Chapter 547: Searching for People in Guanxian

Clang!

The ox cart lurched forward, leaving the snow pit.

On the large flatbed cart, charcoal was piled like a mountain.

The old man leading the ox in front turned around, rubbing his hands uneasily, and squeezed out a smile: "Young Master, thank you."

He wore a tattered cotton-padded jacket, his face was pitch black, his body was hunched, and his smile was ingratiating, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

The young man helping him behind, although dressed in Jianghu attire, wore meticulously forged leather armor and a Shu-embroidered cloak, his face handsome and fair, looking very much like those noble young masters.

This was the first time in his life he had encountered such a thing.

Every time he went to deliver charcoal, let alone such a wealthy figure, even ordinary people with a little bit of property would avoid him.

After all, he had been wearing this cotton-padded jacket for decades.

He didn't bathe all winter and still had to work; the sour stench on his body could be imagined.

The one helping, naturally, was Li Yan.

"Old man, don't be afraid."

Li Yan comforted him, took out a silver ingot from his bosom, stuffed it into the old man's hand, looked into the distance, and asked: "Old man, what happened in Guanxian?"

He had come down from the mountain, originally intending to go to Guanxian to find people.

But before he even reached the gate, he discovered something abnormal.

The roads along the way were guarded by soldiers, the inspections outside the city gate were very strict, and several wanted posters were hung on the wall—they were exactly Sha Feifei and the others.

Strangely, their names were not clearly written; it only said these were fierce bandits from the Jianghu, and any commoner providing clues would be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver.

Li Yan realized something had happened and could only find someone to ask first.

"Ah..."

The charcoal-selling old man felt the silver was a bit hot to the touch, but thinking of his old wife lying sick in bed at home, he gritted his teeth, stuffed it into his bosom, bowed respectfully, and said: "This old man doesn't know too well, but I heard that in a residence of the Shunyuan Escort Agency in the city, many people died."

"As for those running the Jianghu, some people specifically warned not to get involved in this matter."

"Oh, thank you, old man."

Li Yan nodded slightly, watching the charcoal seller not head into the city, but turn the cart around and leave quickly in the direction he came from.

This old man had experienced the hardships of the world and was also a smart person.

First, having taken the silver, there was no need to go to the city to sell charcoal; second, he was intentionally showing Li Yan that he wouldn't run to the city to report them.

Thinking of this, Li Yan looked toward the distant county seat.

The Shunyuan Escort Agency led Sha Feifei and the others into the city and knew their background, so they wouldn't act recklessly; they were likely implicated...

Someone in the Jianghu was blocking the news, likely knowing the inside story...

Relying on his Jianghu experience, Li Yan quickly judged some things.

But what made him strange was that this Guanxian was not a big city, and there shouldn't be many masters; who was taking action?

It seemed he still had to enter the city to inquire.

Li Yan looked around, seeing no one, immediately performed a hand seal, stepped on the Big Dipper, and chanted: "I obey the decree of the Great Emperor of Luo Feng, Spirit of Luo Feng, Spirit of Luo Feng, descend quickly. Golden hammers dance wildly, iron staves cross. Generals and officials of Luo Feng, descend quickly..."

Whoosh~

Before the spell was finished, a fierce wind blew up around him.

Yin evil energy carrying bone-chilling cold rose, vaguely forming eight phantom shadows behind him, carrying a cold and majestic intent.

This was borrowing the power of the Eight Generals of the Outer Altar.

Borrowing the power of Yin Generals also varied by method.

One didn't need to chant to borrow power for reinforcement, but the more prepared one was, the greater the power.

Having borrowed the power of the Eight Generals, Li Yan operated the North Emperor Mysterious Xuan Xuan Shui Dun.

Gradually, his figure vanished without a trace.

In the past, when using the Mysterious Xuan Xuan Shui Dun, at the very least, water mist would rise; if one's cultivation was profound, one could even see his blurry figure.

But with the reinforcement of the Eight Generals' power, he could become completely invisible.

