Chapter 160

"A place of Yin evil?"

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and pondered. "Although Changancheng has the Chenghuang amnesty and troops stationed, and has the gathering of dragon vein energy, there are indeed quite a few places of Yin evil, mostly related to funerals."

"There are burial grounds in all directions of Changancheng. The common people of Chang'an County mostly bury their dead in the west, and the common people of Wannian County bury their dead in the east of the city."

"The imperial court manages funerals strictly. When burying, one must approve the disaster list and register with the yamen. There are relatively few people who die unnatural deaths, and with the Buddhist and Daoist gates releasing the 'flaming mouth' at fixed times every year, it is difficult to form a place of Yin evil."

"So, you have two choices."

"One is north of the city, up from Longshou Plain to the Wuling Plain area. It not only has Qin and Han palaces but also many large tombs."

"At that time, the Fangxian Dao laid out the layout. The tombs are dangerous, not only with heavy mechanisms but also with Yin soldiers buried with them. Countless tomb robbers have died inside. During the war, armies broke into tombs to dig for treasure, often causing disasters, so quite a few places of Yin evil have formed..."

"The second is south of the city. Through successive wars, several mass graves have truly been created, far larger than the one in Xianyang City, and they are still in use today."

"I heard that the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect often holds ritual altars to dispel disasters and suppress evil, but things like evil energy are born from heaven and earth and correspond to the Gang energy."

"The innate Gang energy of the blessed land of the cave heaven has not dissipated for millions of years, so evil energy naturally cannot be easily eliminated; it can only be suppressed to avoid causing disasters..."

After listening to Wang Daoxuan's account, Li Yan pondered for a moment. "Let's choose the mass grave south of the city. The tombs north of the city are dangerous; let's take it step by step."

"Daoist, I need to prepare some things..."

Li Yan said, handing over the list he had already written.

After Wang Daoxuan took it and looked at it a few times, "Incense, candles, gold ingots, yellow paper, and the like, I have prepared quite a bit. Only these lotus lamps and soul-guiding incense must be bought at the Chenghuangmiao."

"Fine, I'll go handle it today."

Li Yan nodded, his brow furrowed slightly.

These were all necessary items for the "Northern Emperor Yin Mountain Method" ritual, and there were no overly expensive magic artifacts.

What he was worried about was Luo Mingzi.

He had gone a few times during this period, but the other party was not there, and even most of the Daoists of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect had been sent out.

When asked for the reason, the remaining Daoists wouldn't say.

To be able to make the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect go out in full force, it definitely wasn't a small matter, but it just so happened that no wind was leaked, which seemed a bit strange.

Some things, only after entering the Mystic Sect could one know.

What the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect had to face was not just the evil ways of the Jianghu.

Maintaining dragon veins, suppressing national destiny, and holding the Luo Tian Great Ritual to dispel disasters and drive away evil were their proper business.

Some things, even thunder methods were difficult to solve.

Just like the Yellow River Stone Dragon Coffin they had heard of before, not only did the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect take action, but even the experts of the Chang'an Mystic Sect's pole-bearers went out in full force to transport it steadily to Mount Wangwu, borrowing the blessed land of the cave heaven to suppress it.

Open the coffin? They didn't dare at all.

No matter what kind of divination method was used, it indicated a great ominous disaster!

Luo Mingzi and the others, perhaps they went to deal with similar matters...

……

Knock, knock, knock!

Just after breakfast, someone knocked on the courtyard door.

Li Yan was still in the room, and Sha Lifei, who was preparing to go out, went to open the door, and soon the sound of an argument rang out.

"Why are you like a ghost, lingering on..."

"Heh, what a coincidence, I ran into you, this jinx, early in the morning."

"Your mouth is still as stinky as ever!"

"Likewise..."

Hearing this, Li Yan shook his head slightly.

He had already guessed who was coming.

