Chapter 629

He had some matters that many people knew about.

But only one person would blab them out anyway.

That one was Shen Sanyou, the Night Crier.

Li Yan wasn't angry—Shen Sanyou was just like that: gathering a crowd to sneak into others' homes and indulge in debauchery by day, yet proudly boasting about it without shame.

But when trouble came, he truly helped, truly reliable.

So Shen Sanyou had many friends.

What puzzled Li Yan was this: wasn't Shen Sanyou sent by his master to gather information and return to Chang'an?

Of course, Li Yan didn't ask outright.

After all, with so many eyes around—and a Dilonzi beside them—if the Mingjiao had any moves, it would ruin everything.

Madam Pei's eyes flickered as she smiled sweetly at the group. "Are you all here to lodge?"

The Dilonzi's face darkened. "No need. Prepare horses for us—we'll leave now and reach Luoyang tonight. Isn't that more comfortable than your place?"

A sense of unease rose in him for no reason.

His original plan had been to stay two days at Longmen Inn, spread rumors, lure his old enemies, and provoke Li Yan into acting.

Whether or not Li Yan was the real culprit, he'd solve his problem either way.

Li Yan's group were wandering Immortals, traveling far and wide—they couldn't stay put forever; they'd leave eventually.

So he could endure some humiliation.

But now Shen Sanyou had come here too—Shen Sanyou was from the Mingjiao. Though they seemed uninvolved in the Jianghu, they wielded considerable influence in the streets.

If so, his information might soon lose its value.

By then, his information may no longer be worth anything.

Hearing the Dilonzi's sarcasm, Madam Pei covered her mouth and laughed. "Sir speaks truly—how could our humble wilderness inn compare to the splendor of Luoyang?"

"But Luoyang's winds are strong. I advise you all to wait a couple days before leaving."

The Dilonzi's eyes turned icy. "What do you mean?"

Madam Pei didn't answer. Instead, she glanced around. "This place is too crowded. Let's find somewhere quieter."

Pei Niangzi did not answer, but looked around. "This place is crowded and full of eyes; let's find somewhere quiet."

Li Yan nodded in agreement.

He knew Madam Pei mentioning Shen Sanyou wasn't random—she must have something to tell him.

He knew that Pei Niangzi mentioning Shen Sanyou was no idle remark—she likely had something to convey to him.

Madam Pei gestured upward, leading them upstairs.

Her figure was graceful, her steps full of allure.

Though not a seduction technique, she radiated the mature charm of a woman—her waist swayed, her hips' contours clearly visible.

Though not a form of charm magic, it brimmed with the allure of a mature woman, her waist swaying, her hips' contours clearly revealed.

Li Yan inwardly marveled, yet his expression remained unchanged.

They'd weathered storms—this much composure they still had.

But the Dilonzi's disciples stared, mouths agape, eyes fixed, nearly bumping into their master as they followed.

Several of Diliangzi's disciples stared dumbfounded, their gaze fixed unchanging behind her, nearly colliding with Diliangzi.

The Dilonzi, enraged, slapped two disciples off the stairs. "Get lost. Check the surroundings."

He'd finally realized: these disciples could bully ordinary folk, but when facing true power, they were useless—clumsy, unsteady, utterly unreliable.

If his three direct disciples were here, this humiliation wouldn't have happened.

But then again—why hadn't they contacted him yet? He'd sent them ahead to Yuzhou to make preparations.

Had something happened?

As the Dilonzi pondered, Madam Pei led them to the second floor, to a spacious room at the far end of the corridor.

Clearly meant for guests, though built of rammed earth with old wooden window frames, the floor was neatly paved with blue bricks, polished smooth and clean.

Through the window, one could see the Yi River dock in the distance.

On the square table, snacks had already been laid out.

"Please, everyone."

After seating them, Madam Pei glanced at the Dilonzi's cold expression and smiled. "I'm not meddling out of curiosity—only as a fellow cultivator, offering a warning, and fulfilling my duty as host."

"By now, you've just returned from Shu, perhaps unaware: Luoyang has the Paper Man Case—every corner is buzzing."

"Considering the timing, you've just returned from Shu, perhaps you haven't heard—the Paper Man Case in Luoyang has stirred up a storm across the city."

