[{"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-626":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},2262931,4415,"Chapter 626: Initial Yuan-Chen Settled, Jinshui Ferry","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-626",626,"\u003Cp>The qin worm is an ancient exotic insect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shanhai Jing records it: its appearance is bizarre, covered entirely in insect-like scales, yet moves like a snake, and excels at earth Dun .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being refined into a life-soul parasite, it undergoes further transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its body shrinks dramatically, now only one finger long, entirely black-scaled, still serpentine, but with transparent wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzz~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unafraid of the bitter cold, it vibrates its wings, swiftly passing through cracks in the ice cave, then emerging from the hollow of the old pine tree, crawling to Sha Lifei’s ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Sha Lifei was ensnared by an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he carried many treasures: besides the protective talisman he seized from Xiong Baodong, there was also the White Robe Bodhisattva’s bead strand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were treasures for stabilizing the heart and anchoring the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he was entranced, gazing dazedly at the glowing lights overhead, he retained a sliver of clarity, gripping the old pine tree tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the qin worm parasite crawl to his ear, he instantly reached up to grab it—but the worm vibrated, and a voice came from beside his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t move. I’ll remove the parasite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the qin worm vibrated its wings and opened its mouthparts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine scales flew off Sha Lifei’s body and were entirely swallowed by the worm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei instantly regained clarity, his scalp prickling as he stared at the qin worm beside his ear, shouting: “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cave, Long Yan heard him and tried to rise, but her body, long deprived of food, grew weak and nearly collapsed; she shook her head: “I’m fine, just exhausted. You go ahead. I’ll rest here until tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei glanced around and shook his head: “No way. It’s freezing out. I’ll get you out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he immediately drew his Guanshan knife and struck the solid ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire weapons would’ve been faster, but on this snowy mountain, any major disturbance would trigger an avalanche.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again and again, the ice shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he shattered all the ice blocking the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei hurried inside, shivering, holding his torch forward, and finally found Long Yan within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at each other, unsure what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei scratched his head, then stepped forward, stripped off his thick cotton robe, helped Long Yan up, and wrapped her in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with a flick of his wrist, he used a subtle force to sling her onto his back and tied her securely with rope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan knew what he intended and shook her head silently: “No need. I just came out of seclusion—I’m not injured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better warm than frozen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei said nothing more, carried her out of the cave, gripped the icy rope, and climbed upward through the howling snowstorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an Anjin master; Long Yan was light. Without difficulty, he carried her up the cliff, trudged through snow up to his knees, and headed toward the cave where the others rested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow night was pitch black, wind and blizzard raging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The torch lit only three feet ahead; beyond that, all was darkness. The world seemed to hold only the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, after all, was flesh and blood. After shedding his thick cotton coat and walking through snow, he shivered uncontrollably—but his mind grew sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he muttered: “Forget that thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan’s eyes flickered with surprise. “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei muttered back: “We’re not suited. Your parasite arts are profound—you have limitless potential. I shouldn’t hold you back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan fell silent, gazing around and shaking her head: “When I closed my seclusion, it was just like this—darkness, walking alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that moment, I felt all cultivation, wealth, glory, romance—it was all illusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life is but a single dream. In the end, we all die. Why not rest sooner? That’s why I couldn’t wake up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, drawn in, couldn’t help asking: “How did you wake up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan replied: “I asked myself: what do I still care about? I thought and thought—avenging my elder brother counted as one. And I once promised: if I survived, I’d marry you. That counted too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beyond that, I couldn’t find any reason to live. I only felt sorry for myself—how could you say you’re holding me back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to feel sorry for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei muttered: “Everyone’s like this. If you don’t know, just keep walking. If you’ve never seen anything, go see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must walk the path first, then speak these words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. Let’s just keep walking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan stared into the surrounding darkness, lost in thought, falling silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Sha Lifei quickly changed the subject: “By the way, there’s something you probably don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Yang family of Bozhou has been wiped out. All survivors were captured and taken to the capital. They’ll surely be executed at the marketplace. Your revenge is complete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan’s eyes turned icy. “Too easy. I wanted to see their heads fall with my own eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei grinned. “After we descend the mountain, we head to Yuzhou, then to the capital. If we’re lucky, we might catch it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why go to the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qiankun