Chapter 467: Life in This World

The Dragon Girl has appeared in another dream!

Li Yan was not startled; he had grown accustomed to it.

To others, divine dreams were rare strokes of immortal fortune.

For him, they were commonplace.

Perhaps because of the Soul Ledger, perhaps because of the Great Luo Body, he always felt a deep resonance with such things.

Coming back to himself, he examined the vision closely.

Since acquiring the strange jade fragment left by Yin Changsheng, both the Soul Ledger and the dreams had shown him clearer images.

It was the same now.

In the dream, the Dragon Girl's temple lay deep beneath the water; the surrounding terrain, littered with jagged rocks sloping downward, was likely submerged due to an earth dragon's upheaval.

The massive creature within, as its body stirred, finally became clear—it was a colossal serpent.

Such a size meant it had surely become a demon.

Behind the buried Dragon Girl's temple, there must have been considerable space, now used by the demon as its lair.

What was the Dragon Girl trying to tell him?

Looking at the vision before him, Li Yan pondered.

On this journey, the Dragon Girl's dreams had repeatedly surfaced whenever something stirred her awareness, prompting her to send him a warning.

It must be the Dragon-Snake Tablet!

Could the Dragon-Snake Tablet have originated from this very place?

As Li Yan wondered, something slowly sank from above the water's surface—offerings of fruit and vegetables, along with live pigs and oxen.

The serpent within swiftly turned, thrusting its head—thick as a water jar—out of the water, opening its fanged maw to swallow the offerings.

But these offerings were merely appetizers.

When several bound boys and girls were likewise dropped into the riverbed and devoured one by one by the serpent, Li Yan finally understood.

This was a living human sacrifice to the River God!

Human sacrifice had gradually been abolished since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, yet the custom persisted; it was only fully banned at the state level during the Warring States period.

But among the common people, the vile practice had never fully vanished.

Unfortunately, just as he tried to see more clearly, the serpent demon seemed to sense him—it slowly turned its head, its eyes glowing with a deep blue light.

The dream ended abruptly.

Li Yan jolted awake, his back drenched in sweat.

That serpent demon was no ordinary creature.

The Dragon Girl's dream was a form of divination called dream divination.

Yet the demon had sensed it!

This had happened before, when he saw the Divine Manifestation True Lord's temple.

This serpent demon must possess profound cultivation!

Unfortunately, he had only seen the underwater scene—he did not know the exact location…

It seemed he must also pay attention to gathering intelligence on this matter.

After thinking for a while, he finally fell into deep sleep.

…………

Before dawn the next day, Li Yan was awakened by noise.

It did not come from the Jinzhou Guildhall.

The servants here were clearly rigorously trained; they spoke and acted with extreme caution, keeping the entire guildhall silent.

The noise came from outside the street.

There were firecrackers and the clanging of gongs and drums.

Li Yan rose, washed up hastily, put on his clothes, and stepped outside.

In the front courtyard, the proprietor Xie Zhengyuan was practicing martial arts.

His "Dragon Form" was fierce and winding; his "Tiger Pounce" was swift and explosive; his feet stomped in linked steps, his sleeves whipping with wind—every move, every posture, forged through countless repetitions.

Li Yan instantly recognized the origin.

The man's heart, intent, qi, and strength were perfectly aligned—he had grasped the essence of the "Three Internal Harmonies" of Heart-Mind Fist.

Seeing Xie Zhengyuan's gaze turn toward him, Li Yan quickly bowed his fists. "I did not mean to spy, Master Xie. Please forgive me."

"No matter."

Xie Zhengyuan smiled. "I practice fist techniques merely as a hobby. Heart-Mind Fist is widely known; even my hometown elders know a few forms—just to keep the body limber. Don't laugh, young hero."

Li Yan nodded. "Master, you are too modest. I've long heard Heart-Mind Fist has flourished in Jinzhou. May I ask which lineage you learned from?"

Xie Zhengyuan picked up a towel and wiped his sweat.

"My ancestral home is in central Jinzhou."

"Ah, no wonder."

After a few casual words, Xie Zhengyuan spoke again. "Young hero, were you awakened by the commotion outside? Come, join me and see the spectacle."

Saying this, he turned toward the gate and ordered it opened.

Li Yan followed closely, standing at the threshold to watch.

The morning mist had not yet lifted; in the distance, flames danced up and down—it was a group holding incense and waving them.

As they drew nearer, the sight became clearer.

The people were dressed elaborately, like opera costumes; one hand waved large bundles of incense, the other held lanterns.

Leading them was an elderly man.

He wore rich attire and stood tall; whenever they reached a merchant's door, someone would immediately light incense, and the leader would form a divine seal, seemingly bestowing blessings.

The seal revealed it was a Buddhist ritual.

Behind him came an even larger procession.

