Chapter 411: Night Rain in Bashan

The night was like ink, and the mountain forest was wrapped in a thick, heavy layer of rain and mist.

Dark and damp, the fine rain fell like threads, piercing through clothing and carrying a bone-chilling cold that reached straight to the heart.

The mountain path was muddy and treacherous, and all was quiet around them. The fine rain pattering against the fallen leaves made a rustling sound, creating a sense of vast emptiness and distance.

Amidst the rain and mist, a few lanterns swayed.

The light from the lanterns was dim, as if it were about to be swallowed by the damp, cold darkness.

A team of travelers walked through the mountains. Their builds varied, and all were wearing coir rain capes and bamboo hats. Their dark shadows surged, looking like night ghosts in the rain.

Li Yan flicked his fingers, and the rainwater on his bamboo hat scattered.

He took out his pocket watch and checked it by the candlelight; it was already 2:30 AM. He couldn't help but frown slightly.

Beside him, Sha Lifei was even more dissatisfied, saying, "Brother Zhang, you can't play like this. Just how much further is it?"

Beside them was none other than "Fast Boat Zhang."

The old man also looked embarrassed and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't expect that the village at the foot of the mountain had already been destroyed by the flames of war."

"I remember there's an inn two miles ahead. The owner is a Tujia man, one of the toughest heroes in the Badong area. Other places might be chaotic, but his place is definitely safe!"

As he spoke, he was already feeling somewhat anxious and uneasy.

He had been ferrying Li Yan and the others, traveling down the Han River from Yunyang and then following the Yangtze River through Zigui County.

Originally, they were to continue forward, straight to Fengdu County.

However, halfway there, one of his apprentices, Fast Boat, sent a message saying that something strange had happened at the home of his brother in Badong. It seemed like an evil spirit was at work, and two people had already died.

He could not sit idly by while his only brother was calling for help. Since Li Yan and the others were on the boat, "Fast Boat Zhang" asked them to help.

Badong County was near Zigui, east of the ancient Ba Commandery, and bordered several territories governed by Tusi cities.

Although the flames of war had subsided, the Tusi cities had surrendered, and the imperial army had continued to move south, the scars of war remained.

Unlike Yunyang, Badong was a small county with a sparse population, and the villages of Han and Tujia people were scattered throughout the mountains.

Ravaged by chaotic soldiers, some villages had been razed to the ground.

They hadn't stayed in Badong County seat and had originally intended to enter the mountains to find a place to stay, but the village in "Fast Boat Zhang's" memory had become ruins, so they had to continue on their way.

Unexpectedly, it started raining as soon as night fell.

Seeing "Fast Boat Zhang's" unease, Li Yan smiled and comforted him, "It's alright, Brother Zhang. It's just a night journey; we're used to it."

Sha Lifei also laughed heartily, "I don't have a filter when I speak, Brother, don't take offense. Rest assured, we'll take care of your brother's matter!"

"Thank you all."

"Fast Boat Zhang" cupped his hands, his eyes full of gratitude.

Although they were all fellow travelers in the martial world and helping each other was normal, this group of people before him was no longer what they used to be.

Not to mention, Wang Daoxuan had even taught him some methods to avoid disasters.

To have such an attitude clearly showed they were giving him a lot of face.

Li Yan shook his leg, sending the thick mud on his feet flying, and interjected, "Since we're idle anyway, Brother, why don't you tell us about your brother's situation?"

"Fast Boat Zhang" hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Young Hero Li, didn't the Daoist say: don't speak of dreams in the morning, don't speak of killing at noon, and don't speak of ghosts and gods at night?"

"We're entering the mountains for a night journey right now, if something happens..."

"Rest assured, Brother Zhang."

Sha Lifei lifted his bamboo hat, rubbed his bald head, and chuckled, "That applies to ordinary people. With us, there are no taboos!"

