Chapter 554: Year-End Jin Guan City

The sky was gray and hazy, fine snow drifting down in abundance.

In the distance, Chengdu Fu seemed veiled in white gauze, the world reduced to only black and white, exuding a unique aura.

The official road outside the city was a sea of mud.

Though the year-end was near, the official road leading to Chengdu Fu remained busy, filled with local villagers as well as traveling merchants.

The wooden cart wheels creaked and groaned, often sinking into muddy holes.

The cart's body was caked in mud, looking unimpressive, but it was in fact a high-end vehicle, costing a considerable sum of silver.

The reason was simple: it was sheathed in iron bands.

These wheels were fitted with massive iron bands, heated until red-hot, then pressed around the wooden rim, locking firmly upon cooling.

Even over long journeys, the wheels would not come apart mid-travel.

Even so, the iron bands were rusted through; if not replaced next year, they would not last much longer.

The cart carried slabs of mutton.

The people of Shu loved mutton and ate it every winter.

Ordinary families could not afford it, but Chengdu Fu, teeming with wealthy merchants and powerful nobles, could easily sell an entire cartload.

"Damn this damn weather…"

The cart driver removed his hat, shook off the accumulated snow, and complained to the side: "How many years have I seen this? Shu has never had such heavy snow—could it mean trouble next year?"

As he spoke, he glanced sidelong, unobtrusively.

He was complaining, but also making conversation.

Beside him stood Li Yan and his companions.

He had come from Wanchun County and met them on the road; the winter journey was treacherous, and he feared encountering starving wild beasts descending from the mountains, so he joined them for company.

These people clearly were no ordinary folk.

The cart driver was a seasoned veteran from the Huaiqing Cart Yard in Chengdu Fu, a man of the jianghu by trade, and he casually struck up conversation to learn their background.

Wang Daoxuan heard this, stroked his beard, looked up at the sky, and nodded gravely: "The climate has indeed changed. Last year, I already noticed it was colder than usual; I didn't expect this year to be worse…"

Li Yan, listening nearby, fell into thought.

He vaguely recalled that in his past life, during this period in history, there had been a minor ice age, triggering dynastic turmoil and endless disasters.

Could the transformation of human affairs be tied to this…?

Aaoh~ Aaoh~

A donkey's head suddenly stuck out beside them, one eye straight, the other squinting—it was the foolish donkey Li Yan had taken in.

This fool had no other virtues, but he was lucky.

When the group had split up, he had been taken by Sha Li Fei and others to Guan County and left at a stable; perhaps because he was so ugly, no one cared for him after the incident.

After descending the mountain, Li Yan personally returned to Guan County and brought the donkey out—he had grown attached and couldn't just abandon him.

He patted the donkey's head idly, then gazed toward a roadside tea stall, eyes narrowing, and turned to bow: "Uncle Liu, we're going for a hot tea—let's part ways here."

The cart driver froze, puzzled.

Chengdu Fu was already close; once inside, there would be no shortage of food or drink, and these people didn't look poor… they must have some purpose.

Of course, he dared not press further, so he merely bowed: "I'm at Huaiqing Cart Yard—I know Chengdu Fu well. If you need anything, feel free to find me."

"Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again."

Watching the caravan depart, Li Yan gave a signal and led his group to the tea stall.

The tea stall was small, just a patched, tattered cloth stretched over a canopy, with a few wooden tables inside and a small stove steaming with a teapot.

With the cold weather, there were few customers.

Only one table was occupied, by a middle-aged man in black, his face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat.

Seeing no passersby left, Li Yan placed Duan Chen Dao on the table, sat across from the man, and said firmly: "Brother, how's things in the city?"

The man looked up—it was Hou Xuan, who had fled from Guan County.

His beard was unkempt, his face weary, and he said: "Young Master Li, rest assured—this tea stall belongs to my own brother."

He was a local jianghu hero from Guan County, once a gang member, later a merchant who had amassed considerable wealth.

To be honest, Li Yan preferred not to deal with such people.

Those who rose from the underworld were rarely good souls.

Yet Hou Xuan was a man of righteousness—he had been dragged into their troubles and nearly lost everything.

Li Yan knew right from wrong and could not abandon him, so he agreed to help this man find a new opportunity.

Though they had faced powerful enemies in Guan County, the trail of Erlang Zhenjun still needed pursuit, so Li Yan had sent Hou Xuan ahead to Chengdu to gather information.

Unfortunately, they had gained little.

Erlang Zhenjun's reincarnation had not lingered long in Guan County; they only learned his name was Yang Chenghua, who vanished entirely after his foster mother's death.

The only person who knew the truth, the sorcerer Lu Shu, was already dead.

