Chapter 662

An Yin-criminal?!

Li Yan was both surprised and delighted, while also feeling a bit puzzled.

Along this journey, he had collected quite a bit of intelligence.

Even though he spent most of his time on the ship, he had entrusted the Grain Transport Gang to inquire about where Yin-criminals might be lurking.

However, he had gained nothing.

It was not surprising.

After all, those who escaped life and death feared being discovered by the Yin Office and mostly hid in blessed lands.

Li Yan's several big harvests were also in these places.

Those appearing in the markets were mostly ordinary people who had accidentally returned to life.

He didn't expect to have a harvest here at the Jinzhou Guild Hall!

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yan immediately grasped the Hook Decree and sank his consciousness into it.

In an instant, the surrounding sounds dissipated, and he was shrouded in thick fog.

He was already accustomed to this, but because he was still in the Jinzhou Guild Hall, he had to speed up to prevent being discovered.

But after passing through the thick fog, the scene before him made him pause.

Ahead was a bronze well, bound and wrapped by chains, with rolling black water swirling.

It was an evil ghost that had escaped from the Netherworld!

The Yin Office issues tasks, and different wells represent different targets.

A stone well is for capturing those who have returned to life,

A black well with blood water is for capturing demonic energy.

As for this bronze well, it is for evil ghosts that have escaped from the Netherworld.

According to the task introduction, these "evil ghosts" usually do not belong to the human world but are terrifying things born in the Netherworld or the Great Luo Dala Fajie. They are powerful, know only destruction, and cannot be communicated with.

This kind of task is generally highly dangerous.

Therefore, like capturing demonic energy, failure will not be punished.

How could the Jinzhou Guild Hall have this thing?

Li Yan was curious and hurriedly placed both hands on the well rim.

Splash, splash~

The black, turbid well water swirled.

An accident happened again.

If it were normal, a yellow edict would appear in the center of the vortex, explaining the origin of the Yin-criminal.

But this time, only a mass of black fog appeared, surging up and down, changing unpredictably.

The Yin Office cannot distinguish it?!

Li Yan's eyes were full of surprise.

He had already vaguely figured out the process and general principles of capturing Yin-criminals.

Like that bronze Nuo mask, the Hook Decree is also a channel artifact connected to the Great Luo Dala Fajie. Once it senses the aura of a Yin-criminal, it will record it, and then the Yin Office will distinguish it and issue orders.

And this situation means the Yin Office cannot find the origin...

While he was pondering, a huge red-robed figure appeared again in the gray sky in the distance, vague and only able to distinguish a human shape, with two small black shadows beside it.

"What's going on?"

A loud and majestic voice came from the sky.

Li Yan already knew that this was the famous Cui Pan.

He pretended to be confused, looking at the black fog on the well, while actually listening intently.

"Reporting to you, my lord."

A strange, sharp voice sounded, "This Yin-criminal does not have the aura of the False False Yin Si; it should be from elsewhere."

"From elsewhere?"

Cui Pan seemed to have thought of something and said in a deep voice: "It seems that since the human dynasty opened the seas, evil things from other realms have also entered the Shenzhou. Let him investigate clearly, and the reward will be doubled."

"Yes, my lord!"

Following the strange voice's response, the black fog before Li Yan also changed rapidly.

Amidst the surging, it transformed into a yellow edict.

Sure enough, it not only required him to capture it but also to investigate its origin clearly.

And the reward was also very generous, with a Gang Order and a Divine Gang.

Fearing to reveal a flaw, Li Yan deliberately showed a look of surprise and reached out to grab it, and the yellow edict sank into his palm.

Afterward, he pretended not to see it and quickly sank into the thick fog.

When he came back to his senses, he was already in the guild hall.

This back-and-forth took only a brief moment, so no one discovered it.

Li Yan's expression remained unchanged, pretending that nothing had happened, while actually becoming vigilant.

They passed through the screen wall and happened to run into a group of laborers in short jackets carrying lacquered wooden cargo boxes across the courtyard.

