Chapter 469: Splitting the Team

"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

Li Yan, upon hearing this, felt surprised.

The team now each had their assigned duties.

Lu San's task was primarily vigilance—he remained alert to his surroundings no matter where they were.

He was, in effect, the team's eyes.

Li Yan had thought he'd detected some situation, but instead he brought up Sha Lifei.

Lu San fell silent for a moment, "If we don't find a way soon, Old Sha will leave for good. I don't want to abandon anyone."

Hearing this, Li Yan immediately felt a pang of guilt.

Sha Lifei had indeed been acting increasingly strange lately.

He'd known Old Sha the longest and their bond was the strongest, yet he hadn't been as perceptive as Lu San—it was truly his fault.

"What's a good solution?"

Thinking of this, Li Yan quickly asked.

Lu San pulled out the *Mountain and Sea Divine Response Scripture*, found a passage, "In ancient shamanic traditions, there is a ritual that can awaken spiritual abilities in someone facing utter despair."

"It mentions that when a tribe loses its shaman, they send someone to places like the Corpse Mountain or Ghost Cave—locations where yin and malevolent energies gather—to perform the ritual and awaken a new shaman, preventing the lineage from dying out…"

Li Yan frowned immediately, "Great illness, disaster, despair—yes, those conditions can create openings, but if it were this simple, the Xuanmen True Teachings would've used it long ago. This ritual must be dangerous, right?"

"Yes."

Lu San nodded, "In the past, I wouldn't have mentioned it, but after entering the Goddess Palace in Wushan, I obtained the *Lan Zhi Scripture* and now understand some herbal techniques—I can craft a talisman using Soul-Returning Grass to protect the spirit."

"What materials are needed?"

"A place saturated with yin and malevolent energy—not an ordinary one. Even if it doesn't match the bizarre locations in the *Mountain and Sea Scripture*, it must be inhabited by a yin spirit…"

"And you need celestial and terrestrial treasures—herbs to graft onto the Soul-Returning Grass…"

"It's still dangerous, but the chance of survival is greater."

Hearing this, Li Yan felt uneasy and said gravely, "All these are external tools—what about Old Sha himself?"

"He needs the courage to face death to be reborn."

Li Yan was speechless, "This method is problematic. Old Sha has spent half his life in the Jianghu—he's a seasoned veteran who instinctively avoids danger. It's asking too much of him."

"Don't worry—no matter what happens, none of us brothers will be left behind."

In his heart, he had already rejected the plan.

Along this journey, he'd met too many who took desperate risks—some brilliant, yet none ended well.

He preferred Old Sha simply live safely.

Yet Lu San remained stubborn, his expression grave: "On this path, when is it ever safe? Old Sha has changed. Let him decide for himself."

Li Yan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Fine. You tell him."

Lu San had always been quiet in the team, preferring to stay with his spirit companion—but this time, his insistence surprised Li Yan.

But as he said, some decisions must be made by Sha Lifei himself.

"Mm."

Lu San nodded silently, then pushed open the door and left.

Outside the room, Lu San stared blankly at the lantern across the way.

Seeing Old Sha's condition today had unexpectedly reminded him of Wujiagou—its destruction began with the unraveling of its people's hearts.

Though he wasn't skilled at communication, he needed a home more than anyone else—he didn't want to lose a second one.

Thinking of this, Lu San immediately walked toward Sha Lifei's room…

…………

"There's this?"

After hearing Lu San's description, Sha Lifei's eyes widened, "You sneaky bastard, Lu San—why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"This is dangerous."

"Bullshit!"

Sha Lifei was excited, "I've lived in the Jianghu with my head tied to my belt since day one—what's there to fear?"

"What's the chance of success?"

"Less than twenty percent."

"Do it. Even a sliver of chance is worth trying…"

Inside the room, Li Yan chanted a spell, his ears twitching slightly—he heard every word from the opposite room.

After dismissing the spell, he shook his head slightly.

He hadn't expected Old Sha to agree so readily.

Back then, he was always the first to run from danger.

He'd even already planned an escape route for him—use connections to secure him an official post, make him a wealthy, idle squire.

That had always been Old Sha's dream…

People really do change.

If that's the case, Li Yan stopped overthinking.

The materials Lu San needed were already available.

They'd helped Qingniu Temple and obtained information on celestial and terrestrial treasures—including medicinal herbs.

And the Corpse Garden hidden within the Dazu Rock Carvings was the perfect location.

Thinking of this, Li Yan took out the map again, listed everything they needed to do, then frowned.

