Chapter 221

Martial world performers are all beggars from the East.

The little beggars in the city are all managed by the West.

Some fell into misfortune when they were young, and some were abducted.

These little beggars, the weak-willed ones, will be bullied for a lifetime, and even the money they beg for must be handed over in full. At most, they can mix a meal of big pot rice and eventually die of illness and cold.

Some grit their teeth and fight their way out, becoming managers and thugs in the Beggar Sect, and can have some spare money on them. On normal days, they are responsible for managing other beggars.

Just like the few big beggars next to these little beggars, although they were also in rags, they were much stronger and even hid sharp blades.

They were responsible for managing the little beggars.

Those who can fight their way out are all ruthless people.

On normal days, they didn't bully those who came from outside to make a living.

But facing the old beggar from the East next to them, they didn't even dare to look, lowering their heads with dodging eyes, full of fear.

The old beggar didn't even bother to look at them.

A faint red glow flickered in his pupils until Li Yan's figure completely disappeared, then he slowly turned his head to look at the Long Wind Inn.

Seeing officials entering and leaving the entrance, the old beggar narrowed his eyes, then turned his head back, continued playing the erhu, and sang lightly:

"Kind people, listen to me!

The fishing drum rings, the sad voice rises, drifting in the martial world for a long time. A lonely boat floats with the wind, traveling to the ends of the earth with a fearful heart. In the past, heroic feelings rushed to the clouds, but today, I am down and out, and no one knows..."

It was just ordinary fishing drum lyrics, not elegant, but the old beggar's voice was desolate, inexplicably making people feel sad.

In the tea stall opposite, a dull-looking middle-aged Confucian scholar heard this, immediately dropped a few copper coins, stood up, and chased in the direction Li Yan left...

…………

On the other side, Li Yan walked with wide strides on the ancient street of Unlike Yichang.

The streets of this ancient city were slightly narrow, and the blue stone slabs had become somewhat smooth due to their age, and they were uneven.

Unlike Yichang is a water transport hub, and the architecture here also integrates the characteristics of various places.

Looking around, most are white walls and blue tiles, with corners mottled with moss due to humidity. The top has both tall horse-head walls and flying eaves and brackets. The brick carvings and wood carvings are exquisite, and the wood is slightly dark, showing the vicissitudes of life.

The clothes and accents of the pedestrians on the street are also different.

There are many Tujia people, and there are guests from Bashu, whose accents are very heavy, mixed with slang, and he couldn't understand them at all.

Of course, for Li Yan, smell is his second pair of eyes.

He kept his left hand in his sleeve, pinching the Yang formula from time to time. The smells within two or three hundred meters poured into his nasal cavity, and he immediately discovered many things.

Unlike Yichang City is indeed not peaceful,

there are too many people from the martial world!

For example, that porter from Bashu on the left, in dark blue coarse clothes, looks honest, but there is a sharp blade hidden in his shoulder pole...

For example, the old woman selling wild vegetables by the street, who is no different from ordinary people, but there are poisonous snakes and spiders hidden in her sleeves, and there are also many willow-leaf darts in her clothes, slightly fishy, all smeared with poison...

There is also a paper-burning shop that just passed by, where not only is the incense fire lingering, but there are also a few cold evil spirits, clearly raising ghosts...

These can't be counted as masters, but they are all "people who eat the martial world's rice."

That is, among the "Flower, Orchid, Kudzu, Glory," they are the "Kudzu," hired by others to do all kinds of dirty and black work, including spying on intelligence.

The martial world and the imperial court seem unrelated, but they are closely connected.

Even many martial world storms have their roots in imperial court policies.

For example, after opening the seas, one wharf after another along the coast became a treasure land for people in the martial world to fight over, with swords and shadows, and I don't know how many people died in dark alleys...

The competition and turmoil in various industries often start from the martial world first. For example, shops suddenly catching fire, goods being robbed, and swindler gangs coming to the door are all preludes to the opponent's attack...