The blue brick ground was polished oily, the sunlight elongated the shadows of the hip-roofed gatehouse, making the golden-lacquered plaque "Gathering Wealth from All Over the World" on the lintel shine even more brightly, and their footsteps startled a few gray pigeons on the eaves, which fluttered across the old pine tree in the courtyard.

The layout of the Jinzhou Guild Hall remains the same in essence.

The entire guild hall takes the Guan Emperor Temple as its core, with the main hall enshrining Guan Gong, and larger ones will also build a mountain gate, a stage, a Guan Emperor Hall, etc. The east and west side halls are used for discussions, and the courtyard is used for activities.

If someone hosts guests, it is usually in the east and west halls, and they will also invite a theater troupe.

The courtyard behind is where guests stay and eat, and tea rooms and studies are indispensable.

"Hahaha..."

From the east side room came hearty laughter.

"Those Portuguese people are not honest in business; their silver coins are of suspicious quality, and twenty boxes were just confiscated."

From the west side room came a weight in jin accent, carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

Li Yan glanced slightly, looking through the carved lattice windows.

He saw several merchants in brocade clothes sitting around an Eight Immortals table.

Among them, there was actually a red-haired, green-eyed foreigner mixed in.

He was dressed in Hangzhou silk, and if it weren't for the crystal glasses perched on his hooked nose, he would be no different from the local merchants.

The old man in a dark purple floral jacket tapped his water pipe: "The dynasty has only opened the seas for three years, and the tax share at Yue Port has already risen four times. The tax official insisted that my ship of Siamese rice was Siamese fragrant rice, and scraped off another thirty percent of the ship freight silver."

A Spanish silver coin slid out of his sleeve, his finger pads rubbed over the cross pattern on the coin, and he looked to the side:

"I heard your country has set up a mint in the Nanyang?"

The Portuguese merchant nodded hurriedly, answering in stiff official language: "The self-ringing clocks and glassware transported by our merchant ships can be exchanged for silk and tea of equal weight in Jiangnan."

He opened his personal account book and lowered his voice at the same time: "If you are interested, we can bypass Yue Port..."

"Watch your words!"

The bearded man in the main seat suddenly lowered his voice.

It was because they had discovered Li Yan and the others, and were looking through the carved windows at the same time.

Li Yan had already withdrawn his gaze and followed the guild hall manager toward the backyard.

Although he had left, he was secretly pinching the Yang formula to eavesdrop.

Those people discussed in lowered voices again, but Li Yan heard them clearly.

"The Yuezhou Tax Supervisor is not easy to fool; I'll handle it and go from Zhangzhou."

"This plan is feasible!"

"Hmph! The profits from opening the seas are huge, and the dynasty is eyeing this fat meat from top to bottom. The dynasty wants to collect, the local government wants to collect, and any stray cat or dog that comes along wants to get a bit of oil and water."

"They don't think about how we risk our lives; if a ship capsizes, we lose everything. Everyone opens their mouths; is business still to be done? If it weren't for this, who would want to take this risk!"

"Didn't you see the mess at the Linqing Customs the other day?!"

"Shh, watch your words, watch your words..."

Li Yan immediately understood; it turned out these merchants were discussing smuggling and tax evasion.

He couldn't be bothered to deal with such matters.

But that foreign merchant just now was not simple.

After the Hook Decree had the Jade Pendant Sword, it could already be located.

The aura of the Yin-criminal was pointing directly at the other party.

No wonder the Yin Office couldn't find it.

It turned out to be a foreign devil!

This Jinzhou Guild Hall is enshrining the Guan Emperor.

The other party dared to appear openly, and no one sensed the aura of a sorcerer.

Could it be that he has a national sacrificial artifact on him...

Just as Li Yan was deep in thought, they had arrived at the backyard.

The Jinzhou Guild Hall indeed treated them as distinguished guests, choosing a separate courtyard without others to disturb them. The beds were changed with clean bedding, and several servants were working together to carry hot water into the room.

The manager's surname was Xie. After instructing the servants to move the luggage into the room, he smiled and cupped his hands: "Li Li Shaoxia, you are a distinguished guest of our Chamber of Commerce. If there is any lack of hospitality, please forgive me."

