Chapter 449: Sneaking into Chongqing Prefecture

"Respected masters, listen to me...

The city walls of Chongqing Prefecture are solid, nine gates stand tall to protect the city's heart.

Chaotian and the city streets are deep, one gate, two gates, three gate tunnels,

Jiesheng, Caoxie, Mawang, Tang, Sanyuan, Miaojie, Lengshuijing,

There are many stories in Banbian Street, two gates, three gates, layer upon layer..."

On the wharf, a beggar was hitting bamboo clappers, singing the Lotus Drop, squeezing through the crowd, his eyes looking around everywhere.

His appearance was not to look for fat sheep.

The Chaotianmen wharf area was the territory of Yu Zhengkui, a leader of the Gelao Society, and the rules were extremely strict.

Therefore, although the wharf was a mix of dragons and snakes, everyone had their own path.

Stealing was stealing, cheating was cheating; once you worshipped the mountain, you had to get permission to eat this bowl of rice, and you had to be able to find someone after an incident.

If you didn't have bright eyes and provoked someone who shouldn't be provoked, and others found the Gelao Society, you would have to return the items in full within three quarters of an hour.

In addition, the Beggar Sect also had its own rules.

Who steals, who begs, who traffics—everything was in perfect order, and no one could overstep their bounds.

The Chaotianmen wharf, from the Tibetan areas of Jiannan and Chuanxi, or transported from Yunnan, Guizhou, Qin, Chu, Wu, Master Yue, Min, Henan, and the two Master Yue regions, and even the Yangtze River basin, and even Shaanxi, Henan, Fujian, and Guangdong, all used this place as a "general transport hub for changing ships."

For thousands of years, it had already formed its own rules.

This beggar singing the Lotus Drop was specifically responsible for guiding the way.

Chongqing Prefecture city was famous for being irregular, built against the mountain, and the size of the streets and wharves was very complicated. Outsiders who came often couldn't find north.

Those responsible for guiding the way could earn a reward, and secondly, they could also probe the bottom, while helping the people listening to the wind at the inn to work.

In short, once you stepped onto this wharf, whether you were in the martial world or a merchant from all directions, you would always fall into someone's sight.

Next, it depended on each person's means.

There were people from the agency coming to connect, and invitations sent from brothels and opera houses in the city. If you were a fat sheep, bees, horses, swallows, and sparrows would follow one after another.

Of course, if you were a tough nut, those people also had bright eyes and wouldn't easily come to provoke you.

This beggar, Liu San, narrowed his eyes and sized them up for a long time. After being rejected by several people, he finally found his target.

It was a team of people wearing cloaks and Nuo masks.

There were many people, and a lot of luggage. They were dusty and tired, and after getting off the boat, they sized up the surrounding environment.

Liu San knew this getup.

They were singing Wuyang Yang Opera, and they had real skills. When the Tujia people on the wharf saw them, they all bowed respectfully.

Generally speaking, he didn't want to provoke these people. But today, he hadn't opened for business after mixing for a whole day, and his stomach had long been growling with hunger. At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else.

He hit the Lotus Drop and recited the lyrics again, indicating that he knew the terrain here very well, and only then did he respectfully bend his waist:

"Respected masters, do you need someone to lead the way?"

"Find a quiet place; we aren't outsiders. The reward won't be small, but don't play any tricks."

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei stepped forward and responded in a low voice.

"Outsiders" referred to laymen.

Liu San immediately understood. These people knew the ways of the martial world, so he could only earn one share of money. If he dared to do anything extra, it would be trouble.

"That's right, that's right. Everyone, please follow me."

Liu San hurriedly bent his waist and led the crowd in front.

"Wait!"

His feet hadn't moved yet when Sha Hearing Sha Lifei's voice came from behind: "There are too many people at the city gate; it's inconvenient. Take another path into the city."

Liu San glanced at them without changing his expression.

Entering the city from Chaotianmen required passing through three city gates, all guarded by yamen runners and soldiers. Because of the war in the Southwest, the inspections were extremely strict, and there was indeed a long line of people.

The long stairs were also filled with idlers from the Gelao Society.

But it wasn't fear of queuing; it was clearly for another reason!

Thinking of this, Liu San smiled even more humbly, bent his waist deeply, and said: "Okay, okay, but this reward..."

"Double it!"

"Generous!"

Liu San made a gesture and led the crowd toward the west.

Outside Chongqing Prefecture city, it was not a wasteland. Along the wharf, the common people had built houses, cramped and crowded, high and low, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Those living here were all poor people, some making a living by fishing, others as wharf coolies. The streets were dirty and extremely chaotic.

Liu San led the crowd and plunged into an alley.

Perhaps it was because there were many of them, and coupled with this getup, no one came up to disturb them. Only those city foxes and social rats, squatting in the corners with earth tobacco pipes, spraying clouds and fog while watching coldly from the sidelines.

Li Yan secretly pinched a magic formula and took a deep breath. Various scents rushed into his nasal cavity: sweat, blood, rotten food, mold... all kinds of smells mixed together, almost making him stumble.