This turmoil in the Southwest also attracted people from the martial world to gather here.

The only difference is that the rules have changed.

In other places, the rules of the martial world are the distribution of benefits.

Avoid conflict as much as possible to avoid both sides suffering.

And those who can run here during wartime are not easy to deal with.

The only rule is to live longer than others...

Li Yan's attire looks like a person in the martial world, and he is very conspicuous walking on the street, attracting many open and secret gazes.

He had other important matters, so he couldn't be bothered to provoke trouble, so he simply turned a blind eye, asked for directions several times, and finally found the Yan family.

As a big family in Unlike Yichang, the Yan family is naturally built in a grand manner.

Its courtyard area is not small, with a hint of Hui-style charm, white walls and black tiles, vermilion gates, tall horse-head walls, and bamboo forests surrounding it.

A pair of stone drums at the door, several hitching posts outside the courtyard, and the door pins have three or four layers, each older than the other, indicating that ancestors had produced several high-ranking officials in the imperial court.

And on the wooden couplets on both sides, "Loyalty and kindness pass down the family for a long time, poetry and books continue the world for a long time" are written, and there is a "Poetry and Rites Passing Down the Family" plaque above.

Li Yan laughed dumbly after seeing it.

It seems that the kid Yan Yan Jiuling was quite humble.

Even if the Yan family cannot be considered a family of bells and tripods, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with in the local area.

In broad daylight, the Yan family did not close the door. Two green-clothed servants were chatting at the door, and even their speech was soft and gentle.

Li Yan was carrying a horizontal blade at his waist, and although his temperament was extraordinary, seeing him come over also aroused the vigilance of the two servants.

One of them immediately ran into the courtyard, and soon two guards followed, their expressions solemn, their right hands pressing on the hilts of their blades.

This Yan family has something going on...

Seeing this, Li Yan had a guess in his heart.

This kind of family that passes down poetry and books usually pays great attention to etiquette. Being so defensive against outsiders must mean something is wrong.

His expression remained unchanged, he stepped forward and cupped his hands, "I am Li Yan, coming from Guanzhong. I am a friend of Young Master Yan Yan Jiuling, and I am here to visit."

"Are you a friend of the Second Young Master?"

The servant was full of suspicion, "Do you have any proof?"

Li Yan immediately took out the letter written by Yan Yan Jiuling, along with an ancient jade pendant, and handed them to the servant together.

Seeing the jade pendant and the handwriting on the letter, the servant breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully cupped his hands, "Please wait a moment, Young Master. I will report to the Master."

After saying that, he took the letter and entered the courtyard.

Li Yan didn't care and waited peacefully outside the door.

He glanced at the door pins and the plaque, lost in thought.

These plaques are actually objects to suppress the house, and each one is more powerful than the hundred-battle plaque his family once had, and the smell of incense is lingering, indicating that they are worshipped during festivals.

Ordinary evil objects would stay far away if they touched them.

And only after getting closer did he discover that the feng shui layout of this house also has its own rules, with freshness and elegance combined with the bamboo forest.

Living in it for a long time can cultivate one's heart and nature.

Listening to what Yan Yan Jiuling said, his grandfather was once a teacher at the White Deer Academy, and perhaps he also had a connection with the Confucian Mystic Sect.

And those two guards, their figures seemed scattered, but their feet were steady, their temples were slightly bulging, and they were silent. They were clearly good hands at guarding the house.

Just as he was letting his imagination run wild, the servant had already hurried out of the door and respectfully cupped his hands, "Young Master, my Master invites you in."

"Thank you."

Li Yan nodded and entered the courtyard.

Passing through the screen wall, the first thing that came into view was a patio, receiving rain and sunlight, followed by a spacious front hall.

The beams, brackets, and other components in the hall were all exquisitely carved, and the patterns of figures, flowers, and auspicious beasts were lifelike.

