Chapter 465: The Bustling Town of Zouma

Autumn rain fell softly, distant mountains blurred like ink washes.

Dozens of li southwest of Chongqing Fu, the terrain flattened, and in the gaps between grass and trees, unique purple-red sandstone could be seen.

Looking out, the land stretched vast and open.

Amid the misty rain, a village lingered faintly, as if one had stepped into Jiangnan.

"Gentlemen, ahead lies Shapingli."

The beggar Liu San, wrapped in bandages and medicated ointment, bowed deeply and said: "This place pales beside Ciqikou in prosperity, but over the years, many common folk have settled here. Pass through Shapingli, follow the official road, and you'll reach Zoumatown before nightfall."

He leaned on a cane, one foot dangling midair, resembling Tieguai Li.

Those vicious beggars struck too hard; even though Wang Daoxuan treated him in time and saved his life, he was left disabled.

"Thank you."

Li Yan nodded and led the way forward.

Liu San had shown some righteousness—he'd nearly been beaten to death without betraying their secrets. Li Yan admired him but would not over-familiarize himself.

Sha Lifei was different. He signaled Li Yan and the others to go ahead, then pulled a silver note from his sleeve—the very thousand taels Liu San had been robbed of.

"Master, what are you doing…?"

Liu San waved his hands frantically. "I didn't accomplish anything, and I even dragged you into saving me. Your kindness is beyond repayment—how could I take your money again?"

"Take it!"

Sha Lifei shoved the silver note into his chest, whispering: "Use this money to start a small trade."

"I've already spoken to Wan Baoquan. If you need help, go to him—no one will dare bully you again."

Liu San clutched the silver note, his eyes reddening. "Master, why are you so kind to me?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Sha Lifei glared and cursed, then fell silent for a moment before speaking: "To be honest, I was a beggar once too. I nearly got beaten to death—just like you."

Liu San's eyes shone with awe. "Master, you truly aren't ordinary! I'm not worthy to follow you, but I'll make something of myself someday—I won't bring shame to you!"

"Did a donkey kick your head?"

Sha Lifei snapped: "You're a cripple now—what world are you going to chase?"

Liu San chuckled. "I used to think of returning home to farm, but after this, I feel like I've been given a second life."

"Don't laugh at me—I only had one thought then: if I survived, I'd never live like a coward again."

"You were a beggar too, yet look at you now—still thriving!"

"Forget it, do as you please—die if you want!"

Sha Lifei stopped arguing, slapped Liu San's shoulder, and sighed: "Everyone's fate is different—some things can't be forced…"

He spoke from personal feeling.

He'd thought new firearms would let him rise above it all, but facing Huo Jiao's monster form, he felt powerless again.

With mediocre kung fu and no divine powers, he was no better than ordinary soldiers.

Saying this, Sha Lifei turned and left.

Behind him, the beggar Liu San finally couldn't hold back: "Master, may I know your name?"

Sha Lifei waved dismissively, saying nothing.

Watching his figure fade into the distance, Liu San struggled to kneel and bowed three respectful head-knocks.

Rising, he wiped mud from his face, flicked a small stone from the muck—and it shot out, landing precisely in the center of a nearby flower.

After walking the edge of death, Liu San felt something strange: his reflexes, senses, and bodily agility were surging upward.

He'd heard of this before—it was called Body Divine Power.

Touching the silver note in his chest, gazing at Chongqing's mist-shrouded skyline, he felt a flame rising in his heart…

…………

Wearing a Nuo mask, draped in a wide robe, walking with an umbrella through rain and mist.

The procession passed through fields and ridges; common folk bowed respectfully, their reverence tinged with fear, keeping their distance.

The Chongqing affair was settled—both sides received fifteen lashes each.

A fast horse brought word from the Litchi Ancient Road: the Emperor's newly appointed Provincial Governor was already en route, carrying the Tiger Talisman and military orders.

The reason was simple: the southwestern campaign had progressed—the imperial army had breached Qianzhou, slain several local chieftains, and dispatched envoys to pacify the people.

The policy of replacing native chieftains with imperial officials continued as planned.

Though the Yang family of Bozhou resisted stubbornly, the imperial army's mastery of new firearms grew ever sharper, crushing resistance like dry grass before fire.

The chieftains' fortresses, once impregnable, now fell to a single cannon shot.

The chieftains' troops excelled in mountain warfare, but the Ministry of Works' Mo Family had repaired Lu Ban's wooden magpie, sending sorcerers to hover overhead—no ambushes worked. Dropping new gunpowder bombs, they slaughtered entire squads at once.

Everyone knew the Yang family of Bozhou couldn't hold much longer.