Whoosh~

A light breeze blew, and only a row of shallow footprints could be seen, flying toward Guanxian.

The city wall of the ancient Guanxian was not high; Li Yan took a detour, found a deserted place, and vaulted over with a few leaps.

Entering the city, he found the atmosphere even more tense.

At every corner of the streets and alleys, there were at least one or two yamen runners, and soldiers from the garrison holding guns passed by from time to time.

Li Yan walked a few steps and leaned against a wall corner.

This was a remote residence in the East City; at the opposite corner, stood an old and a young yamen runner, leaning against the wall and yawning.

The commoners passing by all shrank their heads and avoided them.

It seemed that seeing no one around, the young yamen runner complained: "What kind of business is this? It's been two days; if they were really in the city, they would have run away long ago. Why hasn't the Magistrate stopped yet?"

"Heh heh, you don't understand this."

The old yamen runner took out a pipe, squatted in the wall corner, took two puffs, and said: "The Shunyuan Escort Agency is an escort agency from Chengdu Prefecture; even if they all died, what does it have to do with our Guanxian?"

"Besides, the murderer isn't them. Didn't you see those two people standing next to the head catcher when they were collecting the bodies? Those are the real masters."

"Whether we can catch the people isn't important; satisfying those two people is what's important to the Magistrate!"

"Ah?"

The young yamen runner seemed to understand but not quite: "Whose family has such great ability?"

The old yamen runner knocked out the ash, was silent for a moment, and said: "In this world, one shouldn't meddle in other people's business, but since you call me Master, this matter must be explained clearly, lest you suffer in the future."

After saying that, he said mysteriously: "They are wearing official boots, and the tokens they hold are from the Prince of Shu's Mansion."

"Prince of Shu's Mansion?!"

Hearing this, the young yamen runner's eyes widened instantly.

These officials, although cursed by everyone locally, also had some prestige, and ordinary commoners dared not provoke them.

But the name Prince of Shu's Mansion was too distant for him.

It was no different from the stars in the sky.

"Shh!"

The old yamen runner hurriedly told him to shut up, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then reprimanded: "Remember, disaster comes from the mouth; it's better to be ignorant."

"Just pretend you don't know about this matter; anyway, the Magistrate decides how to do things; just play deaf and dumb..."

Prince of Shu's Mansion?

Listening to the two yamen runners chatting, Li Yan frowned slightly.

The status of the Prince of Shu's Mansion in Shu was self-evident.

Local officials even only listened to their orders, and combined with the local gentry in Shu, they formed a huge network.

Even if an imperial envoy came, they wouldn't be afraid.

If the Prince of Shu's Mansion was involved, then the matter was a bit troublesome.

If Sha Feifei and the others acted openly, they would be wanted, tied up, and manipulated by the other side.

Sha Feifei and the others, they couldn't have had an accident, could they...

Thinking of this, a murderous intent rose in Li Yan's eyes.

If something really happened.

He would definitely slaughter the Prince of Shu's Mansion!

Looking at the two chatting yamen runners, Li Yan narrowed his eyes, didn't take action, but took a detour toward the county government office.

Time was tight now; the most direct method was undoubtedly to find those two officials from the Prince of Shu's Mansion and ask clearly what had happened.

But just after passing through a few streets and alleys, an anomaly appeared ahead.

"Block this side!"

"You block this side!"

"Anyone who dares to move, shoot directly!"

Footsteps on the street were chaotic, and shouts were constant.

Numerous garrison soldiers were seen running wildly on the street, quickly surrounding the surrounding streets and alleys, and all the commoners who got in the way along the way were knocked down with a gun butt.

"My lord, spare my life... spare my life!"

Those commoners were beaten until their heads were broken and bleeding, panicked, all kneeling on the ground trembling, unable to even speak clearly.

But these soldiers, fierce as wolves and tigers, couldn't be bothered to pay attention, running quickly, lining up at the street alley entrance, and clattering, raised their fire guns.

What they used were all ordinary firearms.

