Chapter 657: The Appearance of the Hell Flower

Having their identities exposed, the four people on the ground trembled and lowered their heads.

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Helmsman Chen knows them?"

"I've heard of this person."

Chen San replied, "They are a theatrical troupe from Wu Qiao, Jizhou, hanging around the banks of the Huitong River. They have quite a reputation. I heard they even had a conflict with another troupe and asked someone to mediate."

As he spoke, he sneered, "I don't know what kind of guts they ate to dare collude with demon people to rebel!"

"Rebel?!"

As soon as these words came out, Yang Peng Laohai on the ground suddenly raised his head and gritted his teeth. "We are all fellow travelers in the martial world. If I've fallen, I've fallen. Kill or cut me as you please, but don't talk nonsense!"

It was no wonder he was anxious; murder and rebellion were two completely different things.

One was a matter of one person doing the deed and one person taking the blame, at worst a scar the size of a bowl.

But rebellion would implicate the entire clan, and there was no telling how many people would suffer.

"Yo ho, I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin!"

Chen San was amused, his eyes full of mockery. "This is the famous Twelve Yuan Chen. Use your dog brain to think: if it were just an ordinary martial world matter, why would they need to take action? To tell you the truth, the Commandant's Office and the Mystic Sacrificial Office have all been dispatched. This matter is far from something you can meddle in!"

"Twelve Yuan Chen?!"

The old man on the ground was stunned for a moment, looked at Li Yan and the others in disbelief, and said tremblingly, "How can it be you? That's not what he said..."

Seeing his panicked appearance, Li Yan wasn't surprised.

This old man's cultivation was at most one story high.

His methods seemed flashy, but in reality, they were just a combination of simple illusions and the inheritance of the Theatrical Arts Sect.

It might fool laymen, but encountering them, they could see through it at a glance.

Thinking of this, Li Yan said expressionlessly, "It seems you were also deceived. Why don't you explain this matter clearly? It can both atone for your crimes and avoid being used as a scapegoat by others."

However, when the old man on the ground heard this, he gritted his teeth and didn't say a word.

Seeing this attitude, Li Yan already had a plan and gave a wink to Chen San beside him.

"Come here!"

Chen San understood immediately and roared, "Stubborn and unyielding, execute the three little ones on the spot!"

"Yes, Helmsman!"

Immediately, several Boatmen Gang men drew their knives and walked over fiercely.

"Master!"

"Spare me, it has nothing to do with us!"

The three children were so scared their faces turned pale, crying and calling for their parents.

And Li Yan stood by, just watching coldly.

Once you step onto the path of the martial world, you are no longer an innocent person.

These three little brats, when they were killing and setting fires, didn't even blink, and there must be quite a few wronged souls under their hands.

Baohua Bookstore, the Meng residence, a large group of corpses were still lying in the yamen's morgue.

No matter the reason for falling into the martial world, he wouldn't have the slightest mercy.

"Shut up!"

Yang Peng Laohai on the ground cursed with blue veins on his face. "When we drank blood wine to enter the sect, we said that this day would come sooner or later. If you've eaten the meat and played with the women, don't be a coward when it's time to have your head chopped off!"

"This matter can't be escaped, it's better to die like a man!"

He spoke with great passion, but his three disciples didn't buy it at all.

"Fart!"

"You old thing, you talk lightly!"

"Isn't it all to protect your son? Don't drag us down..."

Under the threat of the knife, the three disciples started to spill everything.

"You fools!"

Yang Peng Laohai wanted to bite his three disciples to death, but he couldn't struggle, so he could only sigh.

Chen San struck while the iron was hot and finally pried open the old man's mouth.

"We came to Zhang Qiu because I heard that when my senior brother was old, he took in a few Kong family disciples here, making things very lively, so we came to take advantage of the situation..."

Listening to his account, Li Yan and the others understood the cause and effect.

The birth of the Theatrical Arts Sect runs through the history of the Shenzhou.

Although it was only after the "Hundred Plays" of the Han Dynasty and the "Miscellaneous Music" of the Tang and Song Dynasties that a system was gradually formed, its history is even more ancient.

The source of martial arts comes from the hunting of ancient tribal ancestors, and acrobatics is the same.

Throwing javelins and flying knives, climbing, and animal taming can all vaguely show its shadow.

By the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the trend of "raising scholars" was prevalent. Among the retainers, there were those who were chicken-crying and dog-stealing, as well as warriors and strongmen with unique skills.

These people were the prototype of the Theatrical Arts Sect.

To this day, it has become an important force in the martial world.

According to the division of the martial world, they belong to the "Cai" (Color/Acrobatics) and "Gua" (Hanging/Street Performance) in "Jin, Pi, Cai, Gua."

Although they worship Lu Dongbin as their ancestor, they are considered a side sect in the Mystic Sects.

They study "techniques" but do not cultivate the Dao.

The Theatrical Arts Sect is spread all over the Shenzhou, with sects large and small like carp in the river, mainly concentrated in Puyang and Zhoukou in Yuzhou, Linquan in Huizhou, Jianhu in Su, and Liaocheng in Luzhou.