In the front hall, an old man was sitting on a hall chair, wearing a white robe and a black crown, with a dignified face, a gray beard hanging on his chest, and an elegant temperament.

Seeing Li Yan enter the door, he immediately stood up and smiled, "This must be the Li Li Shaoxia mentioned by my son. Please sit down."

Clearly, he had already read Yan Yan Jiuling's letter.

"I have met Senior Yan."

After Li Yan finished his greetings and sat down, a servant soon served tea.

Yan Yan Jiuling's father was named Yan Bonian.

He ordered the servant to return the letter and jade pendant to Li Yan, then smiled, "I heard from my son's letter that Li Li Shaoxia saved his life in the mountains. I am very grateful." Li Yan shook his head calmly, "Senior, you are too polite. I and Brother Yan can be considered life-and-death friends. It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning."

He spoke politely, but he felt a bit strange in his heart.

Yan Yan Jiuling's mother had a madness disease and had sought medical treatment for three years to no avail.

He ran all the way to Unlike Yichang, fearing delays on the road. Why doesn't this Yan Bonian look anxious at all?

Seeming to notice his thoughts, Yan Bonian then opened his mouth, "According to my son's letter, Li Li Shaoxia has obtained a precious medicine that can cure my wife's illness?"

Looking at his appearance, he was clearly a bit skeptical.

Li Yan didn't care and shook his head with a smile, "Senior Yan, I don't know if it's effective."

"However, this Fei Yi is a strange beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, rarely seen in the world. A senior from the Mount Wudang Pure Yang Palace personally said it is a heavenly treasure, and it can cure all epilepsy, madness, and all kinds of Gu insects. I think it should be correct."

"Oh?"

Hearing about the heavenly treasure and the Pure Yang Palace, Yan Bonian also raised his curiosity, "Fei Yi is a legendary object. Can you let me open my eyes, Li Li Shaoxia?"

"That is natural."

!.

Li Yan didn't waste words, took out the wooden box from his bosom, pulled it open, and handed it to Yan Bonian for inspection.

The corpse of the Fei Yi had already been air-dried. Seeing its strange appearance, Yan Bonian clicked his tongue in wonder, then returned it to Li Yan and sighed slightly, "Don't blame me, Li Li Shaoxia. In fact, this matter is too strange."

"For three years, I have sought famous doctors, and even invited several Daoist doctors from the Mystic Sect, but they were all useless. I have already given up hope."

"And my wife's illness..."

Halfway through his sentence, he sighed, seemingly unwilling to mention it again, and stood up, "Li Li Shaoxia, you have traveled thousands of miles to deliver medicine. My son's friend was not made in vain. Whether it succeeds or not, I thank you here."

"Li Li Shaoxia, please follow me."

Li Yan stood up and followed Yan Bonian to the backyard.

The Yan family's courtyard was quite large, with a small ancestral hall in the middle courtyard, a rockery garden in the backyard, and courtyards on three sides.

They walked all the way, and there were not many servants and maids along the way, but there were more than twenty guards, all guarding every corner and passage.

Seeing this, Li Yan frowned.

This is the defensive method of the martial world, scattered in various parts of the courtyard. If a thief sneaks in, a whistle will bring brothers from nearby to support.

Larger mansions would also have people patrolling in batches.

But usually, this would only happen at night.

Why are they putting on this show in broad daylight...

Also, according to Yan Yan Jiuling, he had an older brother, a younger brother, and a sister, and his father had four or five wives and concubines.

Walking all the way, it appeared cold and cheerless.

Arriving at the side courtyard on the right, a maid immediately came up to pay her respects.

"Have you seen the Master?"

"How is the Madam today?"

"She had an episode this morning, but fortunately, Concubine Shen stopped her."

"Hmm."

Yan Bonian asked a few questions and took Li Yan into the courtyard.

Before even entering the door, Li Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Although the courtyard was cleaned and tidy, and many flowers and plants were raised, a stench still lingered.