"Manager Xie is too polite."

Li Yan nodded and asked with feigned surprise: "Just now, I saw, why are there foreigners in the Chamber of Commerce?"

"Li Li Shaoxia may not know."

Manager Xie didn't hide it either, smiling: "This Tianjin connects to the Haihe. Since the opening of the seas, merchant groups from various countries in the city have increased. There are people from everywhere, which is not surprising."

"That man is named Mendes, a sea merchant from the Lisbon merchant group."

"These red-haired barbarians managed the Nanyang countries earlier than we did. They followed 'Malacca' to the capital to pay tribute, and then stayed in Tianjin. They have three ships in their hands and can often get some rare goods, gradually making connections with Tianjin merchants."

"Nanyang..."

Li Yan smiled slightly, "Tianjin is indeed extraordinary."

This Manager Xie definitely hid something, but after all, it involved the secrets of other merchants, so he estimated that if he continued to ask, he would only play dumb.

Manager Xie didn't suspect anything and cupped his hands: "Wine and food will be sent over in a while. You have had a tiring journey, so I won't disturb you. If you have any needs, just instruct the servants."

Having said this, he hurriedly took his leave, clearly having other important matters.

As soon as he left, Sha Lifei asked in a low voice: "Little brother Yan, does that red-haired barbarian have a problem?"

"Hmm."

Li Yan signaled Wang Daoxuan to hang up the Ruyi Treasure Pearl, and only then said: "That man is related to the Yin-criminal. I have accepted the task and need to figure out what is going on. San'er, help me keep an eye on him."

Lu San nodded, came to the luggage rack, and removed the black cloth from the cage.

Splash, splash!

The falcon Lidong immediately spread its wings and jumped out.

Following a few low murmurs from Lu San, it flapped its wings and rose from the courtyard, flying into the high sky.

Soon, several servants sent wine and food.

The wine and food of the guild hall had both Jinzhou flavor and integrated Tianjin characteristics.

Blue and white porcelain plates held knife-cut noodles, but the topping was shrimp sauce from the Sanchahe Mouth. Yellow millet flour wrapped around Wei River grass carp belly and deep-fried, then poured with sweet and sour sauce, golden and wrapped in silver, and there was also Tianjin's pot-sticker dish mixed in.

Everyone was a bit hungry, and after finishing it with a slurping sound, Li Yan assigned the tasks.

"Old Sha, you and Miss Long go get some intelligence, and keep an eye on that broker Liang Biaozhi. In case that kid discovers something, tell me in time..."

"San'er, keep a close eye on that red-haired barbarian and figure out where he is staying."

"Brother Zhao, you and your wife have not recovered from your injuries, so just recuperate in the Chamber of Commerce. I heard there is a place in the Tianjin ghost market specifically for people in the Mystic Sect to trade. When you have time, go with me..."

They said these things without avoiding the scholar Kong Shangzhao.

Seeing his curiosity mixed with nervousness, Li Yan smiled slightly, "Brother Kong, don't be afraid. You have seen the things in Xu Fu's 'Seeking Immortality Chapter.' We are not bad people, and this matter will not implicate you."

Along the way, they had come to understand this Kong Shangzhao.

The other party was also a sorcerer, one year younger than Li Yan, apprenticed to the Mingde Martial Arts Hall, and practiced the Confucian Haoran Qi. His aptitude was acceptable, and he was full of strange knowledge, but he was still young and, coupled with distraction, hadn't practiced anything of note.

The key was that he was quite chivalrous and benevolent, otherwise he wouldn't have offended the grandson of the Duke of Yansheng to save people.

Li Yan couldn't be bothered to hide many things that the other party saw.

"I'm not afraid."

Kong Shangzhao smiled awkwardly, "I thought I knew a lot. When I was in Qufu, I thought about traveling the Shenzhou all day long, but now that I've stepped out, I've discovered that I am like a frog in a well. No wonder my father often scolded me."

"Traveling a thousand miles is important, but reading ten thousand books is even more indispensable."

Li Yan comforted him and said: "I'm afraid I'll be delayed in Tianjin for a few days. Brother Kong has been cracking the code day and night, so just take a rest."