Academy has opened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the Qiankun Academy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush. I’ll tell you slowly. While you were in seclusion, things got wild—we nearly died…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the snowstorm, the two walked, torch in hand, talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flickering flames slowly vanished into darkness…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A muffled crash—rocks flew from the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the spray of snow, Li Yan strode out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dispelling the incense-evoked “Heavenly Demons of Five Wounds” from the Queen Mother of the West, no further obstacles remained. He erected the Eight Generals’ Divine Altar, and the Queen Mother’s shrine dissolved into spiritual fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emerging, he saw Wang Daoxuan and the others rising to depart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Li, are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minor trouble. Resolved. Where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s wrong over there…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning the reason, Li Yan joined them to rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, after walking only a short distance, Lu San muttered: “No need. They’re coming back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan twitched his ears, a faint smile on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, firelight flickered in the distance—Sha Lifei, covered in snow, face blue with cold, returned carrying Long Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the group, he shouted loudly: “What are you all staring at? Help me! Lu San, any hot water left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the cave, after much fuss, Sha Lifei sat by the fire, rubbing his body: “Ugh, never coming back to this hellhole again… When do we descend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He deliberately changed the subject to avoid questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu San, stubbornly, muttered: “I heard you talking—back in Chengdu, you were quite the hero…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei flushed. “Sorcery isn’t used like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d exaggerated wildly while telling Long Yan recent events, and normally bragged to anyone who’d listen—his face was thick as leather, and he didn’t care if caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, he felt strangely guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sat by the fire, sipping his steeped old tea, watching the group laugh and chat. Outside, the snowstorm howled—but inside, like the bonfire, warmth lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Daoxuan, who had been quietly busy, lifted his head—his hand held a string of copper coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each coin was two copper coins fused together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled: “A small trifle I made. Earlier on Mount Hua, Young Master Li acquired a set of Twelve Yuan-Chen coins—life-soul spirit coins. Each night during spirit retention, holding them lets you channel your retained power into them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With your current cultivation, this retained power is trivial. And since your blade was reforged, I dismantled them to make tokens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortuitously, on Mount Qingcheng, I found another set of ‘Guangzheng Tongbao’ coins cast by Meng Chang—also Twelve Yuan-Chen coins. Paired with your life-soul coins, their yin-yang sides allow short-range communication through vibration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep them. Get familiar with them quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he tossed the Chen Dragon coin to Li Yan, kept the You Rooster coin for himself, gave Sha Lifei the Wu Horse coin, Lu San the Wu Dog coin, Wu Ba the Chou Ox coin…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Long, which one do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan turned to Long Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yan was startled, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan chuckled: “When you cultivated, I jokingly called you ‘You Rooster.’ Later, someone realized the joke—and our group became known as the ‘Twelve Yuan-Chen.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Li adopted the name, and it gained some fame. Which one do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting their gazes, Long Yan realized she had truly joined the group. Warmth filled her, yet confusion lingered: “I don’t know. Master, give me whichever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard, thinking: “Jingzhe has just passed. Your life-soul parasite bears the serpent’s form. Si is the beginning, yang energy rising—you broke seclusion precisely now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take the Si Snake. It is the Taiyi Yuan-Chen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath Mount Xilingxue flows a river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shares the Minjiang River system with another river, both eventually merging into the Nan River, vital waterways of the Chengdu Plain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is also a major water route, with many ferry crossings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the river widens, and the current slows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the southern bank lay a ferry crossing named Jinshui Yi, its name derived from the phrase “Washing Brocade River, Connecting All Directions,” serving as the vital chokepoint linking Sichuan-West with Yunnan-Tibet and Hubei-Hunan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inn clung to the mountainside overlooking the river, its stone steps winding down to the water’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A three-court courtyard with blue-tiled roofs and earthen walls, its eaves arched and bracketed, bore above the gate a weathered wooden plaque inscribed with “Jinshui Yi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river wind, carrying shards of ice, swept past the inn’s upturned eaves, making the bronze bells beneath clang wildly; the old porter, Zhou, wrapped in a faded cotton armor, huddled beside the ferry’s stone steps, warming his hands over a charcoal brazier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sparks had barely risen when the river wind snuffed them into a wisp of blue smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn this late winter cold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou cursed, then rekindled the brazier; once the iron kettle boiled, he limped over to the inn’s rear courtyard, carrying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he even entered, his expression changed—he smiled obsequiously and knocked. “My lord, the water’s boiled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold voice came from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou hurriedly pushed the door open, carrying the kettle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the