The Dilonzi frowned. "Paper Man magic isn't elite—it's known even by folk shamans. Why all the fuss?"

Madam Pei's lips curled. "This time, it's different."

Leaning against the counter, she traced circles on the wooden table with her fingertip, turning to Li Yan. "Li Shaoxia may not know: Luoyang, capital of thirteen dynasties, holds many oddities. Recently, the tale of 'Paper Horses Ferrying Ghost Soldiers, Night Cries at Mangshan Graves' has spread."

"For half a month, the paper offerings shop in the South Market has been cursed: paper figures crafted by day rise on their own at Zi Hour."

"They kill, carry coffins, and flee—yet whenever a cultivator investigates, they vanish without a trace…"

"It can kill, yet also drag coffins around wildly; yet whenever a sorcerer investigates, it vanishes without a trace…"

Li Yan was startled, his brow furrowing.

Ordinary Paper Man magic relied on yin-evil energy—enough to frighten, spy, like his early use of Chuling Shu.

More potent versions could bind yin spirits or ghosts to them, enabling murder or possession—elusive, unstoppable.

But this method had a flaw.

Paper was thin—even with a spirit bound, it couldn't bear weight. It could only attack via soul-disturbance, possession, or illusion.

Lifting a knife was hard enough; carrying a coffin? Impossible.

Even as an expert, when summoning the strongest of the Inner Altar Eight Generals—"Grand Marshal Meng, the Mighty Heavenly Enforcer"—he could only wield a sword or possess others to channel strength.

He was an expert in this art, yet even when summoning the strongest of the Inner Altar's Eight Generals—"Grand Marshal Meng, the Mighty Heavenly Force Who Chases and Executes"—he could only strike with a sword or possess others to unleash immense strength.

Thinking of this, Li Yan shook his head. "This isn't mere Paper Man magic. What does the City God Temple's Enforcement Hall say?"

Thinking of this, Li Yan shook his head. "This is likely no mere Paper Man Art. What does the City God Temple's Enforcement Hall say?"

The Dilonzi suddenly sneered. "Li Shaoxia probably doesn't know Luoyang's Xuanmen is complicated."

"The orthodox Xuanmen here are led by Baima Temple and Longmen Grotto's Xiangshan Temple."

"Twenty years ago, the court rebuilt Baima Temple, adding the Pilu Pavilion and Shetumo Hall, making it the northern Zen center. Japanese monks come to pay homage—it's arrogant, clashing with Daoist Shangqing Palace."

"Xiangshan Temple is busy restoring the Longmen Grotto, spending vast sums, so they find ways to squeeze money."

"They set up Buddha niches at Yique, where men and women line up to pray for children, tossing copper coins at the Buddha's palm—if it lands, they get offspring. They lure pilgrims with peony gardens, mocked by Luoyang literati as 'monks' robes stained with copper stench.'"

"Baima Temple does the same—other temples follow suit, setting up 'Longevity Vaults.'"

Li Yan's heart tightened. "What's a 'Longevity Vault'?"

"A pawnshop," Madam Pei smiled. "Like Tang-era Xiangji Chu, but also lending money. Many Luoyang underworld types work for them."

Wang Daoxuan snorted. "Didn't the court ban this? How do these monks keep doing it?"

Beside her, Madame Pei smiled. "It's much like the Tang Dynasty's Incense Kitchen, yet also runs loaning businesses—many of Luoyang's street rats and temple rats work for them."

The Dilonzi sneered. "Luoyang's Daoists are led by Shangqing Palace and Lüzu Temple. Shangqing Palace was rebuilt after the founding of the dynasty—now five hundred Daoists, all dreaming of brewing the Ninefold Golden Elixir to offer the court."

"Lüzu Temple stole the Pimen's trade: combining divination with medicine. Their 'Medicine Oracle Slips' contain a hundred prescriptions—you go, draw a slip, and it tells you what herb to take."

Diliangzi sneered. "The Luoyang Daoist sects are led by Shangqing Palace and Lüzu Temple. Shangqing Palace was rebuilt when the Great Xuan Dynasty rose, and now has five hundred Daoists, all day dreaming of refining the 'Ninefold Golden Elixir' to offer the court."

