Chapter 423: The Office of Destiny

"As you wish, Elder."

Li Yan sighed in relief and put away the phoenix gold ornament.

Clearly, the woman hidden in the mist was the one in charge.

As long as we agree to meet, everything can be settled.

The Miao woman also leapt onto the iron chain, carrying the two girls, then turned and smiled.

I am Long Yanner, from the Gu Cult.

With that, she picked up the two girls and leapt across the iron chain, vanishing into the distance…

Not long after, the women disappeared completely.

Watching their retreating figures, Sha Li Fei frowned and muttered, "Aren't we looking for the Siming Sect? Why is the Gu Cult here too?"

"Wasn't Qin Yun'er we killed at Xianshan also from the Gu Cult? Brother Yan, have we walked into a den of thieves?"

"Don't rush—we'll act according to how things unfold."

Clang!

With a flash of blade, the iron chain as thick as a bowl shattered and crashed into the river, sending up a huge spray of water.

Li Yan sheathed his sword. "Let's go to Dachang!"

…………

The painted boat continued its journey.

"Fast Boat Zhang" had already explained the route.

We left from Danning Lake in Wushan County, passing through Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge, finally entering Dachang Lake.

Dachang City sits right on the lakeside dock.

Although we already knew, the scenery along the way was still breathtaking.

Longmen Gorge features towering cliffs facing each other, squeezing the river into a narrow slit of sky.

The salt smugglers chose to ambush here for good reason—it's like setting a gate, leaving no escape for travelers.

After passing through Longmen Gorge, the current turned violently swift, with hidden reefs and turbulent eddies; along the way, we even saw shattered remnants of sunken boats.

"This place is called 'Silver Nest Shoal.'"

"Fast Boat Zhang" explained: "Legend says there's a dragon cave here that spews silver every year, but you can only take three sheng—until greedy villagers took too much, and the cave sealed itself forever."

"I don't know if there's a dragon cave, but there are plenty of stranded boats. Luckily, times are relatively peaceful now; in the old days, water bandits would surely have lain in wait…"

As we sailed on, the river water turned emerald green, the current ebbing and flowing, with towering cliffs stretching endlessly on both sides, peaks competing in beauty.

Above the cliffs, cliffside coffins were visible everywhere, and ancient plank roads—more than one—lined the slopes; some were ruined, leaving only holes where wooden stakes once stood.

Others were still in use, with villagers carrying loads along them, occasionally appearing and disappearing amid clouds and mist.

Within the gorge, there were also side channels; Li Yan had been wary of the escaped salt smugglers, but they had vanished completely, as if they'd never existed.

"Fast Boat Zhang," sensing his thoughts, whispered: "Salt smugglers traffic contraband and avoid government pursuit by using hidden, remote paths."

"Since the Han Dynasty, they've accumulated countless secret routes over millennia; no one knows the terrain better than they do."

"These people hold grudges fiercely and operate in both legal and illegal circles. Young Master Li, if you head to Sichuan, be extremely careful…"

Due to the salt smugglers blocking our path, we'd lost time; by the time we neared Dachang River, dusk was falling.

"Ahh—!"

A scream suddenly echoed from the left cliff.

Li Yan looked up and saw a room built into the cliffside—its design was decent, but there was no path leading to or from it.

A pale-haired, white-clad figure waved frantically from the window, as if signaling them, yet his face twisted in madness.

"Ignore him."

"Fast Boat Zhang" sneered: "That's Luo Family Cliff Study Hall. The Luo family of Dachang is a wealthy local clan; they built this cliffside pavilion so their descendants could study in peace."

"Any aspiring scholar is locked inside, served meals daily, and isn't allowed out until he achieves scholarly distinction."

"Good heavens!"

Sha Li Fei widened his eyes and chuckled: "That's brutal! The Luo family must be full of officials, right?"

"Hehe…"

"Fast Boat Zhang" laughed: "Over generations, they've produced only two county magistrates, both assigned to remote, insignificant counties—one was killed by bandits on the way to his post, the other was caught embezzling."

"Some things in life… you just can't force."

Entering Dachang Lake, the water suddenly widened.

The sky had grown dim, and mist rose over the lake; faintly, the silhouette of the old city emerged, its lanterns glowing like a dream.

Wang Daoxuan stood at the bow, stroking his beard as he gazed around, unable to help murmuring: "Mist obscures the pavilions, moonlight confuses the ferry crossings—what a wondrous place…"

The scenery was beautiful, but Li Yan had no heart to appreciate it.

He turned to the group and said gravely: "We still don't know the origin of those women—stay alert, and act according to circumstances."

As he spoke, the painted boat reached the dock.

The old city before us was small, and with night falling, no other boats were in motion—only four or five vessels moored at the dock.