Wu Qiao in Jizhou is one of the best among them.

Children there start practicing kung fu from a young age.

After becoming adults, they form theatrical troupes and travel north and south.

It can be said that they are born into the martial world.

This Yang Peng Laohai not only came from Wu Qiao but was also a sorcerer, knowing quite a few illusions and secret techniques, so naturally, he was doing very well. Every year when he returned home, there was an endless stream of visitors.

But the people in his hometown didn't know that this old man had long gone astray and didn't care about the hard-earned money from those performances, but was secretly hired to kill and rob, earning blood money.

However, everything has a price.

Doing this kind of business time and time again, it's inevitable to suffer injuries and illnesses.

It was fine when he was young, but by the time he was old, he was already feeling powerless.

What's more troublesome is that when he was young, he only cared about his own pleasure, and his parents were too doting, so his only son became a troublemaker, harming neighbors and doing many wicked things, to the point where he couldn't even stay in his hometown.

If it were just that, it would be fine.

Yang Peng Laohai had saved quite a bit of silver and could have changed places to become a wealthy man.

However, his son was addicted to eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, not only squandering the family fortune but also owing a lot of silver to the gambling den, and was caught by a group of mysterious people who used it to threaten him.

Over the years, Yang Peng Laohai had taken his disciples to commit crimes everywhere, all driven by others.

Earning money was only one thing; what he feared more was the Yang family line being cut off.

"It's simply a joke!"

Chen San was full of mockery. "Looking at you, you're also a ruthless person who puts your head on your belt. This is clearly being trapped in a 'tethering stake,' why didn't you think about breaking the situation?"

"Hahaha~"

Yang Peng Laohai laughed sadly. "How could it be that simple?"

"That group of people has superb skills and vicious methods, and they also gave us medicine. As long as we don't take it for a few days, we feel like our hearts are being clawed, like falling into purgatory, and we can't even raise the thought of fighting to the death..."

As he was speaking, the two little disciples beside him started to become abnormal.

First, they broke out in cold sweat, then their bodies twitched unnaturally, as if they were trying hard to endure something.

But soon, they couldn't hold on anymore. "Great heroes, we know everything about this old thing's business. You can ask whatever you want. Our drug addiction is acting up, let... let us have a puff..."

As they spoke, tears and snot were already streaming down their faces.

Have a puff?

Li Yan frowned, his voice turning cold. "Have a puff of what?"

"It's the medicine those people gave us."

At this time, Yang Peng Laohai also showed similar symptoms, gritting his teeth, his forehead full of blue veins: "Great heroes, let us have a puff, otherwise these three little brats won't be able to hold on and will bite their own tongues off."

Li Yan twitched his nose. "Where is the stuff?"

"It's... it's at the Hejin Inn..."

At this time, Yang Peng Laohai's forehead was also breaking out in cold sweat.

"Take a few people and go get it!"

Chen San also sensed that something was wrong and immediately ordered his men to go get the stuff.

Soon, their bundles were brought over.

Yang Peng Laohai and the three disciples knelt on the ground like dogs, their hands trembling, each taking out a small box from their bundles. After opening them, inside were indeed some black-brown paste-like substances, sticky on the surface, and with a stale urine smell.

They stuffed it into their pipes and then lay on the ground, puffing away.

The previous symptoms all disappeared, and their expressions were all of being in a state of floating immortals.

"This... what is this?"

The surrounding people looked on in horror.

Yang Peng Laohai was a sorcerer; even if he was old, his mental will should be strong enough.

His three little disciples, to be able to practice such excellent bone-shrinking techniques, must have suffered a lot.

How could they have no resistance to this thing?

And Li Yan's expression was gloomy and cold.

Opium!

He didn't expect that this harmful thing would also appear.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered around.

The Kong family father and son were also leaning over to watch the fun.

The young scholar Kong Shangzhao saw this, his eyes thoughtful, and he walked over in the eyes of everyone, pinched some opium, and rubbed it in his hand. "This seems... to be the poppy flower."

Wang Daoxuan also had a solemn expression. "Does Layman Kong recognize this thing?"

Li Yan was also a bit curious.

This was definitely opium, but it was the first time he had heard the name "poppy flower."

"I've seen it in books."

Kong Shangzhao nodded and stood up. "This thing is produced in the Western Regions and was introduced to the Central Plains during the Six Dynasties. The 'Old Book of Tang' once recorded that the Fulin Kingdom presented it, and the Tang poet Guo Zhen also wrote a poem 'Poppy Flower'..."

"'Blooming in the air, it is said to be better than grass; bearing fruit, how has it ever benefited the people? Yet it laughs at the wild fields of grain and millet, not hearing the strings and pipes pass through youth.' At first, this thing was used for viewing, many literati praised its beauty, and some doctors also used it as medicine..."

"During the Song Dynasty, this thing was regarded as a nourishing medicine. Su Shi mentioned 'Poppy Soup' in his poems, and it was also made into 'Buddha Porridge' and 'Fish Cakes' for consumption..."