Wang Daoxuan's face flushed. "Medicine is medicine, Dao is Dao—even Daoist physicians rely on observation, listening, questioning, and palpation. This is playing with lives!"

"Don't act surprised."

The Dilonzi smirked. "They've actually cured many. Their prices are cheaper than city clinics, so their incense never stops."

"They say it's Lüzu's miracle—but I suspect foul play. But they're powerful; those who know keep quiet."

Diliangzi sneered. "They've truly cured many people, and their prices are cheaper than the city's clinics, so their incense burns steadily every day."

The City God Temple's Enforcement Hall drew cultivators from orthodox sects nearby—given Luoyang's Xuanmen decay, they wouldn't care.

Li Yan shook his head slightly. "Any leads?"

"No leads," Madam Pei sneered. "At least they lack the power—but they're excellent at exploiting the case to extort money."

"They accuse wandering cultivators of being 'heretical sects disrupting Luoyang,' harassing outsiders—even those with official permits get jailed unless they pay enough to clear their names."

"Luoyang is now a cesspool. I've heard word this has reached the Yuzhou Provincial Governor—he's preparing to petition the court. They'll calm down in a couple days."

Pei Niangzi also sneered. "At least they lack that ability, but their talent for exploiting investigations to amass wealth? That they have—greatly."

Li Yan pondered, then asked: "And the 'Night Cries at Mangshan Graves'?"

Madam Pei replied: "That's nothing. It started when an old gravekeeper near the Northern Wei Jingling Tomb claimed he got drunk at night and heard drums, gongs, and Nuo opera echoing from the underground tomb."

"Terrified, he fled to Luoyang, shouting everywhere—soon everyone knew. Others checked, found nothing. Probably just delirium."

"Why did it spread so far? Because the people are angry—saying Luoyang is declining, and the emperors buried in Mangshan can't bear it anymore, and will take back those who've corrupted it…"

She then gave a general overview of Luoyang's state.

As she said, Luoyang had indeed declined.

After the Tang's collapse, the An Lushan Rebellion, and the Jinzhang Wolf Kingdom's invasion, half the city was destroyed—many roads still unrepaired…

Since the court lifted sea bans, coastal ports thrived with maritime trade; Luoyang's river docks grew quiet. Coupled with corrupt governance, merchants and artisans fled to the coasts…

With the economy down, chaos naturally grew.

After the turmoil at the end of the Tang, the An Lushan Rebellion, and the invasion of the Golden Tent Wolf State, Luoyang's city walls were nearly half destroyed, and many official roads remain unrepaired to this day…

After the court lifted the sea ban, coastal ports flourished due to the convenience of maritime trade, while Luoyang's river docks gradually grew quiet; coupled with corrupt governance, many merchants and artisans fled to the coastal regions…

With the economy in decline, chaos naturally spread among the people…

Grave robbing on Mangshan had become rampant; even common folk in Luoyang City, and masters of the Xuan Gate like Di Longzi, couldn't resist joining in, along with bandits from Funiu Mountain and river pirates on the Yellow River…

In short, peaceful days were gone.

Li Yan and the others listened, unable to suppress a sigh.

Along their journey, they had seen much: in this grand era, though it seemed as if fire burned with oil, not every place benefited.

While they chatted idly, a waiter brought in dish after dish.

"You've traveled far—taste some Luoyang local dishes."

Madam Pei raised her red sleeve, her phoenix eyes sweeping the table; with the tip of her chopsticks, she lifted a carrot shred shaped like a peony. "This is 'False Bird's Nest.' When Wu Zhao ascended the throne, a three-foot-long white radish appeared on Mangshan; the Ministry of Agriculture offered it as an omen. The imperial chef imitated bird's nest soup with vegetarian ingredients, and Empress Wu named it 'Righteous Vegetable'—"

Wang Daoxuan picked up a bite and exclaimed in surprise: "This radish has a seafood flavor?"

"It's flavored with broth made from Yi River carp bones."

Madam Pei smiled lightly; her silver bracelets chimed against the porcelain bowl. "Of Luoyang's Twenty-Four Soup Dishes, this deceptive vegetarian delicacy is the crown jewel."

