Chapter 480: Complete the Task

"I don't know; this has nothing to do with me."

"That's right; we were also deceived."

"That Zhu Chen must be up to something..."

Inside the Wu Hou Temple, several scholars were being interrogated.

With two consecutive days of deaths, one of whom was a retainer of the Shu Prince's court, it could no longer be concealed.

Before dawn, the entire Wu Hou Temple had been sealed off.

The City God Temple's Enforcement Hall, the Capital Garrison, and the Chengdu Prefectural Office had all dispatched personnel to search for clues everywhere.

With so many seasoned investigators, various facts were gradually uncovered.

The "Qin Chong" was causing havoc; Pei Yufang had come to capture it; the Chengdu underworld master "Wuxiang Young Master" was involved; and another mysterious figure had intervened...

Each incident made the investigators increasingly frustrated.

The Enforcement Hall had sent a Taoist monk, carrying a long sword, with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes; merely standing there, he radiated a piercing, formidable aura.

After glancing briefly, he shook his head and bowed: "Gentlemen, this case involves the Shu Prince's court; we cannot interfere. We take our leave."

"Why the hurry, Taoist?"

A captain from the Capital Garrison immediately rose and said: "This matter involves the occult arts—it's beyond our jurisdiction. Don't try to push it off so easily."

The two exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of helplessness.

Neither of them wanted to get involved in this.

The Enforcement Hall is overseen by the Huangling Sect; last night, one of their senior brothers was killed, and the perpetrator was a disciple of the Emei Sect—even though he had been expelled, they still needed to get to the bottom of it.

It also involved the sectarian conflict between Emei's Buddhist and Daoist factions.

The dead cannot die in vain, yet the matter must not be escalated.

They were too busy handling this themselves and had no spare energy, especially since relations between the Shu Prince's court and the imperial court were delicate—they couldn't afford to meddle recklessly...

The Capital Garrison was in the same predicament.

They relied on the Shu Prince's court for support in Chengdu, yet they were the Emperor's personal troops; if they uncovered anything, it would be a massive problem.

Especially now, with a censor in Chengdu watching them like a hawk—they didn't want to become unwitting scapegoats...

Thinking of this, both men simultaneously turned to look at the other side.

There stood a burly man, with dark skin and a massive scar across his face, tall and imposing, radiating authority.

But when he noticed their gaze, he immediately ducked his head and turned to flee.

He hadn't taken two steps before the Taoist blocked his path.

"Captain Wang, you're Chengdu's most renowned detective—this case is yours alone!"

"You're joking, sir—I'm just a lowly officer..."

"Captain Wang, no need for modesty; we've worked together before. Others may not know, but we know exactly how capable you are."

It was clear the three had a good relationship.

After a heated argument, the Enforcement Hall and Capital Garrison personnel departed, leaving Captain Wang with a look of utter resignation.

"Boss, what should we do?"

A constable hurried forward to ask.

"Do what you're supposed to do!"

Captain Wang sighed, "Report it to the prefecture—let the magistrate deal with it. Either way, we must stay far away from this matter..."

…………

Meanwhile, Li Yan had returned to Longquan Inn.

The autumn morning mist was thick, enveloping the entire Longquan Inn, and with the gloomy sky, the atmosphere felt oppressive.

Before even approaching Longquan Inn, Li Yan stopped.

Under a large tree, the young beggar was crouching, trembling; upon seeing him, he quickly stood up, stretched his stiff limbs, and stumbled over to Li Yan.

"This... many Taoists have come."

The beggar lowered his head, his voice trembling.

Taoists?

Hearing this, Li Yan immediately suspected something.

After the Huangling Sect was attacked, a little investigation would reveal the ancient coffin of the Wu Xian Kingdom was no ordinary artifact—they'd surely launch a massive search for the culprit.

But this had nothing to do with him, so he had no reason to care.

"Hmm, thank you."

Li Yan didn't waste words; he tossed a piece of silver, but just as he turned to leave, he paused and added: "Don't take this job to anyone else."

The beggar replied timidly: "Master, rest assured—I understand."

"Good."

Li Yan nodded and hurried toward Longquan Inn.

Watching his retreating figure, the beggar clutched the silver tightly and sprinted into a nearby ruined temple.

Inside the ruined temple, a fire blazed brightly; in a chipped black clay pot, thin porridge and rotten vegetable leaves bubbled away.

Around the fire, a group of young beggars huddled, shivering.

"Big Brother Yao, did you find it?"

"Yeah, got some more silver."

The beggar pulled out the silver, climbed onto the dusty, cobweb-covered statue, pried open the mud, and withdrew a small bundle from the hollow behind it.

Inside were copper coins and fragments of silver.

The only two pieces of silver were both from Li Yan.

"We're almost there!"

The beggar counted the money over and over, a smile spreading across his face: "Once we've saved enough, we'll open a tea stall—never go hungry again..."

