Chapter 468: Mountain and Water Eagle Flying

The night wind whistled, and the autumn rain drizzled.

The Mountain God Temple wall collapsed, and the wooden door shattered into several pieces. The offering table inside exploded, seemingly from an internal explosion, directly blowing the roof of the ruined temple away.

Meng Shanhai, Wang Jingui, Zhou Xiong...

Tablets were scattered everywhere, mixed with mud and water, covered in cracks, and the wood was rotten, as if they had passed through a hundred years of time.

Also shattered were the cliff graves on both sides.

The bricks and stones collapsed, all exploding from the inside.

Zhao Xianda, a company commander of the Chongqing Prefecture Commandant's Office, held an umbrella, observing the graves carefully, his brows locked, lost in thought.

Around him, there were corpses everywhere.

Most of the faces were blue and purple, twisted, as if scared to death by something, bleeding from the seven orifices, their bodies folded at strange angles.

Others were torn apart, bloody and blurry.

In the night, the firelight flickered, the autumn rain was continuous, and the ground was full of mud and blood, dyeing the earth red.

Members of the Commandant's Office held torches, their expressions cold and stern, carefully examining the corpses, recording, and collecting items, appearing orderly.

Since the Chongqing Prefecture matter was settled, the Commandant's Office began to emerge, cooperating with Emei to quickly master the power of Chongqing Prefecture.

Different from Liu Gan, Zhao Xianda, who was also a company commander, had been very low-key before, and only began to exert force when the timing was ripe.

After handling a few cases, he had already become a red man in the Commandant's Office.

The superiors also intended to add burdens to him, letting him suppress the name of Wan Baoquan as the number one divine catcher in the Southwest, so all the big cases were handed to him.

Without a doubt, the scene before him was a big case.

"Sir!"

A squad leader of the Commandant's Office strode over, cupped his hands and bowed, "It has already been checked. No gunpowder was used. Checking the traces, it was done by two people: one had a large build and was an expert in dark energy, and the other was a sorcerer."

Zhao Xianda gave a light glance, "What about this village?"

The squad leader said in a low voice, "Some things were found in the warehouse. It can be confirmed that this Old Bear Village is the 'Ghost Fish Gang' of the Jialing River."

"Busy as civilians, idle as bandits, and they also occupied the pier to do business and sell stolen goods. No wonder they were elusive and had never been caught all these years."

"More than just bandits."

Zhao Xianda looked at the broken graves around him, "Obscene sacrifices to Yin ghosts, human sacrifice. Those children were sucked of their Yang energy by the old ghosts in the graves all day long."

"Greed blinds the heart. No wonder others took ruthless action."

"Hand the case over to the Law Enforcement Hall; it has nothing to do with us."

"Sir, this..."

The squad leader of the Commandant's Office was instantly stunned.

Zhao Xianda shook his head slightly, "Merits cannot be taken endlessly. Take what should be taken, and let go of what shouldn't be touched. Being too greedy will offend the public."

As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment and said, "But some things cannot be ignored. What is that person's name?"

"The survivors said that the person called himself Mobile Corps Commander."

"Mobile Corps Commander?"

Zhao Xianda chuckled, "Could it be that there are Twelve Yuan Chen?"

"Release the news: 'Mobile Corps Commander' wiped out the evil bandits of obscene sacrifices and evil ghosts. The imperial court knows, but will not pursue this matter."

The squad leader was full of confusion, "Sir, forgive this subordinate for being dull. Not arresting people is one thing, but why also build a reputation for him?"

"It's very simple."

Zhao Xianda flicked his oil-paper umbrella and watched the raindrops fall, calmly saying, "The Commandant's Office is to supervise the Jianghu for the Emperor, not the Yamen catchers. One must have a count in their heart about what should be done and what shouldn't."

"Releasing the news is to let the people in the Jianghu know that our Commandant's Office is not eating for nothing."

