had to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he turned to leave, a frail voice came from within: “The Jianghu is dangerous. Stay sharp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan grinned, striding off confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he left, his grandfather Li Gui opened the door, watching the boy’s distant back, sighing softly, suddenly remembering Li Hu of long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, what is the Jianghu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Jianghu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Step outside this door—and you’re in the Jianghu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan once believed that, having lived two lives, nothing could excite him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he’d seen the neon lights and towering wonders of his past life—so even the most bustling capital of this world seemed merely ancient to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he stepped out of the village, he realized he was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow of Li Family Village faded. Yellow earth gullies, golden wheat fields, emerald forests, blue sky and white clouds—the grandeur of Guanzhong surged upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a world untouched by pollution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All things under heaven and earth seemed unusually clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the unknown Xuanmen, Li Yan felt himself become that boy again—curious, yearning for the world beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yan, why are you leaving too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Dan sidled up, interrupting his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black kid was just as excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Li Yan, this was his first time traveling far beyond Lan Tian County’s temple fair—he’d lost all his usual calm, chattering nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xianyang? I heard it’s way far…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder if we’ll catch a glimpse of Chang’an along the way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon he felt the hardship of the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They walked the official road under blazing sun; dust swirled on the dirt path, while golden wheat fields rippled like waves under the scorching summer wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that his coarse black clothing absorbing heat—he turned red-faced, sweat dripping steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei gathered about fifty wheat harvesters from several villages around Li Family Fortress, each carrying a pack and wielding a sickle and whetstone at their waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they set out, their clothing was still neat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, most had unbuttoned their shirts; some had even stripped off their tops entirely, bare arms glistening with copper-toned skin in the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Sha Lifei rode a horse, he was also sweltering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept taking off his waist water flask and stealing glances at Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Li Yan walked in silence, occasionally glancing at the surrounding scenery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group had set out early in the morning and kept walking without pause until noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Hei Dan was drenched in sweat, his vision darkening, his soles aching, his ankles weak, each step feeling as if he trod on cotton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was equally drenched in sweat, yet his expression remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of martial training, his foot strength far surpassed that of ordinary men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Sha Lifei glanced at the sky and, seeing the sun directly overhead, spoke: “Find a place to rest and wait out the scorching heat before continuing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still had two more days of continuous travel ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking at midday drained more energy, and the group included many elderly; better to conserve strength and walk farther during the cooler night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for staying at an inn, Sha Lifei hadn’t even considered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he were willing, these beggars wouldn’t spend a copper coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A resting spot was easy to find: not far ahead on the official road stood several large locust trees, their dense shade ample enough for everyone to lie down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Sha Lifei’s command, the group hurried forward, found spots beneath the trees, and pulled out hard grain buns, swallowing them with cold water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan also sat with his back against a tree, eating his dry rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was resolute; this journey was merely training for his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned, he could wander the Xianyang mule and horse market and see if the money he carried could buy a good horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clip-clop…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, a series of hoofbeats rang out in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan squinted, looked up, and immediately grew alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty or more riders approached, each mounted on swift horses, wearing wide-brimmed hats, some carrying long swords, others slinging short blades—clearly men of the Jianghu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Li Yan’s expression changed slightly, his hand gripping his sword hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smelled blood on these men…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s cultivation novels are too competitive—please help by clicking to follow even if you’re just saving the novel, thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1765,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ea11010b6faa254dfe615141258abea668e1900d03024e3a4f746c1514a52a00","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-15","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-13",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]