Sure enough, after going out, he saw Sha Lifei blocking the courtyard door, arguing with a short, dead-fish-eyed man.

The two were sarcastic, their mouths full of filth.

However, there was not the slightest intention of falling out.

The visitor was Zhang Shitong from the Zhang Martial Arts Hall in Xianyang.

"Feng Feng Shixiong Zhang, long time no see."

Li Yan smiled and cupped his hands, stopping the two from arguing.

"Indeed."

Zhang Shitong stared with his dead-fish eyes and said in a sarcastic tone, "You became famous in Chang'an, and in the blink of an eye, you forgot your old friends, right?"

"Father sent me to bring you some year-end gifts. I didn't expect to be blocked at the door. What great majesty!"

Li Yan gave a dumbfounded laugh and shook his head. "How could that be? Feng Feng Shixiong Zhang, please come in."

This Zhang Shitong was good in every other way, except that his mouth was stinky, and he was proud of it, liking to argue with everyone he met.

It could only be said that he was still alive today entirely because of his father, the head of the Xianyang Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui, who was also stinky-mouthed but had extraordinary skills.

Seeing that Li Yan wasn't taking the bait, Sha Lifei also gave a hum and turned to leave. Zhang Shitong felt bored and waved his hand, and immediately the martial arts hall disciples carried large and small boxes into the door.

"Just some flower buns, and wine and meat..."

Zhang Shitong said listlessly, "Father said that during the year-end, the restaurants are all closed, and you three rough men must have something to entertain guests."

"The old man is probably unaware that you kid are doing better than your father in the brothel, so why would you look down on these?"

"It's all rumors!"

Li Yan denied it categorically, while feeling somewhat helpless.

It was just drinking and singing, how did the reputation become like this?

He thought and thought, and there was only one possibility:

But Bai Ruoxu only used the force from left and right, and after a few back-and-forths, he landed steadily on the ground and looked forward.

His eyes also lost patience, "With so many tools, you must be a thief's den; it's just right to wipe you all out at once!"

"It has nothing to do with others!"

Zhao Wanfang's face changed slightly, and she said in a deep voice, "My grudge with you is personal; even if you hadn't come today, I would have waited for an opportunity to strike."

"I've fallen today; kill or carve me as you please, but don't implicate others!"

"Personal grudge?"

Li Yan was thoughtful, "Whom of yours did I kill? Tell me, so I can have a count."

Since entering the martial world, he didn't know how many people had died under his hands.

Although there were reasons for every strike, these people, after all, hadn't just popped out of a crack in a stone.

It was no surprise that someone was seeking revenge.

Zhao Wanfang gritted her teeth, "It wasn't you, it was your father!"

"My father?"

Li Yan's head swelled upon hearing this, and then his brow furrowed, "Nonsense, looking at your age, how could you be related to my father?"

"Hahaha..."

Zhao Wanfang gave a desolate laugh, her eyes full of misery, "Back then, your father had an incident at the Jincui Pavilion, which brought revenge from people in the martial world. My mother and aunt were all buried in the sea of fire."

"Do you know how much suffering I've endured all these years? I didn't want to live long ago, it's just a pity I didn't take you with me..."

Li Yan's eyes narrowed, "You are a survivor from back then?"

This time he came to Chang'an, naturally he was following up on the investigation of that year's events, but unfortunately, the Jincui Pavilion had been burned, and the official records also said everyone had died.

He didn't expect that one had actually been left behind...

Thinking of this, he whispered a few words in Zhao Wanfang's ear, then pushed her away and let her go.

Zhao Wanfang rolled away, picked up the round fan from the ground, holding it like a backhanded dagger in front of her, her eyes uncertain, "What you said, is it true?"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "This matter is secret. If you want to find the murderer alive, don't make a scene. I will come to talk to you in detail tonight."

Zhao Wanfang's eyelids trembled, "Good!"