With no other option, they had come to Chengdu Fu.

"There's little noise in Chengdu Fu."

Hearing Li Yan's question, Hou Xuan said gravely: "Our affair in Guan County seems to have been deliberately suppressed—no major commotion has arisen."

"I found Brother Wang at Shunyuan Escort Agency and asked him to inquire—neither the Chengdu Fu authorities nor the city guards have issued any warrants for us…"

Li Yan pondered. "How is the Shu Prince's household faring now?"

Hou Xuan glanced around, then whispered: "Since his son was shot dead in broad daylight and the Shu Prince stormed the yamen, he has returned to the Shu Prince's Mansion and not left since."

"Rumors from within the mansion say the Shu Prince is bedridden, has even spat blood—he may not survive the year."

"The Shu Prince's commandery princes have all begun maneuvering, sending envoys to court censors, trying to reach the capital—they're likely too preoccupied to care about us…"

"I see."

Li Yan thought a moment. "What are your plans, Brother Hou?"

He meant the man's future intentions.

Hou Xuan sighed, his eyes clouded with uncertainty. "Before I left, I brought a group of brothers. I don't mind, but they've risked life and limb for me—I must give them a place to settle."

"Brother Wang suggested I join his escort business, but my men aren't skilled enough—they wouldn't last in this line."

"Chengdu Fu is full of snakes and dragons; as an outsider, it's hard for me to break in. Right now, we're staying at a stable, paid tribute to a few docks, and so far no one's bothered us."

This was the helplessness of the jianghu.

Without roots, one could only drift endlessly.

Li Yan thought a moment, then pulled a silver note from his sleeve.

"Young Master Li, what are you doing?!"

Hou Xuan frowned and quickly stopped him. "I'm no great man, but I've never regretted upholding jianghu righteousness—and I left with enough silver for food and drink."

"You misunderstand, Brother Hou."

Li Yan smiled. "Next year, I plan to build a temple near Chengdu, beside a river, but finding skilled craftsmen is troublesome. Since you're idle, why not help me prepare for this?"

"No problem—I've got nothing else to do."

Hou Xuan finally nodded, but when he took the silver note, he was stunned: "Ten thousand taels?!"

Ten thousand taels might buy little in the xianxia world, but among common folk—even with rising prices—it could accomplish much.

Building a small temple would be more than sufficient.

"This is just an advance deposit."

Li Yan nodded. "After we enter the city, we have other matters. Brother Hou, you can start finding craftsmen first—price is no issue, but craftsmanship must be excellent. Ask Brother Wang to help you find xianxia artisans."

"One thousand taels of this is your fee."

Seeing Hou Xuan about to refuse, Li Yan shook his head. "If you don't take it, I'll be the one whispered about behind my back—and I'll have more trouble ahead."

"Very well."

Hou Xuan hesitated, then tucked the silver note into his robe.

He could see Li Yan meant to lift him up. After pocketing the money, he asked: "Young Master Li, what are your plans after entering the city?"

"Shu Prince's Mansion… the ghost theater troupe…"

Li Yan named two terms casually, then said firmly: "What we're about to do will involve bloodshed. Brother Hou, don't get involved—it might drag you down. Also, tell Brother Wang."

"Once it's safe, I'll find you."

Hou Xuan's heart lurched, a chill crawling up his spine; he said no more, rose, and bowed: "Understood. Please be careful."

With that, he nodded to the old man running the stall, pulled his hat low, and strode away.

He knew Li Yan would never tell him where they were going.

"Let's go."

After he left, Li Yan and his group also departed the tea stall.

They had come from the west and reached Chengdu Fu's West Gate by midday; the line at the gate was short.

But the gate loomed high, its gate tower carved and painted, weathered by time yet still radiating past glory.

Nothing out of the ordinary in sight!

After all, it was a great city—the gate guards were alert and vigorous, all clad in armor, wielding spears, and carrying firelocks on their backs.

Braving wind and snow, they stood like immovable boulders.

Li Yan and his companions were too conspicuous; before they even neared, the guards fixed their gaze on them.

Li Yan and his group, however, showed no change in expression.

Li Yan had already prepared them for this on the road.

He was on Mount Qingcheng, accepting a task from the Cheng family to protect the Fifth Commandery Prince, whom the Chengs had set their sights on, ensuring his smooth succession.

This matter could be handled openly or covertly.

Li Yan understood well: the true planners were the Cheng family; they were merely the public facade.

If stopped, revealing their identity would be no issue.

Yet strangely, the city guards, upon seeing them, only stared with wariness but did not approach to stop or question them.

Li Yan and the others were puzzled, but once inside the city, they instantly understood.

