Chapter 516: The River Dragon

"Dare you do it?"

Hearing Feng Laohai's words, Li Yan paused his actions, glanced coolly, and shook his head: "Elder, if you have something to say, just say it outright."

He knew the old man had surely formed some scheme.

Having hidden motives isn't unusual.

In this world, everyone has self-interest—even closest parents, siblings, wife, and children still harbor other considerations.

Pure emotion is rare, and when it exists, it tends toward extremism.

Having lived two lives, Li Yan had long learned to view it calmly.

The incident at the Dragon Worship sect's village had left them terrified, knowing that going further was beyond their capacity to participate in.

In one, look `'

Li Yan caught the tone, frowned slightly, and shook his head: "Elder, you want us to help you reclaim control of the Salt Guild?"

They traveled everywhere, carrying only the eighteen traditional Mahayana bhikshu items: willow twigs, cleansing powder, three robes, water flask, begging bowl, staff, incense burner, water strainer, etc.

After Feng Laohai laid it out, Li Yan finally understood the reason.

"Forgive me, but we won't take this job!"

Saying this, he turned and shouted loudly: "Kids, I'm returning to the Salt Guild to reclaim what's yours—but we'll have to risk our heads. Dare you?"

From now on, they would hide in the shadows.

Feng Laohai was no fool; he sensed Li Yan's displeasure and apologized directly, then said: "Though I've long left the Salt Guild, I know certain things inside and out."

These small teahouses were scattered throughout Shu, even common along the Shu Roads, serving as resting spots for travelers.

They followed Wang Daoxuan hoping to cling to the "Elder of the Yourooster" for a meal.

Li Yan saw this and wasn't surprised.

If you can't hold fast to your original heart, you'll end up like the Ghost Troupe.

Thinking of this, Li Yan spoke directly.

He never minded others having hidden motives.

Might as well see what this old man can stir up…

At the Fujiang Ferry, the demon hunters bowed and took their leave.

"Those who could threaten him have been quietly eliminated; even us old men have been pushed out..."

The lead monk arrived outside the inn, clasped his hands, and said: "Manager, may I beg a cup of hot water?"

These demon hunters weren't fools either.

"Second, the Prince of Shu is powerful—but only within Shu. The one in the capital is no good man at all; even Qingcheng and Emei avoid this matter. What right does the Salt Guild have to get involved?"

The manager hurried out from behind the counter: "Master, what nonsense are you speaking? Come in, sit down, have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself."

"When the Salt Guild allied with the Prince of Shu's mansion, I strongly opposed it."

The manager refused even to offer them vegetarian fare.

"This is their weak point, which is why they're so desperate. If I'm not mistaken, the treasure you obtained is tied to this matter—that's why they're willing to risk everything."

Wang Daoxuan pondered a moment: "How about we train in that abandoned mountain? Fewer people around, easier to fight freely."

Li Yan looked toward the distance and pondered:

The only splash of color was the red lantern hanging at the door.

Everyone immediately shouted their agreement.

Among idle chatter, most topics concerned the Dharma Assembly arrangements.

Once you step onto the Jianghu path, leaving it easily becomes impossible—sometimes due to circumstance, sometimes because you refuse to walk away.

After winter arrived, the weather grew even more erratic.

But that didn't mean they dared oppose the Prince of Shu's mansion.

Thus, at the ferry they bid farewell directly, planning to take a boat out of Shu and seek food elsewhere.

Recalling several incidents on the road, Li Yan gave a firm answer.

"The current leader of the Sichuan Salt Guild is Zhai Tianbao, my master's disciple. Before taking power, he was quite respectful of etiquette—but once in charge, he filled the ranks with his own men."

"Not so."

Several monks, wearing conical hats, walked along the official road.

Li Yan mused: "Elder, if you pull this stunt, Zhai Tianbao will surely fall—but the Salt Guild won't fare well either."

"Damn it, Wang the Cripple, stop playing games—speak up! If you say something good, I'll pay for your liquor!"

In the Western Jin, Deyang Commandery was established, with its seat at Deyang County.

"But his firearms dare not be used openly, so going to crowded places is safer."

These were wandering Buddhist monks, specifically ascetics.

Anyway, they had long been at odds with the Prince of Shu's mansion.

Along both sides of the road to Suining City, ancient trees and bamboo groves densely lined the path; freezing rain had fallen, coating the ground with sticky, fallen leaves.

Feng Laohai spoke gravely: "First, the Sichuan Salt Guild has existed since the Qin and Han dynasties. Its members operate in gray areas, simply to ensure their followers have food, whether in peace or chaos."

The old city of Suining was ancient.

But if you want to be a wolf eating meat, you must snatch it from other beasts' mouths—living day to day, always in fear.

