[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-60":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262365,4415,"Chapter 60: Fast Horse to Rescue","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>“Not urgent—get up and tell us what happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan’s face was grim; he ordered someone to help the man up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan recognized the man—he was a craftsman from the village who, seeing trouble had broken out, had stayed nearby to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the man was lifted up, his legs still trembled, his face pale; he paid no mind to the blood dripping from his forehead, his voice shaking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhu Zi was leading a few kids to cut grass at the village entrance when a child ran back saying a peddler had come down the official road, handing out candy and tricking the children into saying their names.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After eating the candy, the children collapsed and fell unconscious. It was passing villagers who woke them, but when they came to, Zhu Zi was already gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wan, my family has only this one child—if he’s lost, how can I face our ancestors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he burst into loud sobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carpenters around him, hearing this, flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cowardly bastards—daring to kidnap children in our village!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go—he can’t be far. We’ll search!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we find him, we’ll peel him alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd, furious, prepared to rush out and hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s all this panic for?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One old carpenter barked: “Master Wan hasn’t spoken yet—even if it’s the slave traders of Xianyang City, one word from Master Wan and they’ll return the child without a word!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd snapped to attention, remembering Master Wan’s status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan nodded. “Er Shun, Shuan Zi—you take some gifts and my letter of introduction. Go separately to the slave traders’ guild in town and the western beggar dens. Have them find him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be polite. Follow the Jianghuguiju .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two carpenters immediately stepped forward, preparing to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This won’t get the child back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a voice came from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned—it was Sha Li Fei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei chuckled, scratched his bald head, and bowed. “Master Wan is righteous—we can’t hold back our words. If I’m wrong, please forgive me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan nodded. “Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei looked around at the crowd. “Old Sha has traveled the underworld for years—I’ve seen plenty of shady tricks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kidnappers who use candy to lure children are everywhere, but they always pick clever, young kids—they fetch higher prices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this peddler asked for their names first—he came prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, anyone who’s been around the Xianyang road knows the name of Shangyi Village. This is likely revenge—not slave traders or beggars will help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sha Brother speaks sense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan frowned, suddenly rose, paced once, then spotted Li Yan beside him—his heart leapt. He quickly bowed. “I nearly forgot—Li Xiao Ge has divine abilities. This matter depends on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan bowed. “No trouble. I need a fast horse—and the child’s personal belongings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick, bring the horse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shuan Zi, get the things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, someone brought a chestnut mare and handed over a small wooden sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said nothing, grabbed his knife and the wooden sword, and leapt onto the horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked the reins—the chestnut mare shot out of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooves pounded, dust rose—and soon, they vanished from sight…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few breaths, Li Yan reached the village entrance, activated the Yang Seal, sniffed—and immediately turned, racing down the official road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child’s scent was faint—perhaps already sealed in a sack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it couldn’t hide from his nose’s divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the faint trail, Li Yan galloped hard, and soon, Xianyang City appeared in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gritted his teeth—and sped up even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xianyang City was dangerous for him now—but some things must be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan had treated him with sincerity—his knife feared no killing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet at the fork leading to Xianyang, the scent suddenly veered off in another direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan spun his horse around, a flicker of doubt crossing his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That direction led to Menggu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place was infamous—not for its scenery, but because it had once joined the Maitreya Sect rebellion and was crushed flat by imperial troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a few such villages in Guanzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over ten years had passed, yet the wounds remained unhealed. Strange tales of haunted ghost villages had spread—and no one dared settle there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the slave traders have taken over the place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intrigued, Li Yan spurred his horse forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Midway, the scent turned again—veering off the road, deep into the wild grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan spun his horse and charged into the grass. Soon, he reached a small stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stream was shallow—he rode across—and the scent vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned, activated the Yang Seal, and drew a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn clever bastard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed, spun his horse again, and galloped off—only to realize the slave trader had crossed the stream, then returned to the opposite bank, continuing toward the abandoned village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A normal tracker would’ve been fooled by this trick—but it meant nothing to the divine powers of the Xuan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, after another few hundred meters, over a yellow earth ridge, two figures appeared ahead