The other beggars gathered around, watching.

In the flickering firelight, their eyes sparkled with hope...

………

As soon as he stepped into the inn, Li Yan narrowed his eyes.

Upon ascending the stairs, he immediately heard bright laughter coming from Bai Wan's room, where two female Taoists stood guard outside.

Both wore white robes and black sashes, their expressions stern.

Seeing Li Yan carrying the ancient guqin, which continued to resonate on its own, the two instantly grew wary, gripping their sword hilts.

After being sealed, the "Qin Chong's" cries no longer carried their hypnotic power, yet the guqin's self-sounding was unmistakably unnatural.

"Don't move."

A frail female voice called out.

The door creaked open—it was the old woman, Bai Wan.

She smiled warmly at Li Yan: "Young Master Li, you've returned just in time—please come in."

Li Yan nodded and entered, immediately noticing an elderly female Taoist seated at the table, her hair streaked with gray, her face dignified, gently holding the hands of the two girls, Chao Yun and Xing Yu.

"Let me introduce you."

Bai Wan smiled: "Young Master Li, this is Master Xiaoyue, the abbess of Shuixue Nunnery on Mount Qingcheng."

"Master Xiaoyue, this is Young Master Li—if not for his protection, we would never have reached Chengdu."

"Greetings, Master Xiaoyue."

Li Yan bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant.

Though located at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, Shuixue Nunnery was no ordinary temple—it was a sanctuary exclusively for female Taoist practitioners of Mount Qingcheng.

Master Xiaoyue was not only a senior elder of Mount Qingcheng but also a renowned expert among the orthodox Daoist circles of Sichuan.

Even in Ezhou, her name was well known.

"I've long heard of your reputation, Young Master Li," Master Xiaoyue replied with a gentle smile. "Several months ago, Grandmaster Yuchan of Wudang personally wrote a letter and sent it to Mount Qingcheng, requesting we extend you our care." Li Yan was slightly surprised.

When he left Ezhou, he had spoken with Yuchan, primarily about the Ghost Sect and Zhao Changsheng.

Yuchan had asked him to keep an eye out for Zhao Changsheng's trail upon arriving in Shu, and to seek refuge on Mount Qingcheng if the Ghost Sect retaliated.

He had assumed it was mere politeness, but never expected an actual letter had been sent.

As for Zhao Changsheng, since arriving in Shu, he had only learned from undercover agents of the Capital Garrison that the man had once visited the Shu Prince's court years ago.

Beyond that, there were no further leads.

No traces of Ghost Sect activity had been found in Shu; Li Yan suspected they had moved to Qianzhou to join forces with the Yang family against the imperial court.

It was the Salt Guild that had repeatedly caused trouble.

Of course, Zhao Changsheng's whereabouts were of critical importance; if he had planted spies even in Wudang, who knew if there were any in Mount Qingcheng?

Without absolute certainty, he wouldn't mention this to anyone.

He would not speak of this matter to anyone unless he was absolutely certain.

！。

Thinking of this, Li Yan changed the subject: "There is indeed something I'd like to ask your help with."

"I have a sacred artifact I sent to Mount Qingcheng for Master Huotou to consecrate; I still have some materials here and would like you to deliver them to the mountain."

Bai Wan looked surprised: "Aren't you coming up the mountain with us?"

The original plan had been for Li Yan to accompany them up the mountain to pay respects to the Mount Qingcheng abbot and elders.

First, to make an introduction and secure a permit to access the cellar.

Second, crafting magical implements.

But now, the plan has suddenly changed…

Bai Wan pondered for a moment, then understood at once.

He knew Li Yan was likely worried about his companions.

"It's better not to climb the mountain for now."

Master Xiaoyue pondered, then said: "To be honest, there are some messy affairs on Mount Qingcheng that I can't discuss openly, but if you climb up now, no one will have time to attend to you—you'll likely be ignored."

"By year's end, things should become clear, since the cellar opening next year can't be a laughingstock to outsiders."

"Then, when you climb up, you won't be dragged into it…"

His words were vague, but Li Yan had already guessed something.

It was probably about the position of Mount Qingcheng's abbot.

The previous abbot was Han Song from the Cheng family, elderly and, it was said, slightly injured during the Great Battle of Zheng and Evil near Dujiangyan.

He had held the position for a long time; the abbot must be reselected.

Originally, with Cheng Jianxin present, these matters would have been no issue, but the Sword Immortal of Shu has not appeared in years, so some inevitably seek to vie for the role.

Mount Qingcheng is not home to just one faction.

The oldest lineage traces back to the era of the Yellow Emperor, from Ning Fengzi, whose legacy is tied to the Sword Immortal tradition.

Then came Yin Changsheng, who also left behind a lineage.

But it was Zhang Daoling who truly brought Mount Qingcheng its fame.