shabby room, a black-robed old man sat before a square table—this was Dìlóngzi of the Tongtian Sect—four disciples stood beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, please ask for anything you need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou rubbed his cracked hands, beaming with forced cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi gave a glance; one of the disciples immediately tossed a fragment of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou snatched it up, grinning broadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Dìlóngzi speak in a low tone: “Have any travelers come down from the mountain today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou shook his head quickly. “No, sir. Forgive my boldness, but this year’s weather is unnatural—anyone climbing now would surely be frozen solid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Frozen solid would be better…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the disciples muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi shot him a icy glance; the disciple instantly fell silent. Dìlóngzi then turned to Old Zhou and said coldly: “Keep watching. Don’t ask unnecessary questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou dared not speak further and quickly shut the door and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across Shenzhou, north and south, inns numbered in the thousands; maintaining such a network consumed vast sums of silver each year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Larger inns were manageable—they had their own wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Jiming Yi, which rivaled a small town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But smaller inns like Jinshui Yi were poor; the imperial silver allocated to them was often siphoned off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even these past two years, with the sea trade booming and the treasury full, funds were stretched thin—massive rearmament with firearms demanded huge outlays—so Jinshui Yi remained impoverished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou had been disabled fighting bandits in his youth and was posted here; a lonely old bachelor with no income, his life was harder still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, the court finally issued a decree: all inns could open to the public for lodging, but travelers must register, and imperial matters took priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at last, Old Zhou had a way to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unluckily, the weather had turned again—snow sealed the mountains, and not a single merchant or traveler came through to Sichuan-Tibet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, finally, a distinguished guest had arrived—a high cultivator holding a Dao permit—and he would treat him well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earn some silver, and he could make it through the spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Old Zhou’s thoughts aside, after he left, one of the Tongtian Sect disciples could no longer hold back: “Master, Li Yan may already be gone—why wait here for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi sneered. “That brat is troublesome—if he comes down and finds us gone, he might chase us to Yuzhou, and that would be trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my own plan. If you’re impatient, leave yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple was wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple bowed his head, wishing he could slap himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were used to being arrogant under Dìlóngzi’s wing; having been suppressed by Li Yan on Qingcheng Mountain, they naturally resented it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Dìlóngzi Landelihui , sipping his tea, lost in thought, as if pondering something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, footsteps sounded outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Zhou limped over, face alight with joy: “Guests! Guests! Someone’s come—many of them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi immediately set down his teacup and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, a group of travelers descended the distant mountain path, dusty and weary—Li Yan and his companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, you truly are a man of your word!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Dìlóngzi emerge, Li Yan smiled and bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shaoxia flatters me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi smiled back. “I always keep my word. Besides, I wish to uncover who’s behind this scheme—and I’ll need Li Shaoxia’s help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, Senior, you’re too kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan smiled on his face, but his mind grew wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already inquired—Dìlóngzi was no good man, infamous in the Jianghu, having swindled countless others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting here was not out of fear of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shaoxia, please, after you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, after you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged false smiles, politely deferring as they entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once seated, Li Yan cut straight to the point: “Senior, when do we depart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It depends on Li Shaoxia’s decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi said: “The fastest route from here to Yuzhou is to leave Chengdu, cross the Qinling Mountains, take the Jinniu Road from Guangyuan to Hanzhong, then head east from Chang’an through Tongguan to Kaifeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back to Shanzhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifi’s eyes lit up. “I haven’t had that oil-drenched noodles in ages—I miss them terribly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sha Lidi won’t get to eat them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dìlóngzi shook his head. “The Shu roads are treacherous enough; with snow sealing the passes, taking that route risks serious delays.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if we take the water route—from Chongqing to Jingzhou, then Xiangyang to Nanyang to Kaifeng—it adds a few days, but avoids delays.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I defer to Senior’s judgment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded slightly, offering no objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Dìlóngzi said, the Shu route carried too much risk—if snow blocked the path or the plank roads collapsed, they’d be stranded for weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered what had happened to Zhao Lüzi…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2510,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","796f8757e909975c6628f640b85c5092b46df0328e6ded0e46b7bff1da060b64","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-627","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-625",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]