Some carried sutra banners, others held flower baskets; further back, a gong-and-drum band played, and others lit firecrackers along the route.

At the center of the procession was always a dance troupe.

All were children aged seven or eight, wearing flower crowns, lotus skirts, colorful shawls, holding flowerpots and fans, dancing to the rhythm of drums and music, their faces solemn and devout.

Behind them came nine-grade incense candles, a divine shrine, and a large crowd of believers holding prayer beads, chanting sutras, closely following.

The procession arrived before the Jinzhou Guildhall.

Xie Zhengyuan quickly ordered a red envelope brought forward and handed it out.

"Master Xie, may you be blessed with ten thousand fortunes."

"May the Buddha protect you, bring timely rain and sunshine, and ensure peace and safety."

The two clearly knew each other; after exchanging greetings, the musical troupe immediately moved forward, circling once around the entrance of the Jinzhou Guildhall.

Only then did the entire procession continue onward.

After they departed, Xie Zhengyuan spoke. "This is the 'Incense-Bearing Child Dance,' also called 'Children Paying Homage to Guanyin.' Originally meant to pray for favorable weather and harvests, it is held during every seasonal festival."

"Didn't something happen in Chongqing Prefecture? Several children from Zouma Town were among the victims. That group ahead is from the Sun family of the Salt Guild in the city—they're known for their righteousness and revere both Buddhism and Daoism. They organized this ritual to expel evil spirits and pray for blessings, and also to perform rites for those children, calming their souls…"

"I see."

Li Yan listened, then shook his head slightly.

Those who joined in, who slew demon-worshippers, cared most about how the incident shifted the jianghu's power structure.

But for the people of Chongqing Prefecture, the murdered children were an unshakable nightmare—how long would it take for their grief to fade?

Remembering the living sacrifice from last night's dream, Li Yan felt a sudden surge of anger, his eyes flickering with killing intent.

In this jianghu, some remain indifferent, aloof from others' suffering.

But there are always those who carry blades and crush injustice wherever they find it.

"Young hero…"

Sensing the killing intent, Xie Zhengyuan grew wary.

"My apologies."

Li Yan immediately calmed himself, bowing his fists. "We are strangers here, unfamiliar with the land. We seek your help on a few matters."

"Oh? Let's speak elsewhere. Young hero, follow me." Xie Zhengyuan led him into his study, ordered tea and pastries brought, then asked, "What do you need?"

Li Yan spoke gravely. "I have three requests."

"First, I wish to meet Elder 'Li Tiezui' of the Pingmen Sect—I wish to hear his stories. I hope you can introduce me."

"Second, I need to find a reliable treasure-seeker."

"Third, I want to know which places nearby still practice living human sacrifice to the River God."

This was why he had stopped in Zouma Town.

The town sees many merchant caravans traveling north and south; rumors and stories circulate quietly, sometimes even more than news from Chongqing Prefecture.

The "Gray Robe Mad Monk" likely knows the secrets of the Great Luo Dao Realm—and he once appeared in a dream to Cui Cong, proving he still exists.

Like Yin Changsheng, he is a target of Li Yan's search.

Finding a treasure-seeker is to obtain the several heavenly treasures mentioned by Qingniu Temple, plus the Bai family's hidden relics, to exchange on Mount Qingcheng.

As for the living sacrifices, they relate to last night's dream.

!.

"Oh?"

Xie Zhengyuan stroked his long beard, his eyes filled with doubt. "Though Shu's shamanic traditions run deep, over a thousand years of literary flourishing and Confucian transmission have made human sacrifice exceedingly rare."

"I've never heard of this Zouma Town or anywhere near Chongqing."

"Perhaps some family is secretly doing it—I can send people to inquire."

"As for the Biebao people, I actually know one—often disguised as a peddler, he roams Sichuan and Shu, collecting treasures and selling them to my Jinzhou Merchants' Guild. I can send word."

"And then there's 'Li Tiezui.'"

At this, Xie Zhengyuan smiled, "He has a good relationship with our Jinzhou Merchants' Guild and usually stays with his disciples at the teahouse run by our guildhall."

"These past few days, he's been in a contest of skill with another. If you're interested, Young Master, I can take you to the teahouse to listen later."

Li Yan grew curious, "When I arrived, I heard the other side was also a master of the Pingmen. Are they fighting over territory?"

"Hahaha…"

Xie Zhengyuan chuckled, "Jianghu performers travel far and wide; they speak of human affairs and gossip, promoting harmony and profit. How could there be so many life-or-death conflicts?"

"What they call a contest of skill is really just mutual praise. Both are old friends, and both are advanced in years. They're making this spectacle to give their disciples a chance to shine and build their reputations."

"Oh, so it's just promotion."

Li Yan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but laugh quietly.

The Jianghu conflicts he'd encountered were mostly over interests—knives drawn, spells cast, no mercy shown.