On the wooden dock stood a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a white veil covering her face, waiting quietly.

Unlike Long Yanner of the Gu Cult, this woman's cultivation was quite ordinary, but she wore traditional Han clothing; as the evening breeze blew, her white robes fluttered gracefully, exuding a distinct charm.

"Greetings, honorable warriors."

The woman bowed slightly and said calmly: "The elder has prepared a banquet and sent me to wait for you—please follow me."

Sha Li Fei rubbed his bald head and grinned: "Miss, why don't any of your people show their true faces?"

The woman turned her head: "It's a sect taboo. If you wish to see, you may lift the veil—but then you must marry me. Are you willing?"

Sha Li Fei was about to reply when Li Yan stopped him with a hand, shaking his head: "Since it's a sect taboo, we shouldn't be reckless."

Through his spiritual senses, he detected a strong medicinal odor and putrid stench beneath her veil.

Likely the backlash from practicing occult arts.

Curiosity now could bring great trouble.

Indeed, once inside the county, even the city guards bowed respectfully from afar, refusing to approach too closely.

The townspeople reacted the same way.

Sensing their confusion, the woman explained softly: "The Bai family has served as local shamans for generations—curing illnesses, expelling evil, praying for rain, and safeguarding this land's peace. The people hold them in deep respect."

"I see."

Li Yan nodded and asked no further questions.

There was no City God Temple here; near Wushan, orthodox Daoist influence barely reached. To maintain stability, some occult force must be at work.

What puzzled him was: if the Bai family was so powerful, how could someone even abduct a person?

And why would the salt smugglers do it?

……

Dachang City was small, yet it felt remarkably pleasant.

As far as the eye could see, most buildings were in the Huizhou style, mixed with Central Plains and Ezhou influences; firewalls rose and fell, whitewashed walls with black tiles were streaked with moss, and water stains marked the corners.

Night deepened; wisps of cooking smoke rose everywhere, accompanied by the sounds of chickens, dogs, and children laughing and playing—a scene of tranquil peace.

And it was unnervingly clean.

The narrow alleyways' stone slabs, still damp from rain two days prior, reflected the glow of lanterns hung by households.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, his vigilance rising.

Beside him, Wang Daoxuan's eye twitched.

Cleanliness was good—but too clean was suspicious.

Zhelibushaojiahu ， Kongpadouyangguhuoyoujiashen ， Ezhouyesuanwufengnongyu ， Danyucidixiangbi ， Queshitianchadibie 。

Remember, such things are not to be trifled with—"Revere spirits but keep your distance." Ordinary people who keep them risk disaster. The Bai family must be their source of confidence.

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged glances, their curiosity about the Bai family growing.

The small town was compact; after walking east for only a few incense sticks' time, they came upon a large mansion—Huizhou-style, occupying nearly half a street, truly spacious.

The front gate stood wide open, two enormous lanterns swaying in the night wind.

"Fast Boat Zhang" and his apprentices remained on the boat, guarding their heavy luggage, including the captured tiger cannon.

Since there hadn't been time to modify it, they'd left it aboard.

Thus, only Li Yan's group entered the city.

Inside the mansion, numerous veiled women moved about—sweeping, embroidering, or playing chess by candlelight in small windows, all at ease.

None paid them any attention upon their arrival.

"Please follow me," the woman said, leading them past the screen wall, courtyard, and pavilions to a hall in the rear garden.

The woman led the way through the screen wall, the courtyard, and the pavilions, arriving at a hall in the back courtyard.

！。

Li Yan's expression had grown grave.

He could smell strange odors emanating from many parts of the mansion—though clean and tidy, it teemed with hidden danger.

Brick and wood carvings bore strong Chu-style motifs, and he spotted the same phoenix gold ornament patterns in several places.

These people must have deep ties to Chu shamanism.

Before the hall stood an old woman, dressed in a white embroidered robe, wearing a blue headscarf, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, her hair white and face deeply wrinkled.

Her features were sharp, tinged with a shadowy gloom.

Beside her, on the left stood two young girls, Wu Chaoyun and Wu Xingyu; on the right was Long Yanner of the Gu Cult, tenderly supporting the old woman.

Seeing their arrival, the two girls, Wu Chaoyun and Wu Xingyu, immediately smiled, but they knew their place and said nothing.

The old woman then spoke: "This old woman is Bai Wan. I did not appear to greet you earlier—forgive my rudeness."

"Not at all—it was we who intruded. We salute you, Elder."

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed.

Though the old woman was aged, her aura felt no different from that of the Abbot Yulong of Five Dragon Temple—her cultivation must be profound.

Seeing her crippled legs, it was impossible for her to move swiftly along the cliffside; there was only one possibility:

She had used the method of separating the yin soul from the body!

