Chapter 52

"We're here. This is the artisan's shop."

At the entrance of the old street of the Goddess Temple, Wang Dao-xuan pointed ahead and said, "The famous artisans of Xianyang are all here. Even if they open workshops at home, they will definitely have a shop here."

Li Yan turned to look around, lost in thought.

In this world, various handicraft industries are extremely developed. With the imperial court opening the seas and the prosperity of ocean trade, large-scale workshops in various coastal states have sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain.

The status of merchants is rising rapidly. Judging from some news he heard, many of the storms in the imperial court are caused by this.

Just as Zhang Shitong said, the Zhou family, in order to seek stability, withdrew all their power. All Eight Vajras closed their doors and stopped taking jobs, and even the escort agency under their command stopped taking work.

And the people monitoring them also suddenly withdrew in the morning.

Since that was the case, Li Yan no longer had a need to fake illness. Under Wang Dao-xuan's guidance, he came to find someone to help him make the Great Cloud Thunder Drum.

The Guanzhong region has a long history of drum music. Almost every region has its own unique inheritance. Coupled with the annual Drum King Competition in Chang'an, there are many folk music troupes and quite a few drum-making artisans.

Of course, ordinary shops couldn't make the Great Cloud Thunder Drum.

Fortunately, Wang Dao-xuan knew a Mystic Sect artisan.

The three walked all the way and soon arrived in front of the largest shop. They saw the three large characters "Wen Sheng Ge" (Listening to Sound Pavilion) written on the plaque. Entering inside, drums of all sizes and types were hanging on the surrounding walls and shelves.

"Is Brother Wan here?"

Looking at the young attendant who came to greet them, Wang Dao-xuan asked.

The young attendant clearly knew Wang Dao-xuan. He bowed respectfully and nodded, "The manager has gone out, he will be back in a while. Daoist Wang, please wait a moment, I'll go brew a pot of tea for you."

After saying this, he turned and entered the back room.

Seeing this, Sha Lifei said in a low voice, "Look at this attitude. That bunch of goods at the Chenghuangmiao really can't compare; every one of them looks down on people."

Because of his previous destitution, Wang Dao-xuan was often mocked by the managers of several shops near the Chenghuangmiao. Sha Lifei couldn't stand it and had argued with them several times.

Although he had successfully invited the gods to help the Shadow Puppet Spring Breeze Troupe and earned back some reputation, it clearly hadn't spread, and there were no big deals coming to the door.

Hearing this, Wang Dao-xuan laughed in spite of himself and didn't refute.

If he feared the words of others, he wouldn't have spent more than ten years seeking the Dao.

Soon, the attendant brought out tea. Seeing Li Yan examining the drums on the wall, he hurriedly introduced them, "Guest, our shop's drums are the best in Xianyang. Ten-drum gongs, Qin-Han war drums, Wei-flag gongs, ox-pulled drums, Dragon-Turning drums... we can make them all. Many famous troupes order from us..."

Just as he was speaking, Li Yan frowned suddenly and turned around.

He smelled a scent, a mixture of the fishy smell of various livestock, but it was mixed with the smell of incense, which was clearly some kind of divine Qi.

Sure enough, an old man walked from the street. He wore a black robe, was hunchbacked, his white hair was weathered, but his knuckles were unusually thick and strong, with blue veins bulging, just like an iron plow.

Behind him followed a man with a simple and honest face.

Just as he walked outside the shop, the old man's ears moved, and he laughed heartily, "Which fellow Daoist has come to visit today? Oh, so it's Daoist Wang..."

He seemed to be talking to Wang Dao-xuan, but his eyes were looking at Li Yan.

Wang Dao-xuan smiled, "Brother Wan, long time no see. Let me introduce you, this is..."

"No need for introductions, I naturally recognize him."

Manager Wan looked at Li Yan and nodded, "Brother Li showed his might in the ring yesterday. I was watching from below. The true incantation breaking the strange technique was wonderful!"

Li Yan was surprised at first, but soon realized that this Manager Wan must have awakened his ear divine ability, which was why he could hear in such a noisy environment.

"You flatter me, Senior." Li Yan hurriedly cupped his hands.

Manager Wan nodded, hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "What treasure is the young brother carrying? Why is the Sha Qi so great?"

Li Yan became interested, "What did the Senior hear?"

Manager Wan sighed, "Golden spears and iron horses, the wailing of living creatures, incense prayers..."

This was Li Yan's first time coming into contact with someone possessing an ear divine ability. Besides, since the other party had already heard it, he didn't hide it anymore and took out the Demon-Suppressing Knife Tassel from his bosom.

"Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coins, good stuff!"

Manager Wan's eyes lit up, but he didn't reach out to touch it. Instead, he looked at it carefully, then shook his head, "The technique for the exorcism knot comes from outside the pass. The person who made it was either injured or just doing it carelessly, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to hear it at all."

Hearing this, Li Yan hurriedly asked, "Does the Senior have a way?"

Although this Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coin tassel was good, it was sometimes inconvenient to use, and the main thing was that it couldn't completely isolate the aura.

According to Wang Dao-xuan, a good Dharma artifact should be like a Heavenly Spirit and Earthly Treasure—like an ordinary object when not in use, and only radiating divine might after being activated.

Manager Wan didn't rush to answer, but looked at Wang Dao-xuan, "Daoist Wang has been seeking the Dao wholeheartedly for many years. I have seen it all. Now that your luck has turned, congratulations."

"I wonder what brings you here this time?"

"To make a drum for Young Brother Li."

"Oh, do you have a blueprint?"