Due to foot traffic melting the snow, the streets of Chengdu were muddy but far from quiet, with noise crashing over them.

On both sides, shops stood shoulder to shoulder—cloth shops, grain and oil stores, teahouses, and wine halls, all present and accounted for.

With the New Year approaching, business had grown even livelier.

The townsfolk hurried along, some pausing to buy New Year goods, others hauling charcoal and wild goods to sell, the Sichuan dialect ringing loud.

What drew the group's attention most was the sheer number of martial artists.

Outside teahouses and wine shops, ragged eastern beggars clacked money boards and sang lotus songs.

Through the windows, one could see an elderly man and his grandson performing fish-drum storytelling.

Chengdu was always bustling during the New Year, and its Lantern Festival in the fifteenth day of the first month was famed throughout the land.

It was no surprise that martial artists from all over gathered then.

But among them were also many sorcerers.

An old man with a monkey perched on his shoulder…

A burly monk wielding a spade…

Even a black-clad man carrying a fire rifle…

Li Yan and Sha Li-fei exchanged glances.

Though the court had issued gun permits, few had the chance to obtain one, and most hid theirs.

For instance, the Divine Fire Rifle was stored inside their baggage.

To display it so brazenly meant they must be disciples of a major sect.

Whether martial artists or sorcerers, though numerous, they were sparse against the scale of a great city like Chengdu.

They'd barely entered the city and already encountered so many…

Something must have happened within the city.

"Head to the Commandery Prince's mansion first."

Li Yan, deep in thought, led the group into an alley.

Inside the alley, people were noticeably fewer.

This was Xicheng, inhabited by ordinary folk; nearly every household was busy—cleaning houses, making cured meat.

Children played in the alley, burying cheap firecrackers in the snow, setting them off with loud bangs, snow spraying everywhere.

It wasn't yet the New Year, but the festive atmosphere was already thick.

Li Yan and the others lowered their hats and sped through the alleys, asking a few wary townsfolk along the way, soon heading toward the southern city…

…………

The layout of Chengdu was overall oval.

When Great Xuan overthrew Great Xing, Chengdu had been a battlefield; a century ago, it was rebuilt and its walls expanded, with four gates opened to the east, west, south, and north, each equipped with a wengcheng.

The famed Shu Commandery Prince's mansion occupied the center.

Its perimeter stretched five li, its walls four zhang high, surrounded by an outer wall nine li long—truly magnificent. Thus, Chengdu formed a triple-layered structure: inner, middle, and outer city.

In Chengdu's southern city, temples and shrines were numerous.

Not only were there Wenjing Palace, Ma Wang Temple, and Chenghuang Temple, but even the Chengdu Prefectural Academy stood here; outside the city lay the famed Qingyang Palace.

Naturally, this was also where the high officials and nobles gathered.

Deep in an alley of the southern city, a grand mansion was encircled by bamboo groves, snow reflecting off its walls, its gate tower towering, adorned with large red lanterns.

This was the Fifth Commandery Prince's mansion.

The court imposed strict regulations on the specifications of commandery princes' mansions.

For example, the front gate tower had three bays and five rafters, the middle gate tower one bay and five rafters, the front hall five bays and seven rafters…

From height to structure, none could exceed these limits.

In truth, the area was not large.

Especially in recent years, as the court elevated merchants' status and lifted restrictions, many had spent vast sums building lavish mansions.

Compared to them, the commandery prince's mansion looked shabby.

There was no help for it—this was the court's rule.

The court could turn a blind eye to merchants, but imperial clan members were watched by countless eyes; any deviation invited impeachment.

After all, among the censors, there were always those willing to endure beatings for promotion.

Even so, such privileges were not granted to everyone.

The Fifth Commandery Prince had been bright and studious since youth, and his mother came from the Cheng family; with no ties to others, he was allowed to leave the Shu Mansion out of respect for the Chengs.

Living in this quiet place, he kept a low profile.

"Who are you?!"

Before Li Yan's group could approach, a man emerged from the bamboo grove, dressed in blue, his temples slightly swollen, face dark and stern.

Clearly a martial artist.

Li Yan took from his sleeve the token given by Ming Shanzi, and said calmly: "Kindly deliver this to the Fifth Commandery Prince—he will know."

"Oh?"

Seeing the "Cheng" character on the token, the man narrowed his eyes, a flicker of displeasure crossing them, yet he said nothing more, only nodded: "Alright. Wait here. Don't wander."

With that, he turned and entered the commandery prince's mansion.

"Young Master Li, something's off."

Sha Li-fei leaned close and whispered.

Li Yan nodded, lips curling slightly. "The Chengs aren't being straightforward—someone's trying to steal the job…"

(End of Chapter)