This is the smell of a patient who has been incontinent for years.

Sometimes, even if taken care of carefully, it cannot be dissipated.

No wonder this old man was hesitant. Many wealthy families have this problem, wanting to maintain their demeanor even in death, not wanting outsiders to see their embarrassed appearance.

It is the so-called "the donkey falls but the frame doesn't."

Outside the room, a strong woman was carrying a basin full of clothes out of the door. Seeing the two, she nodded hurriedly, "I have seen the Master."

"How is the Madam?"

"She is quiet now."

The strong woman replied, hurriedly put down the wooden basin, stepped forward lightly, and slowly pushed the door open.

Li Yan looked up and saw an old woman sitting by the window. Her clothes were clearly just changed, staring blankly out of the window, muttering to herself, and he couldn't hear what she was saying.

"Li Li Shaoxia, this is my wife."

Yan Bonian sighed, "How should we treat her?"

"Simple."

Li Yan took out the Fei Yi, broke off a small piece, "Grind this into powder and let her take it."

"Is it that simple?"

Yan Bonian felt it was incredible, but Li Yan had traveled thousands of miles to deliver medicine, so he couldn't refuse, so he ordered the maid, "Lianyun, go get the tools."

Because there was a patient in the house, the Yan family's tools for processing medicine were all available, and they soon ground the Fei Yi tail into powder.

The strong woman had taken care of people for years and clearly had experience. She hid the powder in a bamboo spoon, coaxed her, and took advantage of the Madam's lack of preparation to feed it to her, then poured a few mouthfuls of water.

"Ah! Ah!"

The Madam suddenly went crazy, waving her hands and grabbing, and the smell of urine rose, and the newly changed dress became wet again.

Fortunately, the strong woman had experience and hugged her tightly.

Seeing this, Yan Bonian's eyes turned red, and he said with a trembling voice, "My wife's nature was gentle, never arguing with others, loving to raise flowers and grass, and loving cleanliness. Who would have thought..."

Before he finished speaking, the Madam's body stiffened, staring straight at the ceiling, with a rattling sound in her throat.

"Madam! Madam!"

The strong woman holding her had never seen such a situation and was panicked, calling out repeatedly.

Li Yan was also a bit surprised, secretly thinking it was not good.

Could it be that the Fei Yi had a problem, and instead of curing the illness, it made her sick?

Just then, the Madam's body trembled, phlegm rattled in her throat, and she spat out a large amount of thick phlegm.

Seeing this, Li Yan's pupils shrank.

That large pool of phlegm on the ground was thick and yellow-green, and there was a transparent egg sheath, the size of a silkworm cocoon, with a worm wriggling inside.

After contacting the air, the eggshell immediately turned dry and yellow.

The worm inside also stopped moving.

"Gu?"

Seeing this, Yan Bonian's face immediately turned ugly, his eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth, "It's actually Gu, how is it possible..."

"This is not Gu."

Li Yan, standing beside him, had a solemn expression, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Senior Yan, send someone to the incense burner in the ancestral hall to get a handful of incense ash. By the way, find a sewing needle."

"Lianyun, hurry!"

Yan Bonian already knew from the letter that Li Yan was a sorcerer, thinking he must know something, so he didn't dare to neglect and hurriedly let the maid go get the two things.

The maid was also frightened, running out stumbling, and soon brought the two things.

Li Yan grabbed the incense ash and sprinkled it on the egg sheath.

Strangely, the incense ash was absorbed by the egg sheath, constantly shrinking, looking like a stone.

Li Yan picked it up with chopsticks, placed it on the table, and then used the sewing needle to break the outer skin bit by bit, revealing the worm inside.

Seeing this, Yan Bonian felt his scalp tingle. The sun was bright outside the window, but he only felt cold all over.

The worm looked like a spring silkworm, white and tender.

But its head was vaguely in the shape of a human face,

and it had all five facial features...

(End of chapter)