Since they were all insiders, there was no need to hide anything. Li Yan directly took out the blueprint of the Great Cloud Thunder Drum and handed it to Manager Wan.

After flipping through it, Manager Wan suddenly realized and smiled, "So it's the inheritance of the former War Drum King. At that time, it was famous in Chang'an for using a martial artist's hidden force to beat the drum. Now that it has reappeared in the world, it is something to be happy about."

Li Yan gave a thumbs up, "Senior is indeed brilliant."

"I wouldn't call it brilliant."

Manager Wan smiled and shook his head, "The difficulty of this drum lies in the materials. It requires top-quality wood and leather to withstand the hidden force without being destroyed. Although it is not a ritual divine drum, the price is not low at all." Sha Lifei hurriedly asked, "How much money?"

Manager Wan pondered for a moment, "The leather for the drum is easy to talk about. It needs top-quality rhinoceros hide. Originally, this item was considered rare, but ever since the maritime ban was lifted, those sea merchants have brought back several large ships full of it from somewhere, and the price is reasonable, so I entrusted someone to get some."

"As for the drum body, jujube wood will do, but to withstand the hidden force, it must be an old tree that has grown in a treasure mountain spirit aperture for many years. And I have a suggestion."

"Since the young brother has already entered the Mystic Sect, he knows the importance of Dharma artifacts. Since the materials are rare anyway, why not make it directly into a Dharma artifact? And it can cooperate with the Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coins, driven by the ancient Qin-Han rhyme. It will definitely be a sharp weapon for suppressing evil!"

"Please speak, Senior."

"Just use lightning-struck jujube wood that has grown for many years as the material, and it can take care of both."

"I happen to know a 'Treasure-Hider' who knows where there is some, but there are many fierce beasts in the mountains and he lacks an expert to accompany him. If the young brother has the heart, you can accompany him to get it..."

"Oh~"

Before he finished speaking, Sha Lifei shouted loudly, "This Manager Wan, you are not kind. You said so much, isn't it just wanting to use people for free?"

Manager Wan was immediately dissatisfied, "What do you mean use for free? If you get that lightning-struck jujube wood, your material costs will be saved."

Sha Lifei didn't believe it, "How big is that lightning-struck jujube wood?"

!.

Manager Wan was silent for a moment, "Not small."

Sha Lifei spread his hands, "That's it. The lion's share is still yours, and if the thing was easy to get, why would you tell us?"

Manager Wan seemed to be stumped by the question. He stared at Sha Lifei for a while, "Forget it, that thing is indeed not easy to get. If you can get it, I will make the drum for free."

Sha Lifei hurriedly cupped his hands, "Senior is generous!"

The two bargained, while Li Yan and Wang Dao-xuan didn't speak.

This was the plan they had agreed upon beforehand. With Sha Lifei's thick-skinned nature, someone who would touch oil even on a corpse, he would never suffer a loss in business.

After a while, they agreed on the terms, and the three left the shop.

Just as they reached the entrance of the old street, they heard a commotion opposite. Outside a restaurant, several people were arguing and fighting.

One side wore black martial robes with cowhide belts—it was the Bai Yuan Gang.

And the other group was covered in the smell of sweat, dressed like bitter laborers.

"Where's the money? Where's our wages?"

"Who the hell owes you? Go ask your leader for it!"

"The leader said you didn't give it!"

"Hey, this little bit of work, we've never paid for it in the past!"

The two sides disagreed and immediately started fighting.

Those people from the Bai Yuan Gang were all burly, with dragons and phoenixes tattooed on their necks and collars, glaring and looking very fierce.

But as soon as they fought, they were immediately beaten by several bitter laborers until they screamed.

They are martial artists!

Li Yan knew it as soon as he saw it.

Whether it's the Bai Yuan Gang or the Iron Blade Gang, these local gangs can't be full just by collecting protection fees and skimming off the oil of passing traffic.

They usually control the gray industries in the area. Gambling dens, lending, brothels, human traffickers, selling illicit salt... they have to touch a hand in everything.

And when they hire people to do work, they often don't pay. The leaders of the bitter laborers naturally don't want to bear this loss, so they pass it on to these miserable people, letting them go ask for the money.

How would these miserable people dare? So it just ended up as nothing.

Now these bitter laborers were mostly Jianghu people in disguise, just wanting to use these small matters to make a big scene.

"Call people! Call people!"

"Today I must peel their skin!"

Losing face in public, the thugs of the Bai Yuan Gang were furious.

Soon, more than a dozen disheveled men ran over from afar, carrying long staffs and short knives, cursing as they came.

And the bitter laborers showed no fear and rushed up directly.

The entire street was immediately in chaos.

Li Yan and the others took the opportunity to leave quickly.

Along the way, they saw several more chaotic scenes. Some human traffickers were beaten until their noses were bruised and faces swollen, some gambling dens were set on fire, and some even resulted in deaths.

Sha Lifei watched and clicked his tongue, "Old Man Zhang's move is ruthless enough. Although the Zhou family has closed their doors, the people who mix with them have to eat. Those fellows have all sorts of problems; who knows what they will drag out."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, but shook his head slightly, "The Zhou family is not stupid. They must have a response. In these few days, the city is likely to be in chaos."

"But that's fine too. While the Zhou family is too busy to care, we will handle our business, and then hide in the shadows to see what we can catch."

With a plan in mind, the three returned to the Ask-Dao Hall.

This time, when they go out to find the lightning-struck jujube wood, all three will go, and at the same time, they must take away important things, taking advantage of this chaos to disappear from the Zhou family's sight...

(End of Chapter)