Although she practiced martial arts, she was only at the peak of Ming Jin and hadn't yet stepped into An Jin. This time was also a desperate strike, wanting to use her beauty to lure him and slash him when Li Yan was unprepared.

The blades were all quenched with deadly poison, intending to die together.

But Li Yan's strength was clearly not something she could contend with, and the matter he mentioned also raised her suspicions. The two's movements left Hei Dan completely confused.

One moment intimate,

One moment drawing knives,

Could this be the martial world?

Li Yan naturally didn't know what Hei Dan was thinking. He stared at Zhao Wanfang and said in a deep voice, "We'll talk about this later. Besides, there is another matter I need to trouble you with, Miss."

Hearing him finish the cause and effect, Zhao Wanfang was silent for a moment, then turned to the door, her expression returning to normal. She pulled the door open and said in a delicate voice, "Hu Dengzi, go, invite Master Bai over."

Zhao Wanfang had some status in this Qingyuan Pavilion, so the head waiter hurriedly went to invite the person, and soon an old man came up, his face full of joy.

This old man was thin and withered, with a dog-skin plaster stuck to his neck, and the seams of his clothes were torn; clearly, he wasn't doing well.

He had originally thought it was a wealthy guest wanting to watch a play, but seeing everyone in the room, he was stunned for a moment, his eyes complex, and then he squeezed out a smile, "Junior Feng Feng Shixiong Li, it's you, long time no see."

"Feng Feng Shixiong Bai..."

Seeing the old man, Li Laogan had originally been a bit excited, but hearing this, his body trembled, and he said in disbelief, "Is... is it you?"

"What is Junior Feng Feng Shixiong Li saying? I don't understand."

!.

A flash of panic crossed the old man's eyes, but he was feigning ignorance.

"You old bastard!"

Li Laogan was instantly enraged, coming up to grab his clothes, "We were fellow disciples, I treated you well, why did you harm me!"

Li Yan watched coldly from the sidelines, shaking his head slightly.

The so-called "guilty conscience," the old man had given himself away as soon as he came up.

Li Laogan had come to help him before, and now that he had come to his door in such a down-and-out state, the other party neither cared about what had happened recently nor asked why they hadn't seen each other for so long, which only proved one thing:

He knew Li Laogan's situation, and even knew the inside story.

Being torn at by Li Laogan, the old man didn't fight back. He was silent at first, then could no longer hold back, tears streaming down his face as he knelt on the ground, "Junior Feng Feng Shixiong, I have failed you..."

With snot and tears, he told the reason.

It was still the trouble caused by gambling.

After their master left, their troupe's situation went from bad to worse. Unable to survive locally, they thought of the prosperity of Changancheng, thinking they could always find a meal there.

However, Changancheng was prosperous, and there were even more capable people.

The experts playing shadow puppetry here were not just from Shanzhou.

Not to mention the Huayin Old Tune troupe, experts from Shuzhong, Qilu, and all over gathered here, all with unique skills.

With just their two tricks, they could only survive on the streets, hungry one meal and full the next. Later, it was only through connections that they managed to take root in this Qingyuan Pavilion.

Although they could eat, they couldn't save a single penny.

Plus, this Pingkang Ward was the liveliest place in Chang'an, and the prosperity dazzled the eyes; the young people in the troupe inevitably felt unbalanced in their hearts.

Why could others eat big fish and meat while they were lowly lives!

Li Laogan had some wealth at the time and was dressed luxuriously when he visited. Although he meant well to help, it made those young people even more unwilling, and they instigated Master Bai to plead for them, wanting him to pass on the craft of making spirit leather to them.

Although Master Bai was also jealous, he still had principles and knew this was a conscience-less act, so he scolded those young people and didn't mention it.

Not long after, those few people became addicted to gambling.

Thinking of getting rich overnight, they instead lost everything and owed a large sum of money to the gambling den.

Things had reached this point, and they hardened their hearts, uniting to cheat to win the money back.