But complications arose: fleeing chieftains, with their followers, turned bandits, hiding deep in the mountains, even entering Shu to raid river cargo ships.

Their forces scattered, now with nothing to lose, they became wandering outlaws—sometimes burning villages, raping and looting, a growing threat.

Thus, the new Chongqing Provincial Governor carried orders to suppress bandits.

Everyone knew this was the Emperor's warning.

Under heaven, all land belonged to the Son of Heaven—Chongqing Fu belonged neither to the Prince of Shu nor to the Ocean Trade Faction.

In the end, only two parties profited.

First, the Commandant's Office, no longer hiding like turtles, struck out everywhere, crushing nearby Jianghu factions, their reputation rising.

Second, the Emei lineage.

Per Li Yan's terms, their involvement was concealed; the credit for slaying the demons was split evenly between Wan Baoquan, the City God Temple, and the Commandant's Office.

With both factions retreating, a power vacuum opened in Chongqing Fu—Emei no longer feared trouble and sent large forces to reinforce.

Dan Hezi, the temple attendant, was finally worthy of his title.

Li Yan and his group also gained benefits.

First, the spoils: whether the "Dragon-Snake Token," or the secret manuals hidden by Huo Jiao and that Du Young Master, all were taken by them.

Second, the Prince of Shu's influence had grown far more cautious—Salt Gang's Lu Jiu and Commandant's Office's Liu Gan were both dead.

The Prince of Shu fell silent, no longer pursuing the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl."

Even so, they remained cautious, continuing to pose as a Yangxi troupe on the road.

Along the way, no one dared trouble them.

As dusk neared, they finally reached their destination.

Ahead, the mountains grew steep, the sky darkened, rain and mist drizzled endlessly—and an ancient town stood atop the ridge, glowing with lantern light.

"That must be Zoumatown."

Sha Lifei raised his umbrella, lifted his Nuo mask, and shook his head. "Zoumatown—there are surely dozens, if not a hundred, across Shenzhou."

"I've seen a few, but never one this lively."

Li Yan had memorized the map and nodded: "This place was originally a post station—the gateway from Chongqing to Chengdu. It straddles three counties, and every merchant passing through stops here."

"But what made it famous is something else."

"Since ancient times, travelers resting here have told stories from their homelands and wild legends, gradually making the town renowned. Later, members of the four Jianghu sects—Ping, Tuan, Diao, and Liu—gathered here: some collecting folk tales, others performing on the streets, still others setting up stages in inns. At night, it's always bustling…"

As he spoke, Li Yan suddenly recalled the mysterious opera elder and shook his head: "The marketplace holds strange talents—there may be hidden masters here. We'll rest two days, gather information, and avoid trouble."

With night falling, the group quickened their pace.

On the hillside path, they saw other traveling caravans, all hurrying urgently.

"We're late again—the inns are probably full."

"Master, why's it so crowded tonight?"

"Sigh—Zoumatown's always like this. Idle young lords from Yuzhou flock here to amuse themselves. They spend lavishly, driving up inn prices."

"Let's find a stable and make do for the night…"

Hearing the traders' talk, Li Yan and his group exchanged glances.

Among inns, the stable was the lowest tier—only cart drivers slept there, on shared bunk beds.

The conditions were bad enough, but the stench alone was unbearable.

!.

The Bai family women prized cleanliness; after Li Yan awakened his Smell Divine Power, his pickiness grew worse—he demanded quality in food, drink, and lodging.

So even if it cost more, they'd stay at a good inn.

And now it rained—were they truly to pitch tents and sleep outdoors?

"Let's go see first?"

Li Yan shook his head slightly and led the group onward.

Due to its role as a trade artery, caravans poured through constantly, and the roads connected in all directions—even bandits couldn't be fully blocked, so the ancient town had no surrounding walls.

The town was old, sprawling, and dotted with massive ancient trees whose dense, emerald canopies shaded the buildings below.

The streets were paved with cobblestones, laid with great effort long ago, but centuries of cart traffic and weather had left them uneven, grooved by wheel ruts.

Autumn rain pooled into puddles of all sizes.

Looking around, inns and teahouses lined every street, lanterns blazing, clappers and opera voices blending into a single roar, shouts never ceasing.

Along both sides of the road, makeshift food stalls under tents steamed in the mist, crowded with diners.

"Master, any rooms left?"

"Sorry, sir, all full."

"Even here's full?"

"Sir, you're a bit late—there won't be room until three days from now. If you wish to stay, I'll reserve it for you..."

Indeed, Sha Lifei had asked at every inn along the way, and all were fully booked.

After asking another innboy, he couldn't help complaining: "This is a major highway—how can there be no rooms available at any inn?"