"Building a reputation for them is to let the people in the Jianghu know that we also understand the rules of the Jianghu. In the future, when a great cause is pressed, there will naturally be people running for us."

"Yes, Company Commander."

Dozens of miles away, on the mountain road of Mount Jinyun.

Wang Daoxuan was also holding an umbrella, carrying a lantern, shuttling through the rain. Behind him, Wu Ba carried a pack and also wore an extra-large coir raincoat and bamboo hat. Looking from afar, he was about the same as a wild bear in the mountain.

"The time of return is not yet set; the Bashan night rain swells the autumn pond. When shall we cut the candle by the west window together, and talk about the time of the Bashan night rain..."

Wang Daoxuan traveled through the night rain, his mood seemingly good. The cold rain mist seemed to wash away the murderous aura on his body.

He shook his head and said, "'Bashan Night Rain' is famous throughout the world, but few know that what Li Yishan wrote was exactly this Mount Jinyun."

"Hmm hmm."

Wu Ba behind him nodded repeatedly, his mouth constantly gnawing on a large sesame seed cake.

Wang Daoxuan didn't care, talking to himself.

Who would have thought that Wu Ba swallowed the cake and suddenly said, "You... why... angry, killing... never seen."

Wang Daoxuan was stunned, looked at Wu Ba, and seeing his dull appearance, he was surprised first, then silent for a while, and sighed, "This matter, this poor Daoist has never told anyone."

"I was called Wang Lao Nian, later called Shopkeeper Wang, running around to earn money, but I didn't know that my family listened to evil words and brought in evil things. The whole family was the only one left alive."

"I seek the Dao not for longevity, but only for the 'Wang Lao Nian' in this world to be a little less..."

While speaking, the two figures gradually disappeared into the rain mist...

………………

Three days later, between the mountain roads of Shu.

The mountain road was paved with stone strips, which could accommodate two pack horses traveling in opposite directions. The steep sections were chiseled into stairs from the bedrock, showing how much manpower was spent during construction.

Unfortunately, after a long period of time, the roadbed had long been destroyed, uneven, mixed with mud, with wheel tracks sparkling, and horse bells ringing in the distance.

This was the Chengdu-Chongqing Ancient Road, which began in the Han Dynasty and took shape in the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Starting from Chaotian Post in Chongqing in the east and ending at Jinguan Post in Chengdu in the west, it was the most important land passage between the two places.

Although it was of great age, the facilities were complete.

Along the way, there were not only post stations and pond shops, but also a larger number of teahouses and inns for merchants and travelers to rest, change horses, and stay.

At this moment, the autumn rain had just stopped, and the sky was high and the clouds were wide.

The thick fog covering the mountains had dissipated, and the autumn leaves on the distant mountains had turned yellow, the pines and cypresses were still green, and the river water was like jade, forming a gorgeous autumn scene.

On the ancient road, there were many pedestrians.

There were merchant caravans with rolling wheels and neighing horses, as well as high-ranking officials and noble people sitting in carriages, and most ordinary people were walking.

There were even many ascetic monks wearing bamboo hats, lined up in a row.

Under the forest by the road, a team of mysterious people wearing Nuo masks and wide robes were burning a campfire, cooking, and resting.

Those passing by saw them and didn't dare to disturb them.

Those who knew the trade knew that this was a Wuyang Yang opera troupe, and it was the kind of troupe that could set up altars to drive away evil spirits and had Wu.

As for those who didn't know, they also knew one truth:

When traveling abroad, provoke less right and wrong.

These were naturally Li Yan and his party.

They set off from Zouma Town, arrived in Zizhong two days ago, and had now passed Jianyang County. After traveling for another half day, they would reach Longquan Post.

After passing Longquan Post, it would be considered arriving in Chengdu.

After two days of rushing, although they didn't encounter any danger, they were tired and hungry, so they simply rested by the road to restore their spirits.

After all, when they reached Chengdu, the situation would be more complex.

On the tree crown hung a strange colorful flag, spliced from several colors. Although simple, if viewed from the air, it was unusually obvious.