What kind of place was a gambling den? It was full of experts, and they were exposed on the spot. In the middle of the night, they tied the few of them up and told Master Bai to bring silver to redeem them.

Otherwise, the next day, he could wait to collect the corpses.

How could Master Bai have money? He begged bitterly.

Those young people were afraid in their hearts, so they shouted loudly for the people in the gambling den to go find Li Laogan for compensation.

One of them even leaked the bottom, telling the source of Li Laogan's craft.

This attracted the attention of the people in the gambling den. One of the leaders immediately said the debt could be cleared, but made them write down the cause and effect of this matter one by one with a pen.

They returned by luck, each one terrified.

Not long after, the news of Li Laogan's incident came...

"Bring those few up!"

Hearing this, Zhao Wanfang was also full of disgust.

Soon, those young people were brought over. Perhaps because their characters were tainted, each one looked like a thief.

Seeing Li Laogan, they immediately knew the matter had been exposed.

"Old Man Li, it has nothing to do with me, it was all his idea..."

"Fart, wasn't it you who said it first?"

One of them even stiffened his neck and shouted, "Damn, what are you afraid of? Back then this old thing provoked unclean things and even sucked my father's essence; this matter isn't over yet!"

"Also, our troupe is down and out, it must be this old dog who caused trouble and ruined our luck; he still has to compensate us for our money!"

"Right, compensate us!"

Those few brats seemed to have gained courage and stood up together to curse.

"Compensate your mother's ball!"

Hei Dan was already furious and came up to beat them.

He had practiced boxing since he was a child, and although he hadn't practiced it into any shape, he was more than enough to deal with these brats, immediately beating them until they wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves.

"Eh~"

Things had reached this point, and Master Bai was also full of regret. He opened his mouth, wanting to plead for mercy, but only sighed and lowered his head, saying no more.

"Hei Dan, stop!"

Li Laogan gave a shout, stopping Hei Dan.

Looking at this chaotic scene, he was also in a complex mood and sighed, "Why did you have to do this."

"That craft must have a spirit root to be learned, otherwise it will surely bring disaster. I didn't even dare to pass it on to my own nephew, let alone you."

"Even if one of you had a spirit root, without Feng Feng Shixiong Bai saying it, I would have passed this art down..."

"You go, from now on, our relationship is severed!"

At this time, Zhao Wanfang suddenly spoke again, coldly saying, "Master Bai, although people in the martial world cheat and trick, there is also a taboo: villains who return evil for good are not welcomed anywhere."

"The wind in the martial world is strong; you can't stay in this Changancheng anymore..."

"Wait!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "First speak clearly, which gambling den is it, and what is the name of the one who tricked your words?"

Master Bai on the side was already full of shame and spoke directly, "It is the Jin Bao Gambling Den, the one who tricked our words was a young scholar."

"We don't know him, but we heard someone beside him call him Third Feng Feng Shixiong."

"Jin Bao Gambling Den?"

Li Yan's brow furrowed slightly, thoughtful.

There was also a Jin Bao Gambling Den in Xianyang City, rumored to have a relationship with some noble in Chang'an; these two places probably had a connection...

"Let's go, go to Jin Bao Gambling Den to find someone."

"Master Bai, I trouble you to follow and help identify them."

Li Yan nodded slightly to Zhao Wanfang, then took Hei Dan's uncle and nephew, as well as Master Bai, and headed toward Jin Bao Gambling Den.

Just as they left, the head waiter took a few men and beat the few young people out, throwing them out along with the shadow puppet troupe's gear.

Master Bai sighed and didn't look back.

Those few young people were panicked and ran away as soon as they could.

In the flying snow, the shadow puppet troupe's boxes shattered, and various little leather puppets were scattered all over the ground, soon to be scrambled for and trampled into a mess.

A beggar picked up a leather puppet of Lord Guan, dancing and gesturing, pinching his throat, and winking at the beggar beside him, "Hey, you all look and see who I am!"

"Hahaha..."