on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman drove a donkey cart piled high with hay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A peddler carried a wooden box with compartments, filled with kites, candied haws, clay figurines—bright and varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hand, he held a rattle, whispering softly to the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing hoofbeats, both turned, eyes sharp with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s heart stirred—he raised his fist and called out: “Stop, please! I need directions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he nudged his horse’s flanks—speed unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, sir—where are you headed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler stopped and turned—he was a young man with a kind face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though smiling ingratiatingly, his right hand slid toward his waist—then twisted, flinging a half-foot iron arrow that hissed straight for Li Yan’s brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throwing Arrow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance between them was now close—less than ten meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler’s hidden weapon carried real force—if this were an ordinary man, he’d have been struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yan, with his divine senses, had already smelled the iron. At the instant the arrow flew, he rolled sideways off the horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like a fall—but midair, he executed a cat’s leap, landing steady on the ground, crouching low, knife horizontal, racing behind the horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the peddler’s eyes, Li Yan had vanished—then the chestnut horse charged straight at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The panicked horse thundered like a thousand tons—the peddler barely dodged aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the horse passed, a blade of light slashed toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler’s heart lurched—he scrambled back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the blade clung like a leech, closing in on his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the peddler stared in terror, the woman on the cart leapt up—her meteor hammer spun, her left leg pressed down, and the sharp tip shot toward Li Yan’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan dodged aside, raised his Guan Mountain knife—the meteor hammer twisted, wrapping tightly around the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan surged with force, yanking backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman, still airborne, lost balance and crashed to the ground, face-first, dirt-covered—her meteor hammer flew from her grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the peddler, having dodged the killing blade, rolled like a lazy donkey, rose, and now held several throwing arrows—both hands flung them—half-foot iron arrows hissed in rapid succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For ordinary men, dodging hidden weapons was hard—eyes couldn’t keep up with motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skilled masters could hear wind to judge position, unify mind and hand, move with intent—blocking or catching and returning the weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yan, with his powerful sense of smell, sensed every movement within a hundred meters—he didn’t even need to look to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding ding ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Guan Mountain knife parried left and right, deflecting every throwing arrow—while his feet kept moving, charging straight at the peddler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan like a vengeful ghost, the peddler’s scalp prickled—he knew he’d met a true hard case. He pulled two daggers from his lower back and screamed: “Hard target! Together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he rolled forward, crouched, lunged—daggers aimed at Li Yan’s abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman, meanwhile, pulled a white wax long spear from the hay—both arms shook, and spearheads bloomed like flowers, striking straight for Li Yan’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ground-Crawling Knife, Pear Blossom Spear!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately recognized their style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though these two had not yet cultivated dark force, their coordination was seamless and their methods cruel—they were clearly freelance operators, “eating Ge Nian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, they belonged to the “Ge Gate” among the Eight Hidden Gates: Hua, Lan, Rong, and Ge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Jianghu  assassins, enforcers, lone bandits, flower thieves, or even their blade-wielders, anyone who used martial skill for illegal acts belonged to the Ge Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two clearly knew Li Yan was formidable and struck without mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler rolled left and right on the ground, his movements eerie and nimble—dog bites rice dumpling, back-carried sickle, aerial reverse bind—each move faster than the last, dagger and leg techniques intertwined like a whirlwind rising from the earth, dust flying everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s skill was clearly inferior, but her pear-blossom spear whirled up and down, blossoms exploding—nine-tenths illusion, one-tenth reality—mainly to distract, yet every thrust was precise, always coordinating with the peddler to form a lethal combo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan blocked right and dodged left, appearing to retreat step by step, but his eyes grew colder, like a beast suppressing its aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, their coordination revealed a slight flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s spear moved a fraction too soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan instantly shifted his body, rotated his shoulder, raised his blade upward while leaping backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade flashed—the woman’s white-wax spear snapped clean in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, the peddler rolled sideways, crossed his daggers upward in a rising thrust—a horse-lifting stab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s retreat perfectly avoided it; then his left leg surged, dark force erupting, his right leg lashed forward in a kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler’s head snapped backward into his own spine—he made no sound, collapsed motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman saw it and turned deathly pale; she barely opened her mouth to beg when Li Yan slapped her across the face, sending her rolling to the ground, eyes rolling back, unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan stepped forward and pulled aside the straw pile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, three children all had flushed faces, asleep and unresponsive…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1691,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","28485a18d44682bcdee64b6828b5daf3818e35b2039a615e0aba6303abca9b6f","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-61","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-59",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]