As he spoke, his expression also became solemn. "I have also heard of one thing."

"During the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom, the 'Records of Tianzhu' recorded that in the 23rd year of Yuanjing, the Privy Council's Tuotuo Temur led an army to conquer Tianzhu and saw the strange technique of Afurong (opium), which could communicate with the netherworld and confuse people's minds."

"I remember the original words were like this: Afurong, Sanskrit name Pajun's Tears. Its flowers are as red as blood, its fruit is like a poppy capsule, and when cut, it yields black paste. Tianzhu demon monks use it combined with corpse oil and human bones to refine 'Ghost-Communicating Incense.' Smelling it, one sees immortal and divine illusions, lasting for three days..."

"The captured demon monk Narayana confessed: Afurong paste can refine 'Ghost Soldiers.' Taking a dying person and pouring the paste for three days, they can fight even after death, invulnerable to swords and spears..."

"The Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom wanted to use this to train soldiers, but later it was left unsettled."

Chen San heard this, only feeling the hair on his back stand up, his voice trembling:

"You mean, it's the remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom playing tricks behind the scenes?"

He wasn't afraid, but excited.

If they really caught the remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom, this would be a huge merit.

The Great Xuan Dynasty has been established for over a hundred years, but the fear brought to the Shenzhou by the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom has not yet dissipated.

In the countryside, there are many grotesque legends related to it.

Even decades ago, during the northern frontier rebellion, there were remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom involved.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple..."

Li Yan shook his head slightly, inexplicably feeling that there was another reason for this matter.

Thinking of this, he said in a deep voice, "Speak, who is the inside agent in the residence?"

As soon as these words came out, no one else was surprised.

Not many people knew that Wang Daoxuan had just obtained Xu Fu's bamboo slips.

And the other party drew the snake out of the hole first, then sent someone to run directly to Wang Daoxuan's room, so there must be someone informing them, acting as an inside agent.

The four masters and disciples of Yang Peng Laohai on the ground had recovered after a few puffs of opium, their eyes dull, pupils dilated, without the slightest resistance, and they opened their mouths to speak.

However, before they could speak, a figure suddenly turned and ran out the door.

It was a middle-aged man from the Chen residence.

Li Yan recognized him; this person was the gardener in the residence.

But there were Boatmen Gang disciples guarding outside the Chen residence, and the gardener was just an ordinary person, so how could he escape?

After running a few steps, he was grabbed by the neck and pressed to the ground by a Boatmen Gang man.

Chen San's eyes were full of killing intent. "Speak, who instigated you? I'll leave you a whole corpse and won't implicate your family."

Planting an eye in the residence had touched his reverse scale.

"Master Chen, spare my life..."

The gardener was so scared he knelt on the ground, kowtowing continuously. "I didn't know the matter was so big. It was Temple Keeper Wang of the Ren Fengzi Temple who gave me 20 taels of silver to pay off gambling debts and asked me to inquire about this matter."

"Ren Fengzi Temple, let's go!"

Chen San immediately gave the order and led many Boatmen Gang brothers to walk out.

After Li Yan asked for the location, he directly performed the Jia Ma Technique, stepping on water, flying with the violent wind, and arrived at the Ren Fengzi Temple one step ahead.

This Ren Fengzi, although suspected to be one of the Lower Eight Immortals, the temple was only built by the commoners in memory of him. No one knew where he truly ascended to immortality.

When Chen San and the others arrived, only Li Yan was there, looking at the raging fire in the temple.

"The person has already run away."

Li Yan shook his head slightly and looked at the pitch-black canal in the distance.

"Chen San, you immediately report this matter."

"Let the Commandant's Office investigate those Japanese pirates and the red-haired barbarians to see who else is messing with this stuff."

"This matter is absolutely not that simple..."

…………

The next morning, Li Yan and the others boarded the boat and left.

That "Master Landu" Kong Hui was also a taboo in the Kong family. After these years of reincarnation, he probably had no connection with the Kong family. Staying any longer wouldn't yield any results.

Instead, Yang Peng Laohai and these people provided a piece of information.

Those people who set up the trap to pit his son,

were in Tianjin!

This time, Li Yan and the others took a boat, which was personally arranged by Chen San.

The boat was full of Boatmen Gang people, so naturally, no one provoked them along the way.

Any water bandits or road bullies all avoided them from afar.

This also let Li Yan see the prestige of the Boatmen Gang.

Compared to the Pai Sect, the Boatmen Gang was closer to the imperial court, so on the northern canal, it was basically the world of the Boatmen Gang, and the Pai Sect couldn't even insert a small sampan.

Sailing for a day, dusk approached.

Li Yan was meditating in the cabin when he heard a Boatmen Gang disciple respectfully say on the deck outside: "Everyone, we have arrived at Linqing."

Hearing this, everyone immediately got up and walked out.

The so-called "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."

The changes in the fortunes of the Shenzhou include both the decline of the Divine Capital Luoyang and the rise of other cities.

For example, this Linqing City, whose reputation now even exceeds that of Jinan.

"Prosperity surpasses the two capitals," is what describes this place...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 658 =====