Among them, there were some special smells.

For example, three feet underground in a small courtyard on the left, there were two corpses buried...

For example, in a household a hundred meters away, the courtyard was unusually clean, but there were Gu insects raised in the jars in the kitchen...

For example, in a dilapidated house ahead, there was a pair of vicious eyes, watching them through the door crack, full of bloodshot eyes...

Li Yan ignored all of these.

Disorder and chaos have always been a pair.

Many times, the bottom of the martial world is even more vicious in its fighting.

Not long after, the beggar Liu San led them to a warehouse, which was originally used for loading and unloading wharf goods, but it looked abandoned.

Seeing this, Liu San introduced: "During the Daxing era of the previous dynasty, the imperial court built a stone city on the basis of the old city of the Southern Song Dynasty, taking the image of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, and established seventeen city gates. The largest one is 'Chaotianmen'."

"At the beginning of the founding of this dynasty, the Chaotianmen wharf could only be used for official business. At that time, there was a saying: 'Chaotianmen, big wharf, welcoming officials and receiving saints'."

"Commoners' merchant ships could only land from the side. This was the warehouse at that time. Later, the ban was lifted, and this place naturally became abandoned."

As he spoke, he looked embarrassed and whispered: "Everyone, you can enter the city from here, but the toll cannot be avoided. I can only help you introduce it."

Saying all the good words and then raising the price at the critical moment was a common trick in the martial world, and also a "tethering post."

First make you feel you've taken advantage, and then bleed you at the critical moment.

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei naturally understood this. He said unhappily: "The money that should be given will be given, but if you open your mouth like a lion, don't even think about your reward."

"That's right, that's right."

The beggar Liu San beamed with joy and led the crowd into the warehouse.

The warehouse was filled with sundries, the smell of sweat was pungent, and an oil lamp was lit on a greasy table. Several shirtless men were playing with leaf cards.

Seeing the crowd enter, they just glanced coldly.

Liu San walked over with his head bowed and waist bent, whispering.

The leading man didn't even lift his head and said in a muffled voice: "Too many people, and they are covering their heads and faces. Who knows which road of thieves they are."

"If something happens, we all have to bear the responsibility."

He was just complaining but not refusing, clearly wanting more.

"They are all fellow travelers in the martial world. Look at this..."

Liu San smiled awkwardly and hurriedly said good things.

But the several men were still unmoved.

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei couldn't help but want to step forward to talk, but was stopped by Li Yan, who shook his head and made a gesture to leave.

They were sneaking into the city. If they talked, no matter how tight their mouths were, the other party could vaguely guess their identities.

Although the Gelao Society and the Salt Gang were at odds, the situation in the city was complicated now, and who knew what kind of people were hidden in it.

"Hey, hey, hey~ don't go!"

Liu San was anxious and blurted out to those men: "These are high-level experts with real skills. That matter in Wang Yi Jian Sanye's house..."

The beggar was also anxious and talking nonsense, but when the man heard this, he frowned and put down the leaf cards in his hand. He didn't rush, took a sip from the teapot, and said: "Many opera troupes have come to the city recently. Looking at your appearance, you also need to head to the Outside Chengdu Lantern Festival."

"Since you are dressed like this, can you drive away evil?"

"Driving away evil, a small matter!"

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei climbed up the pole and said: "I don't know what kind of evil it is?"

The man said in a deep voice: "Easy to say. We have a new big mansion, and we wanted to decorate it, but the workers kept having accidents one after another. Even after inviting several Feng Shui masters, they couldn't settle it, only saying there was evil."

"If you can solve it, the toll will be waived."

"If you can't settle it, the price will double. Do you dare to agree?"

"Forget it, we'll pay."

Li Yan refused directly upon hearing this.

These people were clearly from the Gelao Society.

The so-called Yi Jian Sanye was the leader of the Gelao Society, with a high status, mainly managing money and food, and could be said to be wealthy.

!.

There were many hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the Gelao Society, and many capable people. To make this leader Yi Jian Sanye have a headache, it definitely wasn't a good job.

How much could the toll be? Based on their status, it was a loss.

These people knew they were sorcerers and still dared to do this, clearly because the matter over there was difficult to handle, and they wanted to take the opportunity to set a trap.

"Pfft!"

The man was disappointed when he saw the abacus fail, and then said: "Since that's the case, pay the money, twenty taels per person."

"Twenty taels! You..."

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei was indignant when he heard this, but was stopped by Li Yan, who paid the money cleanly.

The ways on this wharf were all interconnected. If they couldn't handle it here, the news would spread immediately.

If they went to other places, the price would likely be higher, and in the end, they would still have to obediently come back and pay extra to enter the city.

This was the local snake, occupying the geographical advantage, using various means to suppress you, unless they were willing to reveal their identities and break in by force.

But that would also expose them to the Salt Gang and the Shu Prince's Mansion, and the trouble they would encounter in the future would likely be even greater.