Since the appearance of new firearms, the imperial court had carried out reforms, and the guards directly under the Emperor all used new fire guns.

The Commandant's Office also received quite a few; it was said that now a battalion could basically have a dozen or so.

Several armies most loyal to the imperial court were also armed with quite a few.

As for the eliminated fire guns, they were distributed to local garrisons.

Although they were all old weapons, some had even been used for many years, every shot required cumbersome loading, and they even often misfired, but the combat method was different. They were divided into three rows, and they had actually used "three-stage shooting."

Li Yan was not surprised by this.

Although the Great Xuan Dynasty had been peaceful for a long time, there were quite a few good generals in the army, and some of those old guys from back then were still around.

In the Southwest War, they must have already explored practical usage.

The place they surrounded was a street alley; compared to other places, it was still considered clean, paved with bluestone, and even the accumulated snow had been cleared, revealing the stone road.

There was only one large residence here, with red lanterns hanging outside, and rows of cured meat and smoked ham hanging on wooden racks in the courtyard.

It looked like they were preparing for the festival.

Li Yan was a bit strange; what kind of person was worth such a big fuss?

"Thunder, disperse, pull back!"

Just then, shouts suddenly came from the residence.

It was someone from the Jianghu!

Hearing this secret code, Li Yan immediately understood their identity.

(Content omitted)

He frowned slightly and prepared to take a detour to leave this place.

He had no interest in getting involved in these things, and besides, Sha Feifei and the others were still missing; how could he have time to waste here.

But just then, a garrison company commander walked out, his expression cold, and he shouted loudly toward the inside: "Hou Xuan, you have committed a crime!"

"Damn it, what's wrong with you? Mixing with those rebels, was the Shunyuan Escort Agency matter done by you?!"

Li Yan was thoughtful and stopped.

Only to hear a rough voice from inside: "Fart! That corrupt official Zhao Peng wants to curry favor with the Prince of Shu's Mansion, so he falsely accuses people; why doesn't he look in a mirror to see if they look up to you?"

When the company commander heard this, his face immediately turned ugly.

He was originally just putting on a show, planning to catch people and take them back.

This Hou Xuan was a local tycoon; taking advantage of this opportunity to squeeze some oil and water would not only sell the Prince of Shu's Mansion face but also allow him to have a good year.

If he was in a good mood, he would release him after locking him up until next year.

But some words, once spoken, meant completely tearing off the mask.

The surrounding soldiers, upon hearing this, also secretly sized them up.

The company commander, seeing this, had murderous intent overflowing in his eyes, and said coldly: "Rebel Hou Xuan, colluding with demon bandits, causing chaos in one area, kill without mercy!"

"What are you still stunned for? Do it!"

With an order, a team of soldiers lined up and walked out.

There were people in front holding shields, people behind holding steel blades, and finally, fire guns pressing the formation.

It could be seen that this was a military formation specifically for dealing with Jianghu people.

They had no light-body techniques, at most practiced some fist and foot skills, and couldn't climb over the high walls and large courtyards here, so they could only walk on tiptoe, preparing to ram the door.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Suddenly, several cloth bags were scattered from the courtyard, and at the same time, someone threw flying darts, shattering the cloth bags.

In an instant, white powder fell like snowflakes.

"Be careful, it's lime!"

These soldiers hurriedly closed their eyes and raised their arms to block.

However, the dust fell on their skin, immediately causing unbearable itching, making these soldiers extremely uncomfortable, scratching constantly, and even dropping their weapons to the ground.

"All idiots!"

The garrison company commander, seeing this, was furious, cursed, and then turned to take a bundle from a soldier's backpack.

It was actually an explosive package.

Well, now they're playing with this!

Li Yan was speechless.

He had seen garrison soldiers fight before, and it was completely different from what it looked like now.

They really learned fast...

Although he complained in his heart, he didn't sit idly by.

Finding a quiet place, Li Yan revealed his figure, performed a hand seal, and eight straw paper dolls flew up from his waist.

At the same time, he chanted: "Wind God arrive quickly, Earth God leave quickly, wronged souls catch quickly, quickly!"