"Fast Boat Zhang" thought that made sense, so he began to speak, "Sigh~ My original name is Zhang Shuisheng, and my brother's name is Zhang Linsheng. We asked the old scholar in the village to name us."

"Perhaps there's something significant about these names. I make my living on the water, while my brother is a landlubber who learned some methods of treasure-hunting in the mountains..."

"Oh, Brother Zhang, you've hidden it well."

Sha Lifei laughed, "So you have a brother in the Mystic Sect; why did you need to ask us about the taboos of sailing?"

"Fast Boat Zhang" shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Brother Sha, you're joking. My brother isn't a cultivator; he just learned some mountain-traveling methods from others to find mountain delicacies and herbs."

"He was originally a member of the Gelao Society. Later, he broke a leg and married a Tujia woman, so he simply retired from the martial world. Relying on his skills, he gradually built up his wealth in the village and can be considered a landlord."

"The previous letter didn't make it clear; it seems he went into the mountains to find treasure and didn't know what followed him home..."

"I see."

Li Yan was thoughtful, then looked toward the southwest, turned his head, and whispered, "San'er, that's the territory of Mount Wushan. Stay alert. If you discover anything, tell us early."

"Mm." Lu San nodded sullenly.

This was one of the reasons Li Yan agreed to enter the mountains.

According to Gu Linzi, there was still a lineage of Chu shamans hidden in Mount Wushan, living in seclusion and rarely seeing outsiders.

Perhaps this could help Lu San obtain more inheritance.

Many experts were hidden in Mount Wushan. When the dragon fled in Baokang County, there were people secretly helping the Ghost Sect and fighting against Master Yulong.

Originally, Li Yan didn't plan to enter the mountains for the time being, but since they were here, they might as well scout the periphery; perhaps they could find some clues...

As they spoke, they had already traveled two miles.

"Fast Boat Zhang" was indeed correct. After turning the corner of the mountain path, an inn gradually revealed itself in the rain curtain.

This inn was a stilt house built against the mountain. It was quite large, with three floors. In the bleak wind and rain, a few dim yellow lanterns swayed outside.

Seeing the light, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Daoxuan, however, was somewhat surprised. He took out his compass to check the surroundings and nodded, "Interesting. This stilt house is shaped like a crouching tiger, with a green dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right, and a black tortoise as a backing... It's a pity there's no water in front."

"Daoist, you have a sharp eye."

"Fast Boat Zhang" quickly said, "The owner here is named Peng Laohai. His ancestors were famous feng shui masters in the area. Originally, there really was a small stream in front..."

As they spoke, they had already approached the inn.

They saw that the inn was built entirely of wood, and after the passage of time, it looked mottled, carrying a faint smell of dampness and decay. Raindrops dripped along the dilapidated eaves, making a ticking sound as they hit the bluestone ground.

The first floor of the stilt house was uninhabited and kept livestock like chickens, ducks, and pigs. There were also two dogs that barked loudly in the dark night.

"Stop!"

Before they even got close, a voice rang out from the second floor of the inn.

A person was seen hiding behind a wooden pillar, holding a bow and arrow, and asked coldly from the side, "The wind is strong and the rain is heavy, where are the guests from?"

"Fast Boat Zhang" quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands, "It's Brother Peng's apprentices, don't misunderstand. I am 'Fast Boat Zhang,' I've been here a few times before."

"So it's Senior Zhang."

The man breathed a sigh of relief, put down his bow and arrow, and lit a lantern, revealing his figure. He was a young man in his late teens or early twenties, wearing a blue robe.

"Senior Zhang, please come up."

The young man was friendly but didn't come downstairs to greet them.

He remained calm and kept looking at the shrine beside the mountain path. Seeing that the bell hanging from the red rope above didn't ring, he felt completely at ease.

Li Yan naturally saw this little action.

He didn't care. To have the courage to open an inn in this deep mountain forest, one must not only guard against people but also have the means to guard against other things.