"Tsk tsk... generous!"

The man praised, stood up, kicked the table away, and then lifted the wooden board underneath. "Everyone, please."

"Remember, whatever you do has nothing to do with us, and you aren't entering the city from here. If you reveal your tracks, don't blame us for not following the rules of the martial world!"

Li Yan couldn't be bothered to pay attention and led the crowd into the tunnel with Liu San.

After they left, the man covered the wooden board again.

A thief-eyed man next to him sniffed and giggled: "Hui-ge, there were quite a few women in that group just now."

"Tsk tsk, they smell very fragrant..."

Slap!

Before he could finish, he was slapped.

The leading man cursed angrily: "Damn it, take the money and do the work, don't have other thoughts, don't give me any trouble, and break the rules of the martial world!"

"Yes, yes, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

The thief-eyed man was full of grievances and didn't dare to say more.

…………

Out of the secret passage, it was a horse shop.

Liu San led the crowd out of the livestock shed in the back, bowing and scraping: "Everyone, you've suffered. It's just that the city hasn't been peaceful lately, and the government is checking strictly. Only this line of the Gelao Society can still get in."

Li Yan looked around. "What place is this?"

"This is not far from Chaotianmen."

Liu San pointed to the east side. "This is a good place. Over there is the Minzhou Guild Hall, next to it is the Shaanxi Guild Hall, and over there is the Ganzhou Guild Hall. As long as you have connections and are willing to spend money, it's more comfortable than staying in an inn."

Li Yan pondered for a moment. "Is there a quiet big mansion?"

He had the token of the Jiangzhe Guild Hall in his bosom. If he went to show his identity, it would definitely be good wine and meat.

But that would definitely reveal his identity.

Liu San rolled his eyes and whispered: "This area is all guild halls. Further ahead are the government offices and the Battalion Commander Guard Station, which I'm sure you wouldn't want to stay in."

"Places where inns are concentrated are often crowded and mixed. I do know a place, over on Mihua Street."

"It was originally lived in by wealthy households in the city, but there was a big epidemic a few years ago, and many people died, so it gradually became abandoned."

"During this period, many opera troupes wandering the martial world have come to the city. You can rent a big courtyard for a little money, and since everyone is in the same trade, you won't be conspicuous."

"Good!"

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei threw out a silver ingot. "Including your reward, get it done for us."

"Yes, yes."

The beggar Liu San's eyes shone with joy, but after taking the silver, he saw the deep finger marks on it, and his heart sank again.

He knew this was a warning.

Under both soft and hard tactics, Liu San didn't dare to play any tricks. He ran around and found a familiar agent. In less than half an hour, he got things done.

He led the crowd through the streets and alleys to Mihua Street.

Just as he said, this place was considered a good place originally, with big mansions connected to each other, bluestone slabs building street stairs, and old trees planted.

But now, it was clearly a bit desolate.

Those abandoned old mansions were unattended, walls were covered with moss, roofs were covered with wormwood, some walls had even collapsed, and lazy cats and dogs were enjoying the long-lost sunshine.

"Wa-ya-ya-ya~"

Dong-dong-qiang dong-dong!

In a big mansion in the distance, there was the sound of a Sichuan opera troupe warming up their voices.

And in the broken-walled courtyard opposite, there were several teenagers lying on the ground, using their feet to lift a huge black vat, which was flying and crossing in the air.

It seemed that they were all troupes wandering the martial world stationed here.

Liu San led the crowd to one of the big mansions. After opening the door with a key, he saw that the houses inside were dilapidated, and the grass in the courtyard was half a person high.

Swish swish!

Hearing the sound, several rats fled.

"Everyone, don't mind it."

Liu San hurriedly explained: "Chongqing Prefecture is like this. Merchants are coming and going. If you don't stay in the Chamber of Commerce or an inn, this is the best place."

Seeing Li Yan nod in satisfaction, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Respected masters, the matter is settled, I won't disturb you anymore."

After saying this, he turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei called him again and said in a deep voice: "You seem to be quick at doing things. Come back tomorrow; there's another task."

"Good, good, I'll come tomorrow."

Liu San touched the silver in his bosom, his eyes narrowed into a smile.

In the past half year, this was the first time he had made a profit.

After he left, Li Yan looked around, pinched a magic formula, took a deep breath, and shook his head: "It's fine, there's a corpse in the well in the backyard, that water can't be drunk."

"San'er, watch the surroundings."

"We will station here. After we finish our business, we will leave Chongqing Prefecture and head to Outside Chengdu from Zoumaren Town."

Upon hearing this, the group immediately set up camp in an orderly manner.

Lu San held Rat Da and Rat Er, chanting spells, and rats immediately emerged, scattering and monitoring the movements nearby.

As for Li Yan, he came to a dilapidated side room, wiped the dust off the table, and placed a large bundle on it.

These were all looted from the three Wushan Earth Immortals. After the incident, they had been traveling day and night, and only now did they have time to check carefully...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 450 =====