He'd almost forgotten: ordinary Jianghu folk played by a different set of rules.

"Promotion?"

Xie Zhengyuan asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

Li Yan smiled, "It just means making a big fuss…"

He then explained some of these promotion techniques.

In his past life, such things were utterly commonplace.

But after hearing this, Xie Zhengyuan fell into deep thought, then clapped his hands and sighed, "Brilliant! Exquisite! Fanning the flames, conjuring fire from nothing—it bears resemblance to Confucian divination arts, turning falsehood into truth, and truth into falsehood…"

He bowed, "Thank you, Young Master Li, for teaching me this art. It's worth ten thousand gold. When I've compiled it into a manual, my Xie family will repay you handsomely."

He spoke of the Xie family—clearly intending to make this art a family tradition.

Li Yan was speechless, shaking his head, "Master, you're too kind. It was just idle chatter."

But Xie Zhengyuan grew serious, "Young Master, please have your meal first. After I make arrangements, I'll take you to the teahouse."

"Alright."

Li Yan bowed and took his leave.

Xie Zhengyuan, meanwhile, hurriedly pulled out a notebook, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote down every example Li Yan had given, then frowned in thought, expanding upon them…

…………

After breakfast, he rested for another half-hour.

Xie Zhengyuan sent someone to summon him. Li Yan inquired and, seeing the others weren't interested, put on his conical hat and left the guildhall alone with Xie Zhengyuan.

Creak~

After they departed, a door slowly opened.

Long Yan'er stepped out.

On this journey, her condition had worsened—her life-giving poison had been damaged, her soul injured; her cultivation was slipping, and her body had grown frail.

Even slight movement left her breathless and sweating.

Perhaps her rest last night had helped—her complexion had improved slightly—but she still looked pale, staring blankly at the guildhall's eaves and bracket sets.

Sha Lifei happened to step out and, seeing her, hesitated, then approached and asked, "Miss Long, are you alright?"

Long Yan'er glanced at him, then lowered her head in silence.

Sha Lifei rubbed his bald head. He'd been about to turn away, but something felt wrong, so he spoke up to comfort her: "I heard about your situation."

"Don't worry—the imperial army is advancing like a landslide. The Yang family of Bozhou won't last much longer. When that happens, I'll ask Young Li to take you on a journey to find your master and perform rites for his soul."

"Thank you."

Long Yan'er gave a slight nod. "My master hoarded some medicinal herbs—celestial treasures and earth essences. I've hidden them in various places. I'll use them as payment."

Sha Lifei laughed heartily, "Then what's there to worry about? Even if we can't help, we can find someone else."

Long Yan'er said nothing, just stared at her hands, eyes distant. "I've lost my life-giving poison, my soul is damaged. I'll never be able to use spells again. What's the difference between me and a useless wreck?"

Sha Lifei's face darkened. "I don't use spells either. Are you saying I'm a useless wreck too?"

Long Yan'er blinked, quickly shaking her head. "That's not what I meant—I just don't know what to do now that I can't use spells…"

"There's plenty you can do!"

Sha Lifei glared. "How many spellcasters are there in this world? Do ordinary people just stop living?"

"Do what you must. Life isn't about making things harder for yourself."

Seeing his expression, Long Yan'er suddenly felt annoyed and sneered, "You're a hypocrite—full of nonsense. You're clearly bitter inside, yet you pretend to be carefree?"

Sha Lifei was stunned. "You noticed?"

Long Yan'er sniffed. "Everyone in this group can see it. They're all tiptoeing around you. When you fired recklessly, Lu San and Wu Ba were right beside you, holding back so you could act freely."

Sha Lifei fell silent.

After a long while, both sighed together.

"Fine, I'm useless. Who isn't, in this life?"

Sha Lifei cursed, "I've made my peace. Everything's fate—no one controls it. I'll just go where Young Li goes. When I can't walk anymore, I'll find a place to rest and return to the earth."

"Still, you've got to enjoy yourself. We've come this far—how could you not listen to music and drink tea? Are you coming?"

Long Yan'er hesitated. "This…"

Sha Lifei glared. "I'm useless, you're useless—what's wrong with going out? What's there to fear?"

"Alright!"

Long Yan'er's face was pale, but a smile appeared on it.

Suddenly energized, they changed clothes, donned their conical hats to hide their faces, called out a farewell, and left the guildhall.

After they departed, Lu San emerged from the corner, whispering into the room: "Master, I'll follow them, in case anything happens."

He then swiftly left the guildhall.

Inside the room, Wang Daoxuan sat at his desk, smiling faintly, continuing to read the book in his hands.

On a nearby street, Li Yan followed Xie Zhengyuan into a sizable teahouse.

Crack!

As soon as they entered, a wooden clapper struck the table.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's tale is of the Holy True Lord who split the mountain to save his mother…"

(End of Chapter)