Chapter 166: Breaking the Fifth, No Other Matters Taken

After the Jia Chen year came Yi Si.

As dawn barely broke, the whole city was already ringing with firecrackers.

On the first day of the New Year in Guanzhong, people rise early, eat early, wash up, then pay respects to ancestors and the Six Household Deities, followed by setting off firecrackers.

If a child slept in, the adults would scare them—either saying, "Watch out, the Lord will pinch your nose," or "Beware, the Stove God will smear freckles on your face."

According to this saying, the "Lord" had surely pinched the noses of countless mischievous children…

Seeing Hearing Sha Lifei wasn't afraid of having his nose pinched—he feared bad luck—so when he stepped out, he tilted his head upward, facing the auspicious direction to welcome the God of Joy; this was called "Chu Tian Xing."

The flavor of the New Year isn't just the smell of firecrackers.

Tradition, bloodline, ritual, various taboos, and families reuniting—all these, along with hopes for the coming year, together form the flavor of the New Year.

From the first to the fifth day, many taboos apply: no use of sharp objects like needles, scissors, or awls; no moving house, breaking ground, starting construction, burying the dead, or opening a business.

During this time, even the drum and gong troupes suspended rehearsals.

Thus, Li Yan had enjoyed a solid few days of rest; his only outing was visiting his master's home to pay New Year's respects and drinking with the Li brothers.

The rest of the time, he stayed home and reflected.

As the saying goes, the plan for the year begins in spring.

Whether in cultivation or planning for the future of his team, he needed to prepare early.

Over the past half-year, though he'd faced danger several times, he'd also gained much.

He had successfully entered the Da Xuan Gate and received the mysterious Yin Si inheritance—the Luo Feng Jing and Bei Di Jing, ancient scriptures of unfathomable power, the true path to becoming a deity.

Moreover, he had gained a preliminary understanding of this world.

Martial cultivation was vast and profound; despite his current reputation, in Chang'an he was merely a rising talent, let alone across the entire Shenzhou martial world.

Now, it seemed that Hua Jing could make one a local organization leader.

Take Zhou Pan or Xiong Xiong Baodong—among local martial folk, they were already towering figures, capable of deciding life and death.

But once one embraced the Golden Core, one entered another tier, no longer meddling in local martial affairs, at most serving as a sect's hidden foundation.

And this tier clearly had its own circle.

Perhaps, that was the true Shenzhou martial world!

This era was not like his past life, with information overload; imperial authority did not reach the countryside, information was sealed off, and many commoners never left their villages for a hundred li in their entire lives.

Ordinary martial folk were the same—just trying to make a living; they had no access to the identities of powerful figures across Shenzhou.

Like at the Divine Fist Society banquet, Master Zhang could name the local big shots, but didn't recognize a single expert from other provinces.

That was only because of Grandpa Zhang's reputation.

The Da Xuan Gate was lofty, yet equally so.

Despite its high status, most Da Xuan Gate practitioners, like martial folk, performed services for people—exorcising evils, warding off disasters—to earn a living.

According to Shen San You, ordinary people without talent, fortune, or cultivation methods would never rise beyond three floors of spiritual attainment.

Only by stepping into the fourth floor could one begin to touch upon many secrets.

The most captivating to Li Yan was—

The Deities themselves!

In short, he now stood before a towering mountain, its mid-slopes veiled in mist and clouds; even glimpsing a single scale or feather filled him with awe.

What lay atop the mountain?

He very much wanted to climb up and see.

Of course, he must still take one step at a time.

The box of sarira he obtained from Xiangji Temple had, with the joint efforts of Seeing Hearing Sha Lifei and Luo Luo Faqing, been sold clean before the New Year.

After deducting Luo Luo Faqing's share, they had earned twelve thousand taels of silver, plus the previous payment from the Du household—totaling seventeen thousand taels in savings.

Daily expenses were covered by Wang Wang Daoxuan's ritual services.

This sum was substantial; if they wished, they could immediately buy a house in Chang'an and some shops, establishing a solid foundation.

But even larger expenses were coming.

For instance, if they secured a spot at the Drum King Gathering, they would travel to Mount Hua when its vaults opened to purchase items.

The Da Xuan Gate had many uses for money: better items could be crafted into talismans, like Wang Wang Daoxuan's longed-for Coin Sword; his existing Demon-Subduing Coin Sword Tassel could also be further enhanced.

Lesser items could be stocked for ritual ceremonies—exorcisms and blessings often required expenditures.

Moreover, what he had buried wasn't just money; he'd also stored other talisman materials, like meteoric iron and spirit wood.

These had been nurtured for years in the Caverns of Bliss, their quality exceptional.

His family's treasured blade had been destroyed; originally, he'd picked up Yao San's twin blades and entrusted Master Wan to find a Da Xuan Gate blade-smith to reforge Guanshan Dao.

But the smith proposed a better idea.

Yao San's two blades were forged from hundred-fold refined steel; melting them down and re-forging could produce a fine blade, but still merely an ordinary weapon.