Whoosh~

As soon as the spell was cast, a fierce wind blew up around him.

Yin evil energy rose from the ground, turning into rolling black smoke, gathering on the eight straw paper dolls, and then turned into eight trails of Yin wind whistling out.

In an instant, the whole alley was pitch black.

The eight straw paper dolls flew up and down, the fierce wind whistled, rolling up the accumulated snow on the ground, blowing those soldiers until they swayed left and right, unable to open their eyes.

Not only that, the fierce wind also carried a chilling cold.

The soldiers were all shivering with cold, illusions appeared before their eyes, the wind whistled in their ears; let alone continuing to attack, they couldn't even stand still.

This was the "Luo Feng Eight Generals Pursuit Method."

If one set up an altar to perform rituals, one could summon the Eight Generals of the Inner and Outer Altars to search mountains and break temples, capture demons and evil spirits, or fight with enemies.

Used on straw paper dolls, it could attack and block the enemy.

"Bold, what kind of demon person!"

The company commander knew someone was performing rituals to cause trouble, and although he was afraid in his heart, he still scolded angrily.

He also had confidence.

Although Guanxian was remote, it had a solid foundation.

On the mountain, there was the Erlang Manifestation True Lord Temple, by the river there was the Water God Yang Si General Temple, and even the City God Temple in the city had been burning incense for hundreds of years and was an orthodox folk god registered in the capital.

For many years, no demon or evil spirit had dared to act recklessly.

Only recently had some strange things happened.

Anyone performing rituals in the city would definitely suffer.

Just as he expected, Li Yan had only walked two steps when he frowned slightly, looked not far away, and sensed the rich incense energy.

In the past, it would have been a trouble.

But for the current Li Yan, it was completely not a problem.

He directly drew the official document from his bosom and said coldly: "Heavenly Official enforces the law, folk gods retreat!"

Whoosh~

A breeze blew, and the incense energy immediately dissipated.

This was another benefit of being a "Heavenly Official."

Acting on behalf of Heaven to patrol, it wasn't just talk; all folk gods in the human world could not interfere and could not reveal information.

After drinking back the City God, Li Yan ran under his feet, and at the same time, his ears moved slightly, and he vaulted up from the other side of the city wall.

Before long, he arrived at a nearby dirt slope.

Clatter!

Accumulated snow and mud slid down, and a wooden board flew out.

Subsequently, people with gray faces and dirt-covered bodies drilled out; it was exactly Hou Xuan and his trusted subordinates.

They originally didn't want to break out, but to divert attention and leave from the secret passage; Li Yan happened to borrow their strength.

Hou Xuan came out first, saw Li Yan standing by the side, was startled, then a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he hurriedly bowed: "Is it Young Master Li?"

"Where are Sha Feifei and the others?"

Li Yan couldn't be bothered with nonsense and asked directly.

"I sent them out of the city and arranged them in a tea manor..."

Hou Xuan briefly narrated, gritted his teeth and said: "Something must have happened on the mountain, otherwise the Prince of Shu's Mansion wouldn't have troubled me."

"Thank you!"

After Li Yan asked for the direction, he waved his hand, and a straw paper doll flew up and landed on Hou Xuan's subordinate.

"Take this item, I will find you later, there will definitely be a generous reward!"

"Young Master Li..."

Hou Xuan was about to speak, but the figure in front of him whistled away.

He was stunned, then shook his head slightly.

And Li Yan in the distance, after running for a while, immediately put on the armor horse, operated the North Emperor Divine Walking Technique, and headed toward the tea mountain.

The tea mountain was not far from the county seat, and he was fast, arriving at the tea garden before long.

This place had gone through a battle and was already a mess.

Li Yan frowned slightly, operated the smell supernatural ability, sniffed, wanting to find the scent of Sha Feifei and the others.

But immediately, he looked up and said in a deep voice:

"Get out!"

Clatter!

The sound of flapping wings rang out, and a blood parrot flew down from a distant treetop...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 548 =====