"Let's go—this time we'll enter the city with full fanfare!"

Most were dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Hahaha..."

Suining revered Buddhism; in some places, the manager would merely grow impatient and drive the monks away.

"Good!"

"Gentlemen, farewell!"

"It's the Elixir of Immortality!"

"The Prince of Shu's mansion has formed several firearm squads, all equipped with new-style weapons. If an Xuanmen master has laid an array, and we're surrounded in the wild, we have no advantage whatsoever."

The Prince of Shu's mansion is wealthy, with countless treasures.

"Li Shaoxia, you misunderstand."

"What will the Elder do?"

"Damn it, who cares!"

Indeed, before seizing the Ruyi Treasure Pearl, opposing the Salt Guild hadn't seemed significant—but since obtaining it, the Prince of Shu's mansion has launched a massive campaign.

They marched in single file, the leader holding a staff, carrying a begging bowl, walking silently with head bowed.

Soon, the monks arrived outside a teahouse.

"The one pushing this is Zhai Tianbao and the Eldest Prince!"

"Once the Prince of Shu withdraws support, the other princes will surely kick us while we're down. My old comrades will then purge the Salt Guild and break free from the Prince of Shu's mansion."

The teahouse was sizable, built on a cleared patch of bamboo grove beside the road, constructed of brick and wood, dark in color, with windows that leaked wind from all sides.

A few days ago, salt-like snow had fallen; today, freezing rain suddenly began. The sky was gloomy, and the bamboo grove seemed darker.

Li Yan didn't believe in the Elixir of Immortality, but various Xuanmen records did mention it, and it was linked to the Queen Mother of the West and the Ten Sorcerers.

"Return, Clan Chief—we dare!"

Li Yan nodded slightly: "I've sensed something's off."

"Indeed."

"Thank you."

Just like Feng Laohai—he speaks plainly, yet adds a provocation. It's pointless.

Their intense interest in the Ruyi Treasure Pearl must have another reason.

Feng Laohai spoke gravely: "Zhai Tianbao has allied with the Eldest Prince. His rapid rise to power must be due to this matter." Feng Laohai shook his head: "This Prince of Shu has lived through court upheavals and crawled out of battlefields piled with corpses—how could he not know?"

In the third year of Yonghe of the Eastern Jin, Huan Wen pacified Shu and abolished Deyang Commandery, carving out Suining Commandery from the southeastern territory of Deyang County, named to mean "Pacify Chaos, Bring Peace."

"Do nothing."

"After this parting, I'll take my clan into hiding, contact my old comrades and those dissatisfied with Zhai Tianbao."

Feng Laohai's eyes flashed a hint of ferocity: "Many in the Salt Guild resent Zhai Tianbao. I'll stake my life to overturn his table!"

A high monk...

"Yes! I can't stand this life another day!"

He didn't believe in it, so he told Feng Laohai honestly.

Watching the demon hunters' boats drift farther away, Sha Li Fei shook his head slightly: "Young Master Li, what's our next move?"

"Please forgive me, Li Shaoxia."

Inside the teahouse, many people had gathered.

"To be honest, before I was pushed out, I accompanied Zhai Tianbao several times to the Prince of Shu's mansion—I know exactly what's inside."

Li Yan and the others understood implicitly and didn't bother to point it out.

"Simple—cut off the root!"

When passersby walked by, they waited by the roadside and bowed respectfully.

This point was crucial.

Their grievances with the Prince of Shu's mansion seemed too full of coincidences.

"Then that's settled!"

It was their choice; Li Yan didn't care to argue further, and spoke gravely: "Then, Elder, what do you want me to do?"

The initial grudge with the Wang Fu also stemmed from this matter.

"It's not just fame—there really are Twelve Zodiacs, and they're precisely the ones the Wang Fu put a bounty on. Word is they've arrived in Suining."

"No."

Li Yan raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying someone else is causing us trouble, and the Prince of Shu is unaware?"

"You'll need to grease palms on the official front, but if you truly become someone's dog, you'll only wait to be slaughtered once you're no longer useful."

Feng Laohai let out a hoarse laugh. "Since the heavy taxes on salt and iron began, our Salt Gang has never been broken. Once you're in this trade, you fear no court—this underworld is the Salt Gang's true home!"

Whether they agree or not, those people will strike.

The name "Suining" began from this moment.

The monks were also courteous, deliberately choosing the most secluded, empty corner, causing no disruption to the shopkeeper's business, and asking only for hot water to wash down their hard, dry rations.

"The experts the Wang Fu has gathered aren't fools. After seeing too many dead bodies, they'll refuse—then Zhai Tianbao will have to deploy this group."

