[{"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-37":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},2262342,4415,"Chapter 37: Secret Forest Battle Against the Wretched Beggars","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>Screams and dog barks erupted into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beggar’s lantern fell to the ground, igniting dry grass; flames and thick smoke spread, making the wild dogs even more frenzied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining beggars immediately scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s blown! Watch for hidden weapons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The snake’s out—kill him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t alarm that ghost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dodged the wild dogs while exchanging coded phrases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though each gang and region had its own variations, the entire jianghu shared a common lexicon—listen long enough, and you could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Translated, they meant: “We’re exposed, watch for hidden weapons,” “Release the snakes—kill him,” and “Don’t wake that ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These phrases might fool outsiders, but Li Yan understood them clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beggars were masters of handling snakes; if they could command wild dogs, it was only natural they’d use snakes to ambush him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “don’t alarm that ghost” made Li Yan’s heart sink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was surely their hidden trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summoning something difficult to control could have unpredictable consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, he no longer hid his form—he leapt from the hillside and charged downhill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woof! Woof woof!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The already agitated dog pack instantly spotted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These creatures, already enraged, some chased the beggars, but most bared their fangs and lunged at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the few beggars dropped their cloth sacks, unfastened them, and hurled them outward—dozens of black snakes shot out, slithering swiftly across the ground toward Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s expression didn’t change—he drew Guanshan Dao instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single thought, the Three Talismans Exorcising Coin tassel swayed left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having crossed the threshold of the Profound Gate, his spirit successfully anchored in the mind-sea; though he hadn’t yet built a pavilion and the deity he envisioned was only a hazy glow, this talisman was already usable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guided by his spirit, the tassel’s malevolent energy spread instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire blade grew icy, radiating chilling cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Daoxuan had explained, the Three Talismans Exorcising Coin, when combined with an imperial plaque, formed a subtle, sinister, self-sustaining suppression array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isolated, the Three Talismans Exorcising Coin alone generated a “pressure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “pressure,” though yin and malevolent, was fierce and brutal—perfect for suppressing evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the wild dogs were mere flesh and blood, they fed on corpses for years, inevitably absorbing yin malevolence, making them highly sensitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uuuu~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Li Yan drew his blade, the dogs’ fur bristled—they sensed a deadly foe, turned, and fled in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black venomous snakes fled too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These creatures were even more treacherous—they reversed course, some slithering back into the sacks, others suddenly lashing out at the beggars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the venomous snakes had lost control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beggars were stunned, caught off guard, but being snake handlers, they heard the wind and snatched the snakes by their vital points with clawed hands, shoving them randomly into pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in that brief moment, Li Yan was already upon them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One beggar had no time to react—his throat was slit, blood sprayed, and he collapsed, clutching his neck, gasping “Huh… huh…” before falling still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old beggar beside him, clearly seasoned in combat, leapt backward as he swung his dog-beating staff downward with a whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This move was called “Strike the Dog’s Head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When beggars faced vicious dogs, they leapt back to create distance, then brought the staff down vertically to strike the vital point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Applied against humans, it didn’t have to target just the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a long weapon, the staff only needed to strike the enemy’s wrist to shatter bones and disarm them, then step forward and slash upward to the throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the opponent dodged, it created space to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old beggar’s plan was sound—but Li Yan moved faster. As he killed the first beggar, he rolled sideways, evading the staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old beggar retracted his staff, twisted his body, and prepared a sweeping strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Li Yan rose from his roll, he seized a handful of broken stones and dirt, flicked his wrist, and hurled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old beggar was blinded by grit and dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic seized him—he tried to retreat, but felt a chill at his neck, his vision spinning—his head had been cleanly severed by Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was life-or-death combat; Li Yan’s swift blade showed no mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hard target! Wind’s up—run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining beggars, seeing Li Yan’s ferocity, turned and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All over the land, beggar sects were vast, filled with all kinds of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were martial types within beggar dens, they only bullied ordinary folk; when facing fellow jianghu figures, they relied on numbers and their dog-and-snake tactics to catch opponents off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But against someone like Li Yan, their dog-and-snake tricks were shattered—they could only flee in disgrace. Li Yan let out a cold snort and gave chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in grave danger now—he couldn’t afford to act carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to find out why these beggars had attacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fleeing beggars scattered, though their lanterns were gone; they knew the terrain and darted into thick woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Yan’s scent ability let him track every person’s location, these bastards were slippery—some even dove into burial caves and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were secret tunnels beneath the mass grave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sensed danger—he ran, bent low, snatched a stone, and flung it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One beggar was struck in the back of the head, slipped, slammed into a tree, and reeled with dizziness and blacking vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he tried to rise, a cold blade pressed against his throat—Guanshan Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who sent you? Why attack us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t waste words—he demanded answers coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the beggar, blade at his throat, showed no fear—he grinned, revealing rotten teeth, puckered his lips, and whistled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s brows snapped down—he flicked his wrist, slicing the beggar’s throat open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whistling at midnight was a grave taboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially here, in this nexus of yin malevolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan had told him this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ancient times, before writing existed, people tied knots to record events; when hunting, they relied on gestures and whistles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the origins of hand seals and shamanic incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, white and red carried meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White symbolized bitter cold; red symbolized blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These symbols were deeply etched into soul and bloodline, passed down through generations—even today, many techniques still relate to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, certain lineages and folk shamans still use whistles to aid spirit-summoning and ghost-subduing rituals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This beggar clearly meant to drag Li Yan into trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the beggar’s throat was cut, a sudden icy wind howled—chilling, damp mist surged, and faint battle cries seemed to echo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Li Yan smelled a cold, metallic blood scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weaker than the previous yin soldiers, lacking the stench of beasts, yet brimming with killing intent—like rusted blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldier spirits!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyelid twitched—he stepped back swiftly and sheathed his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan had warned him of this yin entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This land of Shenzhou had never lacked war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From ancient tribal battles, the Shang-Zhou conflicts, to every dynastic shift, countless died in war; yin malevolence gathered, bound by karmic bloodshed and unscattered heavenly souls, giving rise to soldier spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some places accumulated them in vast numbers, becoming passing yin armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These entities wandered the earth, serving as sources for recruiting troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hallmark: they cannot tolerate weapon energy. Once sensed, driven by memories of their past lives, they pounce like wild dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, a town saw a passing yin army—its battle cries never ceased. A fraudulent shaman gave foolish advice: have villagers swing kitchen knives, clashing blades to scare the spirits away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result? Not a single soul survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Yan had the Three Talismans Exorcising Coin, he’d fought yin soldiers before—he knew these things defied logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to flee than risk extinguishing another life flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hhh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yin wind deepened; the cold blood scent rose from the graves, drifting, seeping into the beggar’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the grotesque twisting of bones, the beggar’s corpse straightened up rigidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan held his breath, slowly retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to flee from this thing, but unexpectedly, the corpse lurched forward toward him, its chilling aura of blood growing stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan halted at once, his eyes flashing with menace, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed this thing could not be shaken off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this spirit soldier had made a mistake—its longing for a fleshly form had bound it to a corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flesh is a boat, yet also a cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he merely destroyed the body, the spirit would depart immediately and seek another vessel. But he possessed the Three Talismans of Demon Subjugation; if he seized the right moment, he could slay it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to strike, a sound came from behind…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1451,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4452127b5b1415459c224c92cdf95b78a0d5ac78e31154d459b0d0a1a736d1b2","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-38","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-36",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]