Chapter 61: Clues of the Demonic Path

“Hurry up, hurry up!”

“Isn’t that Huwa from the next village?”

“He’s been drugged—go boil licorice water!”

When Li Yan drove his donkey cart back to the village, a crowd of villagers immediately surrounded him; those familiar with the Jianghu ways quickly recognized that the children had been drugged.

Mánghàn medicine wasn’t rare in the Jianghu—Shenxian Zui, Yabulu, and Manduoluo could all be brewed; pick the flowers in August, blend them in equal parts with hemp flowers from July, then dry them in the shade into powder.

The cure was even simpler: boil raw licorice into broth.

After one bowl, the three children stirred awake, blinking at the crowd of adults surrounding them, utterly bewildered as to what had happened.

The fathers of the missing children embraced their sons, weeping with relief.

Around them, voices offered comfort, others shouted curses—the scene descended into chaos.

Master Wan, face grim, ordered his villagers calmed, then turned with several disciples toward the stable.

The female trafficker they’d captured was locked up there.

As for the peddler’s corpse, Li Yan had already tossed it into the woods.

Li Yan and the other two exchanged glances, then followed close behind.

Inside the stable, the woman was bound tightly with ropes.

Jianghu practitioners often had one or two tricks to escape bondage—dislocating joints or collarbones, hiding razor blades under the tongue or beneath scalp hair, embedding needles beneath the skin.

So even after a thorough search, the Jiangmen disciples remained uneasy, tying the ropes so tight they dug into her flesh, securing them with dead knots.

The woman was around thirty, her face sallow, her triangular eyes gleaming with malice; half her face bore Li Yan’s slap, now swollen purple and bloated like a steamed bun.

As if sensing her life was forfeit, she remained silent, her gaze cold and vicious as the group entered.

Master Wan didn’t rush to question her. He sat on the chair a disciple brought, smoked a few puffs in silence, then spoke: “You deal in Gěniàn, kidnap children, extort ransom—none of that’s your trade. Who ordered you?”

Seeing she wouldn’t speak, he let out a cold snort. “Hard mouth won’t save you. I know every alley in Xianyang—I’ve never seen your kind. You’re from Chang’an, aren’t you?”

“Is your contact Cai Sangu or Tu Erye…”

“Oh, Tu Er? That brat has no manners.”

As he spoke, he watched her expression closely.

Without her uttering a word, he’d guessed most of it.

Li Yan and Sha Lifei couldn’t help but silently thumbs-up.

Seeing her origins exposed, the woman grew uneasy, shut her eyes, and gritted her teeth: “Don’t ask. I don’t know who hired me. Even if you find Tu Erye, he won’t speak—he’d break the code, and more would die.”

“Hmm.”

Master Wan nodded, voice low: “I don’t intend to break your code. I just want you to understand what you’ve meddled in.”

He turned to a disciple beside him. “Did you find anything?”

“We did!”

The disciple bowed deeply and handed over a slip of paper.

Master Wan took it, frowned, shook his head slightly, then passed it to Wang Daoxuan. “Wang friend, my numerology’s weak—take a look. Is there something amiss?”

Wang Daoxuan clearly sensed the gravity. His face darkened as he studied the paper, then said gravely: “Seen Ding in January, Hai in May, Yin in August—all are Tian De Gui Ren. Someone’s trying to use their lives to break through a barrier.”

Master Wan sighed. “I sensed something wrong earlier. If they’d only taken children from Shangyi Village, I’d have thought it personal revenge. But they struck multiple villages, even asked for names—that’s suspicious.”

“Looks like someone’s desperate. Only targeting Tian De Gui Ren—likely their cultivation’s weak too…”

Seeing Li Yan and Sha Lifei confused, Wang Daoxuan said gravely: “This is the demonic method of borrowing lives to break through barriers—taking the lives of children with extraordinary destinies, offering them in unholy sacrifices to elevate one’s cultivation.”

“The Great Xuan Dynasty decrees: anyone practicing this method shall be executed without mercy!”

Li Yan pondered. “What should we do if we encounter this?”

“Report it immediately to the Enforcement Hall of the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao.”

Master Wan rose slowly. “Someone, bring her. We’re going to the Xianyang City God Temple.”

He cast a cold glance at the woman. “You don’t need to speak. At the City God Temple, there are plenty of ways to make you talk—including Tu Er from Chang’an—he won’t escape either.”

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

The woman finally panicked, shrieking: “Tu Er told me to deliver them to Menggu Village, tie them to the ancestral shrine’s ruined temple—someone would come to collect them. It’s all Tu Er’s doing, not mine…”

She clearly looked terrified.

These people lived with their heads tied to their belts—they’d accepted death as a mere scar. It might even earn them a reputation for loyalty.