"Sir, you're unaware of the situation."

The innboy didn't take offense; he bowed deeply and said: "For the past two days, two factions from Pingmen have been dueling, pulling out every trick they have—even their most secret techniques."

"Traveling merchants won't miss this—even if it delays them two days, they'll come just to hear it. Even some young masters from Chongqing Prefecture have already reserved rooms in advance."

"It's just a storytelling session—why all this fuss?"

Sha Lifei was speechless.

The innboy exclaimed in surprise: "You don't know? It's 'Li Tiezui' and 'Kuaiban Liu'—each has his own specialty. Even in Chengdu, tickets are impossible to get!"

Li Tiezui...

Li Yan, upon hearing this, fell into thought.

In Wanzhou, Cui Cong had told him that the Sichuan mystic "Hui Pao Dian Seng" had appeared to him in a dream, urging him to eradicate evil.

"Hui Pao Dian Seng" was a legendary figure from the Tang era, a disciple of Xing Hepu.

Even Xing Hepu himself admitted that "Hui Pao Dian Seng" was even more skilled in divination—and must never be provoked.

Xing Hepu had obtained the Hidden Scriptures of Wang Chan the Old Ancestor and learned some secrets of the Great Luo Dharma Realm; "Hui Pao Dian Seng" likely knew them too.

Li Yan came to Zouma Town not only because it was a vital route to Chengdu, but also to gather information.

According to Cui Cong of the Dian Yi Sect, he had learned the story of "Hui Pao Dian Seng" from Li Tiezui right here in Zouma Town.

This "Li Tiezui" was one of Li Yan's targets.

Thinking of this, Li Yan picked up the thread: "We truly can't miss this. May I ask, where else might we find lodging?"

Though polite, the innboy clearly grew weary of the questions; he smiled and replied: "There are places, but I fear you won't be allowed in—even with money."

Sha Lifei laughed. "Do tell me—where exactly can't we get in, no matter how much we pay?"

The innboy pointed north. "North of the city is Zouma Posthouse. Though the court is reforming and merchants may now stay, Zouma Posthouse doesn't lack funds—unless you have official imperial documents, you won't get in."

Li Yan's group, dressed as traveling yangxi performers, clearly had no imperial documents.

Sha Lifei snapped: "What else?"

The innboy realized his tone had been too blunt and hurriedly bowed: "Forgive me, the remaining two options are also difficult."

"One is Sun Family Courtyard in the east city—it belongs to a wealthy salt merchant and a renowned figure in the Jianghu. He's generous to all who travel the roads; if you're a respected figure, he'll cover your food and lodging and even give you travel funds..."

"The other is the South City Guildhall—it's both the Xie Clan ancestral hall and the Jinzhou Guildhall, and only admits merchants traveling from Jinzhou."

"Hey, what luck!"

Sha Lifei grinned. "We can actually stay there!"

…………

The Jinzhou Guildhall was not large, appearing to be only three courtyards deep, built in classic Jinzhou style.

High walls, large courtyards, small windows—when the gates closed, the earthen stone structure became a fortress capable of repelling bandits.

At this moment, the guildhall's gate stood half-open; beneath two massive red lanterns stood two men, dressed in black with red sashes, sturdy of build, eyes sharp.

Li Yan's group all wore Nuo masks and wide robes.

Seeing them emerge from the night rain and mist, anyone would be unnerved—the two men immediately gripped their sword hilts and growled: "Stop right there. What is your business?"

Li Yan pulled a copper plaque from his sleeve and spoke calmly: "Hu Ming of the Jade Emperor Temple gave me this. He said it grants entry to all Jinzhou Guildhalls."

In Wuchang, they had commissioned master craftsmen from Jinzhou to forge firearms and helped the Jade Emperor Temple and the Wang Fu in Wuchang broker a deal for treasures.

The man had given him the plaque—but he didn't know if it would work.

"Oh?"

The man carefully took the plaque, bowed respectfully, and said: "Please wait a moment. I'll return shortly."

With that, he entered the courtyard with the plaque.

After about half a stick of incense, he hurried back, followed by an elderly man with a kind face and elegant attire.

The old man paid no mind to their disguises; he smiled and bowed: "I am Xie Zhengyuan. Unaware of your arrival, I apologize for the lack of proper welcome. Please forgive me."

He gestured inward: "Please, come in. Rooms have been prepared—luckily, we've had some spare capacity lately."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Li Yan was also surprised, leading the group inside.

Sha Lifei asked curiously: "Master Xie, aren't you afraid we're bandits?"

The old man paused, turned slightly, and smiled: "How could the famed Li Shaoxia of Ezhou be a bandit?"

(End of Chapter)