"Hmm, thank you, Sha Daxia Li."

Kong Shangzhao was already exhausted, so he didn't refute and took out a few sheets of paper from his bosom, "These have already been cracked; I'll give them to Sha Daxia Li first, and I'll crack the rest as soon as possible."

Having said this, he bowed and took his leave, returning to his room.

After Li Yan took them, he examined them carefully, only to see them filled with handwriting:

"Respectfully, the Emperor's holy virtue is brilliant, and the sun and moon shine together. I observe the signs of the 'River Chart' and the mysteries of the 'Luo Book.' The land of the Nine Realms should be suppressed by the Nine Tripods, and the essence of the Nine Luminaries should be captured by the Nine Palaces..."

"Mount Tai is in the position of the Heavenly Pivot. It is appropriate to cast a mysterious jade to serve as the foundation, take three hundred and sixty shark pearls from the East Sea, and deploy the Big Dipper's Xuanji..."

Seeing this sentence, Li Yan's expression also became solemn, and he handed it to Wang Daoxuan beside him.

After Wang Daoxuan took it and looked at it for a few moments, he sighed: "The Qin Shi Huang Huang indeed knew about this matter, and I don't know what happened, but it didn't succeed at the time."

"No."

Li Yan shook his head: "Look at this first sentence."

"I observe the star fields. The nine lands of Mount Tai, Mount Yi, Prefect, Langya, Kuaiji, Yunmeng, Jiuyi, Jieshi, and Yingzhou correspond to the Nine Luminaries of the Purple Tenuity. We should establish the 'Nine Extremes Ascension Array.' Once the array is formed, the Immortal Gate will open, and the Emperor can ride a dragon to ascend to Heaven and rule the Shenzhou forever..."

"When the Nine Tripods were first cast into the earth veins of the Shenzhou, they had not yet become the artifacts they are today. Even if they were taken out, it would not cause the Shenzhou to shake or its fortune to be greatly damaged. Judging by the tone, it was not deceiving the Qin Shi Huang Huang; it truly believed that it could open the Immortal Gate and ascend to divinity."

"I estimate this Xu Fu was also a pawn, and this thing was presented by someone borrowing his hand..."

Everyone looked at each other, unable to figure out what happened in between.

"Forget it."

Li Yan shook his head: "No matter what plan they have, after cracking this thing, hand it over to the Mystic Priest to handle, dismantle all the arrangements on the mountain, and no conspiracy will be of any use!"

While speaking, there was a sudden sound of flapping wings outside.

Lu San hurriedly opened the window, and the falcon Lidong flapped its wings and flew in, chirping wildly.

"That red-haired barbarian entered a place, and Lidong couldn't see."

"Quick, get the map!"

Li Yan let Sha Lifei take out the Tianjin map they had already purchased.

They saw the falcon Lidong lower its body and use its sharp beak to draw lines on the map.

Finally, it pointed to an area at the Sanchahe pier.

Written on it was "Haihe Naval Camp"!

"Good!"

Sha Lifei sneered: "This guy's ability is not small. He deals with wealthy merchants, and even the navy has been hooked up."

Li Yan inexplicably thought of that opium, and he already had a vague guess in his heart.

Jianmu uses special opium to control Master Yang Laohai and his disciples to snatch Xu Fu's legacy slips...

Opium is rampant in Tianjin, and it is said to have flowed in from the Nanyang...

The red-haired barbarian merchant followed the Nanyang tribute mission to the capital...

These guys might have already colluded together.

"Keep following him and see where else he goes!"

Thinking of this, Li Yan carefully instructed Lu San.

"Mr. Li."

Just at this moment, a servant walked over hurriedly, "There is someone outside named Liang Biaozhi looking for you."

So fast?!

Li Yan was a bit surprised and hurriedly let the servant lead the person in.

"Li Li Shaoxia, I found it!"

Liang Biaozhi was full of excitement, "I didn't dare to neglect, and after going back, I searched along the street."

"It's a coincidence; there is a family whose door has that pattern you mentioned, and they are currently holding a funeral!"

(End of chapter)