Chapter 30: Returning to Xianyang

Whoosh!

Paper money filled the sky, drifting with the wind.

The funeral procession moved slowly forward, and the wind seemed to carry sorrow.

Although Li Yan's family also belonged to the Li Family Fort surname, his lineage was withered, and there were no close elders.

Fortunately, with Wang Daoxuan presiding, Sha Lifei running errands, and neighbors and villagers helping, the old man's funeral was handled extremely meticulously.

Choosing the site, setting the coffin, arranging the mourning hall, burial...

A series of processes, even the well-informed village head Li Huairen, secretly gave a thumbs up and specifically spent a long time trying to establish a relationship with Wang Daoxuan.

As for Li Yan, he also endured his grief and busied himself.

It seemed that only in this way could he temporarily forget his sadness.

All his closest relatives were gone, and he was left alone in the world.

He had experienced this kind of desolation once in his previous life, so even if life was dull in this life, he wanted to stay in the village to accompany his grandfather.

On the night of the seventh day, he even activated his supernatural powers to guard for a night, hoping to smell his grandfather's familiar scent, but unfortunately, he waited for nothing.

Just like that, after muddle-headedly finishing the funeral, another month had passed.

…………

It was now the eighth lunar month, and the weather began to turn cool.

Rumble!

Accompanied by the muffled thunder of autumn, light rain fell.

"The ritual for building the spirit building costs quite a bit..."

Wang Daoxuan held a brush and ink, writing and drawing, "Incense, candles, paper, brush, ink, cinnabar... at least they all need to be offered at the temple altar of a great Mystic Sect for five years. Of course, we have to spend money to buy them."

"These one-time magic tools are secondary. To succeed, better altar-suppressing magic tools must also be borrowed, and a top-notch Feng Shui spirit aperture must be found."

"The more famous mountains and great rivers, the stronger the momentum of the innate Gang Qi gathered, and the greater the chance of success. I know the temple keeper of the Xianyang Chenghuangmiao. With his introduction, we can hold the ritual at the Taibai Mountain Cave Heaven Dojo, but the money that should be paid cannot be less..."

As he spoke, he gave a bitter laugh, "We people of the Mystic Sect's righteous path pay attention to accumulating virtue, but this step-by-step ascent is also inseparable from money."

Li Yan has the Great Luo Dharma Body and is no longer afraid of the Conserved Spirit dissipating.

Wang Daoxuan didn't know this, so naturally, he was anxious for him.

Seeing this, Li Yan shook his head: "Daoist, no need to worry. My supernatural powers have stabilized now. Let's take it slow. Being anxious will only spoil things."

Clatter!

Just then, the sound of the door being pushed open sounded outside the courtyard.

Sha Lifei, wearing a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, came through the wind and rain.

"Good news, good news, it's finally over..."

His face was full of joy. He threw his straw raincoat outside the door and strode in, beaming: "I found out that the concubine of Squire Lu and Zhao Cheng suddenly sold all their land a few days ago. I heard they even cheated several families out of a deposit, and they have disappeared without a trace."

"I guess this matter has passed!"

"It should have passed..."

Wang Daoxuan pondered slightly and nodded: "Cheating money when leaving is not leaving a way back. Those people are probably already far away from Guanzhong. Just be careful and it will be fine."

It's no wonder they were so cautious.

Anyone in the Jianghu knows that being able to mobilize such great power, with several big-sword bandits in Guanzhong working for them, the mastermind behind the scenes can be described as having monstrous power.

Crushing them is no different from crushing an ant.

"It's good that it's over."

Sha Lifei was excited: "Staying in this village has suffocated me. With the skills of you two, plus my Sha Lifei's connections, why worry about not getting rich."

"How about we go directly to Chang'an?"

The three of them had already planned to work together to do some business and eat from the Mystic Sect's bowl.

Wang Daoxuan had Li Yan's cooperation and finally dared to take on some big jobs.

And Sha Lifei was thick-skinned and slick-tongued, and knew all kinds of Jianghu rules, making him most suitable for inquiring about news everywhere and taking on jobs with thick profits.

Of course, this bowl of the Mystic Sect is not that easy to eat.

Just like in the Jianghu, only when you make a name for yourself will people come to you.

"Chang'an?"

Wang Daoxuan laughed dumbly: "Do you know what kind of place Chang'an is? In the days of the Great Tang Dynasty, it was the gathering place for the Mystic Sect of the world, with many strange people and scholars. Master Ye entered Chang'an alone, made a great name for himself, and has been passed down through the ages."

"Even though the capital has moved north now, Chang'an is still a stronghold of the Mystic Sect."