The speaker had been waiting for this exact line, and immediately raised his brow: "There's a big spectacle in town today."

The cold wind blew, and it froze solid again.

"The Bai Long Jiao has lost several demons, and with the Wang Fu involved, plenty will come after us. We can't hide—we might as well use this time to deal with them first."

"The current Prince of Shu has fallen under some kind of spell, obsessed only with immortality and cultivation. Inside the Wang Fu, chaos reigns."

Feng Laohai sighed. "Many of the old hands in the gang agree with me, but we still underestimated how low those people would sink."

…………

First came the grudge over the two little girls, "Chaoyun Muyu," then the attack by Earth Immortals, during which he seized the "Ruyi Baozhu," and from there, everything spiraled out of control.

"Good!" Li Yan answered without hesitation.

"Farewell!"

They are wandering immortals—they can fight for their own interests, slay demons and defend the Dao, but they will never take payment to vie for power or profit.

"Zhai Tianbao has maintained control over the Salt Gang precisely because he's spent vast sums gathering a band of martial experts, eliminating rivals everywhere, leaving everyone in fear."

Due to the Guangde Temple's Dharma Assembly, all manner of sects and factions from across the land have gathered, and business has improved considerably.

Stepping back into this world of blood and storm.

These ascetic monks are deeply respected, but they never accept money, so passersby often offer them buns and water or similar food.

Li Yan nodded. "You're right, Elder."

Feng Laohai, no doubt a former elder of the Salt Gang, once he made his decision, acted at once—sending men back to Baixi Village to scatter and hide the women, children, and elderly.

The monks had traveled far, and though each was physically strong, their faces were inevitably blue with cold.

Li Yan shook his head. "If it were the past, this would've been best—but now it's different."

Feng Laohai shook his head. "This concerns the future. Neither the Crown Prince nor Zhai Tianbao will give up easily—attacks will come in waves."

Because Guangde Temple is the foremost Buddhist sect in the southwest, the custom of Buddhist devotion runs deep in Suining, and wealthy nobles often fund the construction of temples in villages throughout the region.

…………

Seeing this, the shopkeeper grew even more respectful.

"He knows full well—but he doesn't care. Someone must be pushing this, offering the Prince of Shu a great reward to sway him…"

Once you've grown used to being a wolf, how can you endure the life of a sheep?

"Qingcheng Mountain is off-limits for now—it's still in chaos over the succession of the sect leader. Rushing up there would make us a target. Wait until the new leader is settled…"

Feng Laohai listened, then calmly shook his head. "I'll handle these matters myself, and I'll reach out to my other old comrades."

"After the Winter Solstice, we enter the twelfth lunar month. Fengdu will hold a gathering of the Huangquan Organization. There isn't much time left—we can't go too far."

"The Prince of Shu must have given them a deadline. He may turn a blind eye to some things, but failure is a cost even the Crown Prince cannot bear."

Passersby who saw them often stopped.

"Hahaha, a joke!"

He earned the nickname "Ghost-Fearing" simply because this world has too many people who like to push their luck.

"Guangde Temple is holding a Dharma Assembly for several days—we might as well go see the spectacle and inform them about the Bai Long Jiao. Even if they want to avoid trouble, they're still the foremost orthodox Buddhist sect in Shu—they can't just sit idle…"

Crack! Crack! As they walked, it made crisp sounds.

"Have you heard of the Daoist of Mobile Corps Commander?"

"As long as Li Shaoxia kills these men, the rest—you can just sit back and watch!"

"Someone must have stirred the pot between Li Shaoxia and the Wang Fu, fanning the flames until things reached this state."

"Lately, he seems quite famous."

Especially on this bitter cold day, a cup of hot tea is pure bliss.

And the ascetic monks would pause their chanting and prayers.

"Whoever receives even a word of praise from the Prince of Shu immediately rises to prominence, and they all scramble against each other—brotherhood is long gone."

"Within the Wang Fu, each prince has gathered his own forces, scouring the land for rare treasures and immortal scriptures, all to please the Prince of Shu."

Don't be fooled by their acceptance of court missions—they mostly align with the same goals: quelling disasters or exterminating heretical sects.

"Amitabha."

Suddenly, someone took two sips of wine and said mysteriously: "Gentlemen, Dharma Assemblies happen every year, but this year, Suining has something far greater!"

"The matter I wish to cooperate on is something else entirely."

One of the men chuckled. "I heard several veteran martial artists have been taken down—so someone's still after that bounty?"

"Not exactly."

Wang Quezi sipped his wine leisurely. "I heard the disciples of those wronged parties have banded together, hired the Shu Divine Fist Society, and they're on their way to Suining to avenge them."

"Being an outsider here is no easy thing…"

(End of Chapter)