Li Yan sat by the campfire, meditating and closing his eyes to rest. Although there were many experts among the Bai family women in the team, and there was the old senior Bai Huan sitting in town, it was an escort mission after all, so he had to be careful.

Only he alone didn't dare to sleep too deeply at night.

In the dark clouds in the distant sky, a small point suddenly appeared, piercing the sky and breaking the clouds, flapping its wings and flying. It was the falcon Lidong.

This pet of Lu San had long since had spirituality. Although it didn't know Dharma techniques, its flying ability and intelligence far exceeded ordinary falcons.

Seeing that colorful flag, it flew down directly.

Now that they were acting in three teams and had no telephone, the falcon Lidong naturally became the main force for communication before the team.

Swish, wings flapping, the campfire flickered.

Li Yan first fed it a piece of rabbit meat he had hunted on the road, then took down the bamboo tube and carefully checked the intelligence on it, his eyes somewhat surprised.

Wang Daoxuan, this good old man, would actually take ruthless action...

Wiping out a whole village of evil bandits.

And also released the name "Mobile Corps Commander".

！.

Li Yan didn't know the reason, but he was very certain that Wang Daoxuan was definitely not a person who acted recklessly; he must have been angered by something.

He wasn't worried either; those mountain bandits, even if Wu Ba alone went, could kill them all, not to mention Wang Daoxuan.

The team had been acting separately for five or six days.

In this short time, Wang Daoxuan moved fast, having checked all the places near Chongqing Prefecture suspected of human sacrifice on the intelligence.

One was fake, a puppet opera troupe wandering the Jianghu, playing tricks to deceive people of their money...

One was the Old Bear Village, which was wiped out by Wang Daoxuan.

And another was a human life lawsuit, where someone borrowed the name of sacrificing to gods to seize the family property of relatives, which was notified to Wan Baoquan by Wang Daoxuan.

Being famous also had its benefits.

The name "Mobile Corps Commander" began to be mentioned in the Shu Jianghu. Near Mount Jinyun, Wang Daoxuan made friends with several Jianghu people.

According to them, near Nanchong and Physician, folk sorcerers were secretly preaching, saying that the Dragon God had descended into the world. Many rural people joined the religion one after another, and there were suspected traces of human sacrifice.

Wang Daoxuan had heard him say before that the hometown of Huo Jiao of the Pai Sect was nearby, so he went north along the Jialing River to investigate.

After reading the intelligence, Li Yan's expression was solemn.

This operation was not comparable to the one in Old Bear Village. If it was really related to the Jiangshen Great Monarch, the danger level would also increase.

Thinking of this, he immediately took up a pen to write a letter, asking Wang Daoxuan to only secretly collect intelligence, and no matter what situation he encountered, wait for the team to converge before dealing with it...

Just at this moment, the pale-faced Long Yaner suddenly walked over, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Old Sha... something happened?"

It was because she saw Li Yan's expression was wrong, so she hurried to inquire.

"Hmm, something happened."

Li Yan replied without raising his head.

"Ah?!"

Long Yaner was shocked, almost unable to stand steady, and asked with a trembling voice, "He... what happened to him?"

Li Yan sighed, "Among the heavenly spiritual and earthly precious items informed by Green Ox Temple, there was a nest of jade bees. I wanted to let Lu San's demon gourd improve after finding it."

"This old boy was greedy and tasted a mouthful of honey, resulting in the reversal of Yang energy, and he has been lying down for three days after being stung by poisonous bees..."

Long Yaner: "......"

Seeing this woman's appearance, Li Yan also smiled secretly in his heart, unable to help but sigh, if it weren't for Lu San's reminder, he really wouldn't have discovered that this Gu Sect Saintess had taken a fancy to Old Sha.

Along the way, although she tried her best to cover it up, she couldn't help but ask him about Sha Lifei's news.

It could only be said that fate is so wonderful.