If, during the vault opening, they could acquire a superior piece of iron and combine it with the hundred-fold refined steel, he could forge a talisman-grade treasure blade.

Paired with the Demon-Subduing Coin Sword Tassel, even a corpse with iron-hard flesh could have its head severed in one strike!

Ascending Mount Hua would certainly cost heavily.

There were also purchases of celestial treasures, building pavilions…

Li Yan feared he'd run out of money; all these taels had been deposited in the bank.

Thus, his primary goal this year was to secure a spot at the Drum King Gathering, then ascend Mount Hua after the Beginning of Spring to make purchases.

Of course, during this time, he must also find ways to earn more…

…………

The fifth day of the first lunar month is commonly called "Po Wu."

All taboos observed after the New Year may now be broken.

For common folk, however, the greater importance lay in sending off the Poor God and welcoming the Wealth God; many shops and inns chose this day to reopen.

Early that morning, Seeing Hearing Sha Lifei dumped all the garbage accumulated from New Year's Eve to the fifth day and set off a string of firecrackers.

Then he slipped back inside.

This fellow had become utterly obsessed with firearms.

The flintlock pistol without ammunition had become his toy—he took it apart and reassembled it repeatedly, its structure now fully known to him.

Besides that, he'd asked others to find ancient military texts and studied the firearms described within: Five Thunder Divine Machines, Divine Fire Flying Crows, Thunder Cannon, Poison Fire Balls…

His mouth spouted term after term, bordering on obsession.

Wang Wang Daoxuan continued performing rituals at home; now that he had money, he rebuilt the Ancestral Altar with the finest incense and candles.

He must perform a ritual to ensure the ancestors of the Xi Da Xuan lineage blessed them with smooth sailing and great wealth this year.

As for Li Yan, he had left home early.

With no worries over food or clothing, he had visited a reputable hat and robe shop in Chang'an and outfitted himself in new attire.

A black yese robe, woven from fine fabric, embroidered on the back with cloud patterns and immortal cranes—symbolizing his entry into the Dao, as a member of the Da Xuan Gate.

Since he disliked wearing hats, he tied his hair into a Daoist topknot, pinned with a Taiji Bagua bronze hairpin, wore leather wrist guards and belt, and hung his long blade and Divine Tiger Talisman at his waist—exuding considerable presence.

Amid the smoke and crackle of firecrackers filling the streets, he rode his horse to Chongxian Alley.

"Happy New Year, young Master Li!"

Outside a spacious tavern, before he even approached, Master Wan smiled and bowed.

Master Wan himself was dressed in new clothes.

His dark yellow squire's robe made him look like a wealthy magnate of Chang'an—hair and beard neat, face glowing with health.

"Happy New Year, Master Wan."

Li Yan hurried forward, smiling and returning the bow. "Let's go up."

Master Wan winked. "Today you're truly lucky—this is a friend of mine's establishment. Opening on Po Wu, he cooked personally—I've paid for the whole feast. He's a 'Cuisine General!'"

Li Yan's eyes lit up. "Absolutely cannot miss it!"

After today, the Divine Drum Troupe would resume training, and with the New Year just passed, Master Wan had gathered everyone for a meal.

As for his "Cuisine General," there was meaning behind it.

The cooking profession was deeply entwined with the martial world, forming its own system, an internal micro-world of dragon-versus-tiger rivalry.

By category, cooks were divided into Imperial, Yamen, Market, Household, Temple, Boat, and Military cooks; regional differences gave rise to distinct culinary styles.

Within their ranks, there were also hierarchies: "Pao Nu" were the lowest, apprentices helping in wealthy households' kitchens.

The highest rank was naturally Yi Yin, the Cooking Sage who said, "To govern a great nation is like cooking a small fish."

A "Cuisine General" was a master chef renowned across regions, usually awakened to a divine ability, whose dishes achieved perfect flavor.

Such chefs owned their own establishments, were honored guests of nobles and officials, and rarely cooked for others.

!.

Li Yan's mouth watered just hearing this; he hurried into the tavern.

"Young Master Li, over here!"

As soon as he entered, he spotted the towering sedan-bearer.

The man's name was Guo Lu Quan—auspicious name, auspicious profession: a sedan-bearer, specializing in carrying bridal and divine sedan chairs.

They were counterparts to the pole-bearers; due to numerous taboos, one handled red affairs, the other white affairs, never interfering with each other.

Yet they occasionally cooperated—

For instance, "joyful poles" and "ghost marriages."

Guo Lu Quan came from Dongzhuang and led a group of brothers who carried bridal and divine sedans; wealthy magnates hiring dignitaries would also hire them to carry sedan chairs.

Though considered lowly, they never lacked food or drink.

Guo Lu fully knew the sedan-bearer Master Yue Ba-la, and they were good friends, so within a few days Li Yan had grown thoroughly familiar with them.

Li Yan was already tall and broad-shouldered, with fair skin; dressed in this new attire, he exuded an air of nobility that left everyone who saw him momentarily dazzled.