She then pointed to another dish: in a celadon lotus bowl floated a jade-green jelly, dotted with a few red goji berries.

"This is 'Cold Toad Jelly.' When Emperor Yang of Sui dug the Tongji Canal, an icy toad phenomenon appeared in a cold pool on Mangshan…"

As Madam Pei spoke, she gently tapped the bowl's rim; the jelly rippled in response. "In truth, it's agar from stone flower algae bound with donkey bone gelatin. Back then, canal workers relied on this soup to ward off miasma."

"This 'Stewed Trio in Fermented Grain Broth' also has a history. When Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, the Xianbei nobles couldn't stomach goat's milk. The imperial chef fermented the broth to remove the gaminess—and it became a testament to 'Han-Xianbei Banquets'…"

In a coarse earthenware basin floated snowy goat's milk foam, with Yellow River shrimp, Yique silver fish, and Mangshan pine mushrooms drifting within.

Li Yan scooped up a spoonful; the sour, fragrant aroma surged to his crown, yet beneath it lingered a faint earthy stench. He frowned slightly, lifting the bowl—then saw the engraved characters at the bottom: "Made in Zhengshi Third Year."

Madam Pei burst into laughter. "Don't be offended, Young Master Li. Previously, some grave robbers got into a brawl here and died, leaving behind a whole room of jars and pots."

"These are Northern Wei ceramics—quite exquisite. We use them often at Longmen Inn. If you're not used to them, I can replace it?"

"No need. It's fine."

Li Yan shook his head slightly but no longer touched the dish.

Madam Pei continued introducing the dishes.

"'Golden Pickles with Jade Slices'—thin as cicada wings, slices of Yellow River carp laid on a sandalwood cutting board, garnished with yellow mustard, fragrant water pepper, and orange threads, inspired by Cao Zhi's 'Famous Capital': 'Sliced carp, stewed shrimp'…"

"'Charred Bone Peony Crisp'—petals layered like the real thing, but when bitten, the center is a paste, symbolizing how Empress Wu banished peonies to Luoyang; even when set ablaze, they refused to bow."

The peony crisp, bitter yet sweet, embodied the spirit of the Divine Capital.

Wang Daoxuan couldn't help but praise: "No wonder this is a thousand-year Divine Capital. Even setting aside the flavors, the historical depth here is unmatched."

"Hahaha…"

Madam Pei covered her mouth and laughed. "Master Dao, you flatter us. But don't laugh at me—I'll admit it: most of these famed dishes are vegetarian imitations of meat. First, during Northern Wei, Buddhism was revered and slaughter forbidden; second, Luoyang had endured war and scarcity, so these clever dishes arose to substitute for rich flavors."

"Call it depth? It's really just a thousand-year dream of ruins…"

………

"Please enjoy slowly. I have some errands to attend to."

After explaining, Madam Pei rose and left.

Li Yan wasted no time, gesturing for everyone to keep eating and drinking.

He had already sensed: in the room Madam Pei had exited, several others were present—experts, hidden by concealment arts.

Only when the door opened did they become aware.

That's why Di Longzi dared only to mock, not act.

Madam Pei, though seemingly flirtatious, possessed extraordinary memory and knowledge—even ordinary scholars couldn't match her. No wonder she commanded the He-Luo Horse Guild.

Called a horse guild, it was in truth a merchant association.

So many experts gathered here—this couldn't be simple.

After eating and drinking, the group, weary from travel, returned to their rooms to rest before continuing their inquiries.

Back in his room, Li Yan set down his luggage, sat cross-legged, and meditated. Soon, he heard footsteps fading outside.

He smiled faintly, coldly.

It was Di Longzi who had left.

That old trickster still played games with him—but he was shortsighted. He'd sent disciples out, and they hadn't returned; likely sent to search.

No sooner had Di Longzi gone than light, graceful footsteps approached the door; a graceful figure swiftly pushed it open and shut it behind her.

It was Madam Pei, the innkeeper of Longmen Inn.

Li Yan had expected this. He rose, voice low:

"What message did Old Shen leave me?"

(End of Chapter)