Thinking of this, Li Yan didn't tease her anymore and said solemnly, "Long girl, you should worry about yourself first. Although there is a method now, re-condensing the life-bound Gu is no small matter."

"Old Sha wants to break the cauldron and sink the boat; you are even more dangerous than him. We don't understand Gu techniques and can't help much..."

After all, she was an old senior of the Siming Society with an ancient inheritance. Bai Huan searched through classics along the way and finally found a method.

But this method had higher danger, almost nine deaths and one life, and outsiders couldn't help at all.

Hearing Li Yan's inquiry, Long Yaner was silent for a moment, a calm smile appearing on her face, "If successful, I will go find you. If not successful... just pretend you never saw me."

After saying that, she turned and returned to Bai Huan's side.

Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Jianghu children are often beyond their own control. Many times, even if they have feelings, they have no fate to be together, at most meeting old friends in the mountains and rivers in the future.

Old Sha has drifted for half a lifetime; this fate came too late and was too bitter.

Both sides have to go through life-and-death tribulations.

Thinking of this, Li Yan took up the pen again to write down Long Yaner's situation and stuffed it into the bamboo tube.

He knew that Sha Lifei wouldn't say it, but he definitely wanted to know...

Swish!

The falcon Lidong flapped its wings and rose again.

Watching the black dot disappear into the clouds, Li Yan stood up and said, "Alright, everyone, let's set off. We will reach Longquan Post tonight."

"Find a place to stay and inquire about news..."

…………

The falcon Lidong flapped its wings and soared, flying over mountains, waters, and rivers.

I don't know how long it had been, when it suddenly lowered its body, suddenly pierced out of the clouds, and flew toward the high mountain below.

The high mountain was lush and layered, the peaks were strange and beautiful, and there were strange rocks hanging alone from the ground. In the clouds and mist, one could see Daoist temples and Buddhist temples, as well as large tea gardens on the hillsides.

This place was Mount Bayue, with mountains standing tall. There were thirty-five peaks on the top of the mountain. Although it was not a blessed land, it was also a place where the spirit was gathered.

There were Daoist temples and Buddhist temples on the mountain, all of which were Red Dust Temples, and scholars from Chongqing Prefecture often went up the mountain to seek seclusion and sightseeing.

But the most famous was the tea garden on the mountain.

This place produced "Shuinan Tea", which was imperial tribute tea. Even the Shu Prince's Mansion sent people to watch and pick tea all year round.

Generally speaking, tea leaves are planted in spring and autumn, but the tea-picking season has different flavors due to different times.

Spring tea is the most, summer tea is bitter, and autumn tea has a mellow taste.

At this moment, in the tea garden on the mountain, tea-picking women were working, planting new tea. The cold wind was biting, and their fingers were frozen red.

In the tent in the distance, the eunuchs of the Shu Prince's Mansion were roasting by the stove, drinking tea and eating snacks, laughing and talking to each other.

No one noticed that a falcon had flown over their heads and landed in a dense forest behind the mountain.

Under the shade of the forest, it was Lu San and Sha Lifei, as well as the treasure-seeking master and apprentice who were introduced by the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce.

"Hmm~ hmm~"

Sha Lifei was swollen all over, his eyes swollen like light bulbs, leaning under the tree, unable to help but groan.

The little white fox Chuji stood by, a pair of dark, round eyes staring at him, the corners of its mouth curved, seemingly mocking him.

"Go, go..."

Sha Lifei waved his hand and muttered, "It's a pity I was thinking of you and found honey for you, but now you're here to laugh at me."

Lu San took the bamboo tube from under the falcon's claws, checked it, and handed the letter written by Li Yan to Sha Lifei.

After Sha Lifei saw it, he fell into silence.

The old treasure-seeker nearby was applying medicine to him. Seeing this, he comforted him, "It's fine. This prescription of mine is specifically for bee venom; the swelling will subside in two or three days."

Sha Lifei squeezed out a smile and changed the subject, "Senior Yu, will that thing really appear tonight?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 469 =====