And later, the Southern Celestial Master Dao.

During the Tang turmoil, Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Xizong successively fled to Shu for refuge; some Daoists who accompanied them ascended the mountain and established another faction, closely allied with the Qingyang Palace in Chengdu.

In short, every side has deep roots.

Becoming abbot is not easy.

Though outright conflict is unlikely, behind the scenes there are surely many deals, aiming to satisfy all parties.

It seems now is indeed not the right time to climb the mountain.

After a few casual words, Master Xiaoyue immediately rose, taking the hands of two young girls, his expression grave: "Though our Mount Qingcheng won the duel at Dujiangyan, the evil sects of the southwest have not been fundamentally wounded."

"If we leave Mount Qingcheng, they may target us, and these two children must awaken early."

"There's no time to waste—let's depart now!"

"Wait!"

Li Yan took the ancient qin from his back, placed it on the table, and turned to Long Yan'er, saying solemnly: "Miss Long, the Qin Worm has been caught—see if it can be used."

"If not, I'll find another way."

The qin's faint hum had been noticed by Master Xiaoyue long ago, but out of cultivation and Daoist decorum, he refrained from asking.

Hearing the words "Qin Worm" and seeing the ancient qin, he was startled: "This is the qin of Pei Yufang, a rogue master from Chengdu—what happened?"

At this point, Li Yan no longer bothered to conceal it, and briefly recounted what had transpired at the Wuhou Shrine.

"So that's how it is…"

Master Xiaoyue pondered, then shook his head: "Over the years, the Prince of Shu has indeed acted strangely, secretly gathering many rogue masters. He won't rebel outright, but he clearly has other ambitions."

"Since this concerns the imperial court, our Daoist sects wish to stay out of it. If you're on Mount Qingcheng, you're safe—but elsewhere, you must be cautious of retaliation from the Prince's mansion."

Li Yan replied coldly: "They provoked me first—am I supposed to offer my neck for them to chop?"

"Besides, you don't want to provoke the Prince's mansion, yet when they strike, they show no restraint…"

He then recounted how the Prince's mansion had stolen the stone coffin and framed the Buddhist sect.

Since conflict was inevitable anyway, he might as well give them more trouble, so they wouldn't keep fixating on him.

"Elixir of Immortality!"

Master Xiaoyue laughed bitterly: "If such an elixir truly existed, what would our three calamities and five trials matter?"

"These nobles and aristocrats, content with their earthly wealth and fortune, still insist on daydreaming!"

"Now, with Shu already in chaos, they stir up internal strife among the righteous sects for personal gain—utterly foolish!"

"Young friend, rest assured—I will inform the Huangling Sect. The rest is none of your concern."

After saying this, Long Yan'er stepped forward, removed a bamboo tube from her waist, and poured all its powder into the hollow of the ancient qin.

The Qin Worm immediately grew still.

After removing the red cloth, the strange worm extended its head, looking lazy, then curled back into the qin and fell into deep slumber.

"It works—it's an exotic insect!"

Long Yan'er's face lit up with joy, hope rising in her eyes: "With this as the Gumu, success is certain—but this thing is extraordinary; it will take longer to refine."

"As long as it works."

Li Yan finally exhaled in relief: "Cultivation knows no time—delay doesn't matter. If you succeed, welcome to join us anytime."

Long Yan'er bowed solemnly: "I cannot thank you enough—if I survive, I will come find you immediately."

After arranging everything, the Bai family and Long Yan'er departed under the escort of the Kun Dao nuns of Shuixue Nunnery, heading toward Mount Qingcheng.

Watching their figures fade into the distance, Li Yan finally relaxed—this escort mission was effectively complete.

Whoosh!

As soon as he returned to the inn, the falcon Lidong swooped down.

Li Yan removed the bamboo tube's secret letter and examined it carefully.

Sha Li Fei and the others had reached the vicinity of the Dazu Rock Carvings; they had yet to find any trace of the Shituolin, but faced no immediate danger.

As for Wang Daoxuan, he had established himself in Nanchong, accepted the imperial bounty from the demon hunters, and was now hunting down zombies and evil spirits across the region.

The reputation of the "Mobile Corps Commander Daoist" was growing ever louder.

But in Nanchong, some hidden force had been quietly stoking fires, trying to conceal certain things.

Wang Daoxuan had not yet uncovered anything.

Li Yan pondered, then decided to seek out Sha Li Fei first.

After all, compared to the Dragon Maiden's request or the opportunity of the Mr. Zhenjun, he cared more for the safety of his companions.

Thinking this, he packed his belongings and prepared to leave.

But before he moved, Li Yan narrowed his eyes and looked out the window.

There, the young beggar climbed up through the window, face pale with panic: "L…Lord, many dangerous people have arrived—they're asking about you all over Longquanyi!"

(End of Chapter)