Since they were acquaintances and not ghosts, the young man immediately became much more polite. He carried a lantern downstairs to help them move their luggage.

"No need, we can manage."

Sha Lifei smiled and blocked him with his hand.

The young man was also sensible, so he led the way with the lantern. The wooden stairs creaked as they stepped on them, and he asked, "Senior Zhang, why did you come up the mountain in the middle of the night?" "Don't mention it."

"Fast Boat Zhang" looked unlucky and said, "We originally planned to spend the night at Yangjia Village, but I didn't expect the village to be destroyed, so we had to go up the mountain overnight."

The young man sighed, "During the recent military chaos, the people from the Tusi city were stationed here. Because Yangjia Village was a Han village, it was directly destroyed."

"Sigh~ They were all fellow villagers, how could they be so cruel..."

Entering the second floor, the same musty smell rushed toward them.

The young man lit a candle, and a large hall appeared before them. It should have been the place where guests ate and chatted on weekdays. The wooden tables and chairs were old but neatly arranged.

In the middle, there was a fire stove for warmth. An old woman with a withered face was crouching beside it, holding a firewood knife, her face full of vigilance.

"Grandma Tian, it's okay, they are people."

The young man quickly said, "They are Master's friends. First, get some food and wine to warm them up."

"Ah, ah..."

!.

The old woman was actually a mute. After gesturing, she quickly ducked into the back kitchen to get busy.

Li Yan and the others put their coir rain capes and bamboo hats outside the door, and under the arrangement of the waiter, moved their luggage to the large dormitory room.

The waiter stirred the charcoal fire, and everyone sat around the fire. The cold brought by the night journey in the rain was gradually dispelled.

The old woman was quick and soon brought a large clay pot, hanging it over the stove fire. Inside, cured pig trotters were stewed with dried potatoes and dried green beans, and a lot of soybeans were added.

"Fast Boat Zhang" picked up a sesame seed cake from the basket and roasted it on the fire, laughing, "A country inn, these are all prepared in advance. Brother Peng's family's specialty is mutton noodles, but we can only satisfy our cravings tomorrow."

The waiter also brought a jar of black sandalwood rice wine. Everyone inserted tubes and took turns drinking a few sips, and their bodies finally warmed up.

In the middle of the night, they didn't have much appetite, so they ate some food to pad their stomachs, and the rest was eaten clean by Wu Ba.

"Fast Boat Zhang" then asked, "Where is Brother Peng? Has he not been in the shop these days?"

The young man replied, "During the fighting a few days ago, there were no peddlers or mountain travelers, so there was no business in the shop. Plus, my two senior brothers died, so Master went to help them handle the funeral."

"Fast Boat Zhang" frowned, "Did they go to be soldiers?"

The young man shook his head, "They went to be soldiers, but not here. They ran to the seaside to fight the Japanese pirates. Their bodies were just sent back two days ago."

As he spoke, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes.

"So they were Tujia elite soldiers."

Li Yan's expression became solemn, and his face was full of respect.

Tujia martial arts had a long history, originating from "Maogusi," and they were good at using white-pole spears and barbarian sword shields.

They were very skilled at dealing with Japanese pirates.

The commander of the coastal army even wrote from above: In close-quarters combat, the Japanese thieves are very skilled. The only ones who can control them are the Lake-Guang soldiers with their sickle-hook spears and crossbows; we must mobilize the elite soldiers of the Yongbao and Xuanfu divisions.

Some things are not simply black and white. There are rebellious Tusi here, and there are also Tujia elite soldiers resisting the Japanese in the south...

The night was deep, and everyone was in no mood to chat. After eating a little to pad their stomachs, they returned to their respective rooms.

Li Yan sat in meditation on the bed.

Outside the window, the night rain was incessant, and raindrops tapped against the dilapidated window lattice, making this deep mountain inn appear even more lonely.