The sedan-bearers, accustomed to such praise, promptly began fawning over him.

"Li Li Shaoxia truly has the bearing of a dragon and phoenix!"

"Exactly! Even the aristocratic youths of the Five Tombs couldn't match him!"

"No wonder he's the Little Champion of the Brothels!"

Li Yan's face darkened. "What 'Little Champion of the Brothels'? Where did you hear such nonsense?"

Guo Lu laughed heartily. "It's what's been circulating in Fengyi Fang. Rumor has it Liu Sanbian is the Probing Flower of the Brothels, Captain Guan Yizhai is the Runner-up of the Entertainment Quarters—both titles are taken, so you're stuck with 'Little Champion of the Brothels.'"

Fengyi Fang?

The Night Crier—so it's that bastard!

Li Yan fell silent, then bowed. "Thank you all for your flattery, but those two men have a single hair thicker than me. Don't say that again—it'll only invite ridicule."

"Also, brothers, save your stomachs. Later, I'll make sure you walk in standing and leave lying down."

"Hahaha! Li Li Shaoxia's martial skill is great, and so is his bravado!"

"Speaking of drinking, I won't back down."

A burst of noise filled the room as more people gradually arrived.

Li Yan stepped forward one by one to greet them.

Though none relied on martial strength for a living, they were all figures of the Some Jianghu, some even from the Xuanmen, each possessing unique, hidden skills.

For instance, the Zuo family troupe from Huayin: not only did they excel at shadow puppetry and sing with bold, stirring voices, but they also possessed secret techniques—this time, their Eight Directions Shadow Projection Art could make the puppets materialize midair, astonishingly lifelike…

For instance, the Xianyang Drum Ensemble: their presence was formidable, instilling fear in all who witnessed it; every year they competed in the Drum King Contest…

Even Guo Fuquan and the sedan-bearers had a special skill: when carrying the heavy pole, they balanced tea bowls atop it, shaking and jolting without spilling a drop…

In short, if you didn't have real talent, you couldn't join this crew.

When everyone arrived, the tavern grew crowded—even all the square tables on the second floor were filled.

After Wan Zhaigui delivered a rousing speech, the dishes began arriving, carried by the waiters.

"Steamed Split Chicken, Fried Roasted Bones, Three Dishes of Phoenix Marrow, Roasted Offal-Stuffed Sausages…"

As the waiter recited the dishes, Li Yan sniffed deeply and exclaimed, "Delicious! Authentic Lu cuisine—Wan Old Qianbei, is this elder from Qi and Lu?"

"Hmm…"

Just as Wan Zhaigui began to answer, Li Yan saw a stout, kindly-looking old man emerge, smiling and bowing.

"Fellow members of the Some Jianghu, today Brother Wan is hosting, and with the New Year's celebration underway, I've come to join in the festivities and show you a bit of my skills."

"But I'm old now—if the flavors fall short, please bear with me."

"Elder, you flatter yourself."

"Just smelling the aroma, my hunger is already howling!"

Everyone rose to bow; some swallowed saliva, desperate, glancing at the table, afraid someone else would snatch the first bite.

"Hahaha, you flatter me too much."

The old man smiled, then summoned three young men. "These three are my grand-disciples—they'll now be stationed here. Please come often and support them."

"If you're unsatisfied, just curse!"

"Elder, you're too modest."

"We'll definitely come back!"

After the introductions, the old man bowed to Wan Zhaigui and, supported by two grand-disciples, turned and left.

Only then did everyone notice his back was soaked in sweat.

Li Yan couldn't help but sigh. "Tradition endures, the incense never fades—no craft is easy…"

Before he finished speaking, his eyes widened. "Save me some!"

The elder's skill was beyond reproach; everyone abandoned banquet etiquette, chopsticks flying across the table, no one caring about wine anymore.

Li Yan naturally opened wide and ate heartily.

Unfortunately, the elder's strength was limited—only five dishes per table, the rest made by his grand-disciples.

After the five dishes were devoured, everyone slowed down.

All were Some Jianghu men; soon, drinking games erupted in a chorus.

"Sorghum liquor's made from five grains, first softens the arms, then the legs…"

"On the fifteenth of August, the moon shines full—let's play the Wide-Eye Fist…"

"The crescent moon shines over nine provinces—who's happy, who's sad…"

Li Yan opened his mouth to challenge everyone.

He had a naturally large tolerance for alcohol and specialized in tongue-twisters.

"First arrived at Liujiagou, where lived a sixty-six-year-old Liu Lao Liu, who built a sixty-six-story tower, tied sixty-six monkeys to its top…"

In less than half an hour, he had laid out an entire table of "Old Liu Sixes."

"Hahaha!"

Some acted like fools, sending everyone into fits of laughter.

Just then, Guo Luquan, face flushed and leaning out the window for air, suddenly pointed. "Hey, look—what's going on?"

Li Yan turned and looked—his expression turned grim.

The Enforcement Hall team had returned.

But their condition was dire…

(End of Chapter)