Since arriving in Shu, they'd accumulated many tasks.

First was the Dragon Girl's mission—not only a divine commission, but also tied to the Dragon Palace's hidden treasure and the True Lord of Manifestation, holding immense opportunity.

It must come first.

Second was excavating the Bai family's secret stash and Qingniu Temple's divine treasures, preparing for the spring excavation at Mount Qingcheng…

In the first lunar month, they must return to Fengdu for the Yellow Springs Gathering…

Now, there was also Sha Lifei's matter…

If they continued like this, they'd miss their deadlines.

Thinking of this, Li Yan made his decision and immediately gathered the entire team.

"We're splitting up."

Li Yan's expression was grave as he explained the situation, then said gravely, "We must complete the Bai family's commission quickly. We're already close to Chengdu—I'll escort them there to assess the situation and get a sense of what awaits."

"We'll handle the rest in batches."

"That's fine."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled, "Little Yan is still too cautious. Now that we're more numerous, Dao and I are both at the Third Floor of Dao Practice—we can handle matters independently."

He turned to Lu San, "Lu San, the wilds are your domain. Take Old Sha first to search for celestial and terrestrial treasures, then head toward the Dazu Rock Carvings to look for clues…"

"As for Wu Ba, he can accompany me—we'll disguise ourselves and find the cult behind the living sacrifices, see if they're connected to the Dragon Girl…"

Li Yan looked at Lu San and Sha Lifei, "What do you think?"

This was indeed the best arrangement.

With Li Yan's current strength, he could handle any threat on the road.

Lu San's abilities were unquestionable; paired with the experienced, talkative Sha Lifei, retrieving the treasures wouldn't be a problem.

Wang Daoxuan was nearly the team's second leader—his only flaw was poor close combat, but with Wu Ba guarding him, most situations could be managed.

Sha Lifei and Lu San exchanged glances and both nodded in agreement.

"Good. Let's do it!"

After deciding, everyone immediately began preparing.

Li Yan first went to find Bai Huan, explained the situation, and told her to prepare—they'd depart at dawn.

The others began packing, arranging their talismans and tools; Lu San pulled Wu Ba aside, repeatedly instructing him to protect Wang Daoxuan at all times…

After a flurry of activity, night fell unnoticed. "Master, the Proprietor requests your presence."

After the sun had fully set, Xie Zhengyuan of the Jinzhou Guild sent a servant to invite Li Yan.

Li Yan knew the inquiry he'd commissioned must have yielded results—he hurried to the back courtyard study.

"Young Master Li, here is the intelligence we gathered."

Xie Zhengyuan handed him an envelope and sighed, "Shu has always been steeped in shamanic traditions. Though human sacrifice has been banned by the court for generations, there are surely many who secretly practice it."

"In recent years, Chongqing has been chaotic—the Enforcement Hall has nearly ceased functioning. I didn't realize until I looked—what I found shocked me."

Li Yan opened the envelope and frowned, "Three families?"

Xie Zhengyuan sighed, "This is only near Chongqing. It's thanks to the Horse Riding Town's network—the Guild has experts who analyze fragments of rumors to uncover them."

"There may be others elsewhere in Shu. Rumors say Cheng Jianxian has passed away; without his suppression, the Xuanmen sects have descended into chaos."

"Also, the Treasure Seeker who partners with our Jinzhou Guild has received word—he'll arrive in three days. He's an old acquaintance—expensive, but utterly trustworthy."

!.

"Thank you, Elder."

Li Yan tucked the intelligence away and said solemnly, "We leave tomorrow. We'll leave two men here to wait for him—your help for a few more days is needed."

"Young Master Li, you flatter me."

Xie Zhengyuan smiled, stroking his beard, "You're a valued guest of the Guild, and you've even taught us the Xie family's secret arts—it's only right."

With the intelligence in hand, Li Yan now had a clearer plan.

Back in the room, he gathered everyone again.

"I'll leave first thing tomorrow."

"Master Dao, disguise yourself as a wandering Daoist and check on those households. Remember, if you're not certain, don't act."

"Wu Ba, I know you understand human speech. No matter what happens, protect the Daoist. I'll find a way for you in Chengdu—track down a suitable martial art…"

"Good! Good!"

Wu Ba rubbed his hands, grinning foolishly.

He was in much the same position as Lu San—both homeless. Lu San had already told him: if they succeeded, he'd earn full acceptance.

As for what martial art, he couldn't think that far ahead. Just eating well wherever they went was enough to make him happy.

"Lao Sha."