To dare such a thing—even in broad daylight…

Just thinking of it, Li Yan knew this old woman was no ordinary person.

"Please, all of you, come in!"

The old woman Bai Wan raised her hand slightly and entered the hall.

The hall was elegantly arranged, with a full banquet already laid out: eight meat dishes and eight vegetarian ones, blending Hubei specialties with Sichuan flavors.

In such a short time, she had gathered delicacies from two regions—clearly, the Bai family was powerful and had gone to great lengths to host them.

Li Yan and the others usually ate like wolves, ignoring all etiquette, as if the words "starving ghost" were written on their faces.

But now, in this woman's domain, they couldn't help but feel restrained.

Only Wu Ba, his mouth watering, stole a glance at them, grabbed a pastry from the table, and shoved it into his mouth.

The pastry resembled a date, dusted in white powder, exquisitely made.

"Pfft!"

Long Yan laughed behind her hand. "You, you beastman, know your food—this is 'Great Chang Snow Date.' Even the Emperor in the capital loves it."

Clearly, she had recognized Wu Ba's origins.

"Heh."

Wu Ba grinned foolishly. Seeing Li Yan's calm expression, with no sign of displeasure, he eagerly picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

In truth, this was also a breach of etiquette.

Yet precisely because of it, the previously heavy atmosphere gained a touch of ease.

The old woman raised her hand again, signaling her disciples to pour tea for everyone, then said: "You've shown the Chu Wu Talisman, and this young man excels in beast-taming—surely you're of the same path."

"This is Wushan Divine Tea, plucked from the 'Lin Qin' trees here. Deep in Wushan grows an ancient tree, now a celestial treasure. We nurture and harvest it yearly, yielding no more than six taels."

"Please, honored guests, taste it."

Hearing this, Li Yan felt a flicker of curiosity.

He had never drunk tea born of a celestial treasure before, but the cup was white porcelain like jade, the tea within amber-hued.

He drank it in one gulp—the aroma surged, and a strange flavor followed: reminiscent of incense, yet fresh with the essence of plants.

"Excellent tea!"

Wang Daoxuan squinted, unable to suppress his praise.

At these words, a faint smile crept onto the old woman's gloomy face. "If you like it, take two jin with you when you leave."

After drinking, Li Yan sensed its subtleties.

The tea warmed the organs and nourished the spirit—undoubtedly priceless.

Lu San, whose spirit had been wounded, closed his eyes in comfort.

"That would be too much."

Li Yan quickly shook his head. "This is far too precious."

"Your life-saving grace outweighs any gift."

The old woman Bai Wan spoke solemnly: "Had you not helped, my two granddaughters would surely have been slain."

Li Yan did not wish to dwell on this. After a pause, he pulled out the Phoenix gold ornament. "No need for pretense—we came here for another purpose."

"Are you of the Sect of Destiny?"

The old woman nodded slightly. "Indeed."

Li Yan was not surprised.

He had inquired before: all members of the Sect of Destiny were women, descendants of the Chu Wu, secretly spreading their teachings in the countryside.

And this entire mansion was filled with women.

After so long, he had finally found the right person—he no longer bothered with indirect questions. "I have two matters to ask you, Elder."

He glanced at Lu San beside him. "My brother received the legacy of the Chu Wu Mountain Ghost lineage, but it is incomplete. May I ask where we might find the missing parts?"

The old woman asked: "Which scripture did he study?"

Lu San bowed respectfully. "The Mountain and Sea Divine Response Scripture!"

"The Mountain and Sea Divine Response Scripture?"

The old woman was startled, frowning. "That's an ancient relic from ages past. The heavens and earth have changed; the mountain god pacts have dissolved. Practicing this scripture is harder than climbing to heaven."

She paused, thinking. "Our lineage venerates the Goddess of Wushan. In a few days, there will be an opportunity—you may go and try. If you obtain it, you may complete the Mountain Ghost legacy."

Lu San was curious. "What opportunity?"

The old woman did not conceal it. "Long ago, the Three Lü Doctor served as Grand Sacrificer of Chu and leader of the Chu Wu. He built a pavilion on Goddess Peak to worship. Later, it was destroyed in war."

"But Goddess Peak is unique: on days of mist and rain, clouds form and shift endlessly. Those with destiny may dream-walk the ancient pavilion and witness the lost Chu Wu teachings."

"Whether you obtain it depends entirely on your fortune."

Sha Lifi exclaimed: "So we can go too?"

The old woman nodded slightly. "Yes. I will arrange it for you—but your chances are slim."

"Thank you, Elder."

Li Yan bowed solemnly, then lifted the Phoenix gold ornament. "The other matter—I wish to know what divine Gang is hidden within…"

Before he finished, every woman in the room changed expression…

(End of Chapter)