After finishing his practice, Li Yan lay on the bed, took out the dragon-pattern jade gui from his bosom to examine it, his eyes thoughtful.

He had three main things to do on this trip to Bashu.

First, attend the gathering of living yin messengers; that place was in Fengdu.

Nowadays, there are very few people who practice the "Luo Feng Jing." It is rumored that among the living yin messengers, there is an old senior with the Daoist name Yin Changsheng, who practiced the "Luo Feng Jing" to an extremely high realm and ascended to divinity in Fengdu.

The gathering of living yin messengers is at the end of the year in the twelfth lunar month, and there is still some time left, so he can inquire about Yin Changsheng first...

Second, the commission from the Dragon Lady.

There was a problem with the seal of the Jiang Shen Da Jun. Judging from the reaction of the dragon-pattern cloud gui, the loosening of the dragon-suppressing piles inside Shennong Peak was not the main reason.

To figure out what was going on, a trip to Dujiangyan was inevitable.

Third, go to Mount Qingcheng to refine magic artifacts.

Fortunately, they had earned a lot during this period, so they were not in a hurry to take on tasks and could take it one step at a time...

…………

"You ask when I will return, but there is no set date; the night rain in Bashan swells the autumn pond."

"When shall we trim the candles by the western window together, and talk about the night rain in Bashan?"

This poem "Night Rain Sent North" by Li Shangyin talks about the night rain in Bashan, which falls at night and stops during the day.

Although the poem talks about Mount Jinyun in Chengdu, not the foothills of Bashan, the pattern is almost exactly the same.

The next day, just as it dawned, the night rain had already stopped.

Li Yan pushed open the window and looked out, only to see the mountains shrouded in thick fog, the trees appearing shadowy, and nothing could be seen clearly beyond a hundred meters.

Then he smelled the fragrance of mutton.

The scent was rich, and Li Yan couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

After pushing the door and going out, he found that Wu Ba and Lu San and the others were already up, crouching beside the stove fire, holding large bowls and eating happily.

"You didn't call me for such good stuff."

Li Yan smiled and quickly ran into the kitchen.

He saw that in the kitchen, a large pot was stewing mutton, the white soup rolling with tender meat, and the fragrance almost knocked him over.

Beside it was a small pot of red oil. The mute old woman was busy on the chopping board, the rolling pin and large cleaver dancing, and the evenly thick alkaline noodles were quickly taking shape.

After boiling the noodles, they were braised in mutton soup with red oil, topped with meat sauce, and sprinkled with a handful of emerald green coriander—it was truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

"Truly good craftsmanship!"

Li Yan praised and quickly took a bowl.

Crouching at the door, he ate two large bowls in a row, and only then did he feel satisfied.

"Fast Boat Zhang" said proudly, "Everyone, Old Zhang didn't lie to you, did he? Every time I come to Badong, I think of these mutton noodles, so I had them prepare them early in the morning."

"Little Brother, thank you."

Sha Lifei ate until his face was glowing red, and wiped his mouth.

"It's what I should do, it's what I should do."

The young man smiled and nodded, then looked outside the door, his expression becoming somewhat solemn, "Guests, why don't you wait until the fog clears before leaving?"

Li Yan and the others were wondering, but "Fast Boat Zhang's" eyelids trembled slightly, "That thing has appeared again? Wasn't it subdued by the Daoist from Lingyun Temple?"

The young man's face was somewhat bitter, "During the war chaos a while ago, Lingyun Temple was bombed by artillery, and then this thing appeared again."

Li Yan frowned and asked, "Brother Zhang, what are you talking about?"

"Fast Boat Zhang" looked outside the door and whispered:

"Whenever there is heavy fog on the mountains of Badong, a kind of thing appears, known as the 'Guest in the Fog,' which often hooks people away."

"Some say they are the resentful souls of the ancient Ba people."

"Others say they are lost people who died in a foreign land..."

Second update in the afternoon

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 412 =====