"There are countless powerful figures in the Mystic Sect's righteous path, various state Dharma lineages, and left-leaning evil sects. It is truly crouching tigers and hidden dragons. We have no qualifications at all."

"Let's go to Xianyang."

Li Yan suddenly spoke, his eyes cold as he looked out the window.

"Daoist Wang's home is in Xianyang, and he is familiar with the ground."

"Besides, I also have some things to figure out..."

…………

Xianyang, old street near the Chenghuangmiao.

Shops dealing in incense, candles, and weddings and funerals are different from other businesses; they all wait for customers to come to the door and no one will shout on the street.

"Selling coffins, selling coffins, buy a big one and get a small one..." Whoever shouts like this, the shop would be smashed that day.

Not only that, even speaking has its rules.

For example, if someone comes to buy a coffin, you have to ask who you are arranging it for?

And if someone orders a coffin, even if it is kept for a few years, it must be kept well. If the customer hasn't notified, you cannot take the initiative to deliver it.

There are also some taboos that cannot be violated at will.

Therefore, the business on this street is not that prosperous, especially with the continuous rain these past two days, so the familiar shopkeepers gathered together to play chess and chat.

"Hey, have you heard? Old Man Wang is back."

"Didn't he die?"

"No, I heard he went out to order a coffin and happened to escape a disaster."

"This melon-head, he has dog-shit luck."

!.

"Not only that, I heard he brought two people, and these two days he has been inquiring everywhere, trying to take on some business."

"Hehe, just based on his two skills..."

The shopkeepers on the street were all mocking in their words.

They operate related businesses and can be considered half-insiders, knowing many Mystic Sect trades, and even have connections with some sorcerers.

Helping to introduce business can also earn a commission.

Wang Daoxuan is a person of the Mystic Sect, they naturally know, but the things they said when mocking were one more unpleasant than the other.

It's not that there is any grudge, but human nature.

Mocking a down-and-out Mystic Sect person makes them feel comfortable, and their speech becomes a bit tougher.

In front of the door, a person passed by with an umbrella.

Hearing the conversation of several people, he just glanced coldly and ignored it.

The visitor was Li Yan.

He had been back in Xianyang City for seven or eight days. They had simply tidied up Wang Daoxuan's old house, and after settling down, they began to inquire about news everywhere.

Unfortunately, the Mystic Sect's business is not that easy to do.

When big figures have something to do, they usually go directly to the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao, and those who are slightly worse also have connections with the famous Dharma lineage disciples.

And many villages also have witches and gods sitting on the ground.

That is their territory. Unless they encounter something they can't solve, they won't allow outsiders to get involved. If it goes wrong, there will be a battle of magic.

The struggle of the Mystic Sect is no less bloody than the Jianghu.

The only difference is that it is rarely seen by ordinary people.

Li Yan was not in a hurry, hanging out in various teahouses and restaurants every day. One was to inquire about who had something to do, and the other was to collect information about Zhou Pan of the Shenquan Society.

In Chang'an City, the brothel where his father died had been burned to the ground.

Now the only clue is Zhou Pan, who was acting suspiciously at the time.

But Zhou Pan is not that easy to deal with.

This old monkey has not only practiced his Kung Fu to the Hua Jin level, but also eats both black and white in Xianyang City, has a large group of disciples, and the ruffians on the street all listen to his orders.

To force out anything, one must find the right opportunity.

While pondering, Li Yan had returned to the Ask Dao Hall.

"Business is here!"

Before he even entered the door, he saw Sha Lifei running from the street in a hurry.

Returning to the small courtyard, facing the gazes of the two, Sha Lifei said proudly: "How is it? It still requires me, Sha Lifei, to take action!"

"There is a troupe from Huayin planning to set up a shed and pole in Xianyang City. There is a person inside who happens to be familiar with me. They have something to ask the Mystic Sect people for help."

Li Yan's eyes lit up: "Shadow puppet troupe?"

Most of the troupes from Huayin are old-fashioned.

Although old-fashioned and Qin opera both come from Guanzhong, they are not the same thing. One belongs to traditional opera, and the other belongs to shadow puppetry.

He had seen it once in Lantian County, and it was very interesting.

"Yes."

Sha Lifei nodded beamingly: "This job, the silver might not be much, but you also know that troupes are all people of the Liu family gate. If things are done well, won't this reputation come?"

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and said: "Good thing, what do they want to do?"

Sha Lifei laughed: "I heard they want to install organs and invite gods."

After Wang Daoxuan heard this, his face suddenly changed,

"This job, cannot be taken!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 31 =====

(End of chapter)