After instructing Wu Ba, Li Yan turned to Sha Lifei with a faint smile. "Your Jianghu experience is indispensable to us. San'er hates dealing with outsiders—it's all up to you."

"Don't worry!"

Sha Lifei chuckled. "With me around, you won't get cheated."

…………

Night fell, but Zouma Town remained lively.

Thanks to the famous reputations of "Li Tiezui" and "Kuaiban Liu," many had gathered to watch.

Almost every inn, teahouse, and tavern hosted duels between disciples from the two sides, each showing off their full skills.

The evaluation sects lived by their tongues—duels weren't fought with weapons, but by who could draw louder applause with greater skill.

Any sharp-eyed observer could see the trick.

The disciples sent by both sides were nearly evenly matched; though their abilities varied, they all pushed themselves to their limits in turn.

Because of this, every teahouse and tavern was packed.

Several disciples had already made names for themselves.

As for "Li Tiezui" and "Kuaiban Liu," they would face off on the final day, on the stage before the Guandi Temple.

They would also announce their retirement from the Jianghu, washing their hands clean.

This was a major event in the Jianghu—even Sichuan opera troupes and storytellers of drum ballads had come to witness it.

These were the ordinary Jianghu people's lives.

A lifetime spent traveling, all for a few silver coins—hard work, yes, but little blood or blade.

The bustle lasted until deep into the night.

At dawn the next day, Li Yan led the Bai family out, still wearing Nuo masks and loose robes. After leaving the Jinzhou Guildhall, they vanished silently into the morning mist…

Not long after they left, a wandering Daoist appeared, carrying a tiger's staff, holding a banner reading "Divination and Fortune-Telling," followed by a giant man hauling a pack, strolling leisurely toward nearby villages.

"The sleeves hold vast heavens, the flask holds endless days."

"Divine Fate Calculations—read characters, read fengshui…"

…………

With autumn came more mist in Shu.

Whoosh!

A white falcon soared above Zouma Town, then landed in the courtyard of the Jinzhou Guildhall, preening its feathers with striking grace.

The guild's servants paid it no mind.

This falcon was the pet of the guild's mysterious guests—it had been coming and going for two days, and Xie Zhengyuan had forbidden anyone from asking questions.

Lu San took two bamboo tubes from under the falcon's talons, glanced at them, and handed them to Sha Lifei beside him.

Sha Lifei read them too, then shook his head. "Li Yan moves fast—he's already reached Zizhong. He'll likely arrive in Chengdu in two days."

Lu San grunted. "Don't worry."

"Of course I'm not worried."

Sha Lifei clicked his tongue. "I don't understand Daoist arts, but Li Yan's current cultivation isn't something any cat or dog can provoke. Even if he climbed Mount Qingcheng, they'd have to take him seriously."

"If not for all these delays, he'd have been here already."

Lu San grunted. "I'm talking about Long Yan. Li Yan said Bai Huan already found a way for her."

Sha Lifei sneered. "That woman's tongue is poison—what's it to me? Why are you suddenly so sentimental, San'er?"

Yet, despite his words, he unconsciously exhaled in relief.

Seeing Lu San's blank expression, Sha Lifei suddenly felt uneasy and quickly changed the subject. "The only thing I worry about is the Daoist—those villagers dared to perform live human sacrifices. Who knows what they might do?"

Lu San shook his head. "The Daoist can handle himself. With Wu Ba beside him, few can get close enough to harm him…"

As he spoke, a servant approached.

"Gentlemen, the proprietor asks you to come to the front courtyard."

Sha Lifei and Lu San exchanged glances, then hurried to the front courtyard.

Xie Zhengyuan was already waiting. He lowered his voice. "They've arrived—outside the gate. Find a spot on the mountain to discuss."

He opened the gate.

Outside stood an old man and a young one, dressed in animal skins, bows on their backs, knives at their sides, packs slung over their shoulders—classic hunter's appearance.

Sha Lifei smiled upon seeing them.

They reminded him strangely of old friends from Chang'an.

The Bao people's code forbade entering another's home.

Anyone still following these old rules couldn't be bad…

…………

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, atop a high mountain, Wang Daoxuan held a luopan, stroking his beard as he frowned.

Behind him stood several elderly men in lavish robes, their faces eager yet hesitant to approach.

"Master, what's wrong with my fengshui?"

One elder finally spoke up.

"Tsk tsk…"

Wang Daoxuan suppressed the killing intent in his eyes, bowed, and sighed. "It's bad. Very bad."

"H-how bad?"

"Alas—I lack the skill to say. I must take my leave!"

(End of Chapter)