But crossing the Xuan Sect? Who knew what horrors they’d be turned into after death, let alone reincarnation.

SLAP!

Master Wan signaled with his eyes. One of his disciples stepped forward, struck her across the face, then ripped a rag from his sleeve and stuffed it into her mouth, dragging her out like a dead dog.

Master Wan shook his head slightly, then bowed to Li Yan and the others. “We owe you, young Li. Without you, the consequences could’ve been dire.”

“Xianyang is in chaos now. Leave this to me—I’ll take her to the City God Temple. Whoever’s behind this won’t escape. You three stay safe in the village—food and drink will be provided.”

“Master Wan, please attend to your duties.”

Knowing this involved the Xuan Sect and demonic forces, the three didn’t press further.

Master Wan clearly had more experience with such matters.

…………

After Master Wan and his men departed, the courtyard buzzed again with activity.

Seeing things settled, Li Yan wanted to resume searching for Zhao Lüzi.

Wang Daoxuan, granted permission by Master Wan, had already slipped into his study to browse his collection of Xuan Sect texts; Sha Lifei had no interest in climbing the mountain, so Li Yan went alone.

The back mountain wasn’t far, so Li Yan didn’t ride—he carried a basket of wine and food and left from the village’s rear, soon spotting a small hill.

The hill was low but densely vegetated; exposed patches were rocky and loamy, making the climb steep and treacherous.

After the midday chaos, it was afternoon by the time he climbed. The setting sun slanted across the hillside, illuminating an ancient, weathered Mountain God Temple nestled in a hollow halfway up.

!.

It felt strangely eerie and ancient.

Before Li Yan even approached, he heard voices from inside.

“Brother Zhao, this’s a big job—aren’t you considering it?”

“Our ancestors forbade us from taking jobs underground.”

“You’re a stubborn fool—this is…”

The man cut off mid-sentence, hearing Li Yan’s footsteps. He whirled around, voice dark: “Who’s there?!”

His ears are sharp…

Li Yan feigned not hearing, calling out loudly: “Brother Zhao! I’ve come to drink with you!”

“Ah, Brother Li!”

Zhao Lüzi had been wary, but at Li Yan’s voice, his face brightened. He turned and said: “Master Mo, I won’t take this job. Please leave—my friend’s here, and I must entertain him.”

“Fine, fine!”

At the same time, Li Yan saw the speaker.

A short, middle-aged man in coarse black robes, wearing a small black cap, with an iron rod tucked behind his waist. His features were wrinkled and pinched, his front teeth jutting out like a giant rat.

And Li Yan smelled the stench of rotting earth clinging to him.

The man’s gaze was cold as he glanced at Li Yan, clearly unwilling to speak, then turned and strode away, vanishing around the ridge.

“Brother Li, are you done with your business?”

Zhao Lüzi himself was young. Though he lived in the wilds and wasn’t talkative, after their shared adventure, he’d come to truly regard Li Yan as a friend.

Seeing him arrive, he was naturally pleased.

“Hahaha! Even if I’m busy, I’ve always got time for a drink!”

Li Yan laughed heartily, subtly gesturing behind him.

That rat-faced man had seemed to leave, but was clearly still crouched behind the ridge, listening.

Zhao Lüzi instantly understood, smiling: “Come in, Brother Li. Tonight we drink till we collapse… no, you’re staying here tonight.”

“Fine.”

Li Yan laughed and stepped into the Mountain God Temple.

The temple resembled a cave-dwelling: half exposed, half dug into the mountainside. Outside, it looked ancient; inside, it was spotlessly clean, with a kitchen, woodshed, and earthen bed on either side.

At the front stood a statue of an old man dressed as a herbalist.

Sensing the incense aura, Li Yan’s expression turned solemn. He bowed respectfully and lit three sticks of incense before sitting down to chat with Zhao Lüzi.

They chatted aimlessly, avoiding the subject. After a while, Li Yan smiled: “Who was that man? His vibe felt off…”

Zhao Lüzi didn’t hide it. He shook his head. “He’s from the Xunyou lineage—a Bao Seeker. Knew my father. Spends his days around Guanzhong searching for ancient tombs. Has a few disciples—all ruthless.”

Li Yan frowned. “He’s after you?”

“No.”

Zhao Lüzi hesitated, then whispered: “Someone in Xianyang recently spread rumors of a heavenly treasure. He came to recruit me to find it.”

“Oh?”

Li Yan’s interest stirred. “What treasure?”

Zhao Lüzi shook his head. “Call it a treasure if you like, or a cursed thing—it’s called Shan Tai Sui.”

“The location’s not far—just outside Xianyang, in the mass grave field…”

(End of Chapter)