Chapter 676: The Ying Prince

"Where are you from?"

"Do you have an entry permit?"

In the capital, entry inspections were far stricter.

All foreign merchants must possess permits issued by checkpoints along the way, and require a guarantor, before being allowed to enter the city to trade.

Locals near the capital rose early each day to enter the city for work or to sell wild mountain goods; though they earned little, at least they became familiar faces, and if carrying no heavy goods, they were usually let through with minimal checks.

Yet those like Li Yan, armed with swords and spears, were prime targets for scrutiny.

Travelers of the Jianghu must be guaranteed by a local merchant guild or the Divine Fist Association.

Without one, you'd never set foot inside the city in your life.

A bronze mirror hung above the gate, polished in a strange manner—even when a person drew near, their reflection remained blurred.

This thing was called the "Demon-Reflecting Mirror."

It did not reflect human forms, but light itself.

If any gangsha qi flowed through, the blurred shadow upon it would twist.

Some wealthy households hung such devices at their gates.

Rumor had it that certain non-human entities, upon arriving at such gates, would hastily flee to avoid revealing their true forms.

Of course, such talismans were complex to forge, beyond the means of ordinary folk.

Even if one obtained a genuine one, it would soon be stolen.

The one at the capital's gate, naturally, was no fake.

Any sorcerer entering the city could not conceal his identity—he must willingly produce his Dao permit and register at the City God Temple.

Before entering, Luo Mingzi had procured a forged Dao permit to conceal Li Yan's identity; but when Li Yan reached the gate and saw no anomaly in the mirror's reflection, he felt a sudden insight and abandoned pulling out the permit.

His Dragon-Snake Token was a ritual artifact from the ancient Shu tribes, used to sacrifice to the Ba Snake—it counted as a national sacred relic.

Such a treasure could evade the Heavenly Court and the Underworld's bureaucracy; the "Demon-Reflecting Mirror" could not detect it.

No matter how convincing Luo Mingzi's forged permit was, it could not match the silence of leaving no trace.

Li Yan suddenly understood: the capital surely held many national sacred relics, and just as many hidden masters.

Yet even so, the city guards did not let him pass unchallenged.

"Name?!"

"Liu Ergou."

"Where are you from?"

"Yichang, Ezhou."

"Do you have a travel pass and a guarantor?"

"My lord, here it is…"

After a rigorous inspection and seeing the fake identity Li Yan produced from the Lei family of Ezhou, the soldier relaxed slightly—but still snorted, glancing at Li Yan's sword scabbard and coldly said: "The capital has rules and laws. You'd best not cause trouble!"

"My lord, rest assured—I only seek to make a living."

"Fine, pass through!"

After letting Li Yan through, the guards halted the next caravan.

The caravan had over a dozen carts, heavy with goods; a thorough inspection would take hours. The caravan manager, fearing delay, hurried forward and slipped a silver ingot into their hands: "Gentlemen, do us a favor…"

"Don't try that!"

The city guards flew into a rage, shoved the man aside, and inspected the goods even more closely.

At this moment, Li Yan was moving with the crowd through the archway of Yongding Gate.

Hearing the shouts behind him, he glanced back, thoughtful.

Even in the capital, such inspections were excessive.

Had something happened?

Thinking of this, he lowered his straw hat, striving to remain inconspicuous.

The capital of the Great Xuan Dynasty was Beiping from the previous life.

During the previous dynasty's north-south standoff, this place had been the capital of the Golden Tent Wolf State, while the Great Xing Dynasty's capital lay in Jinling.

After Emperor Xiao Chengyou of the Great Xuan destroyed the Great Xing and drove the Golden Tent Wolf State deep into the steppes, he established the capital here.

This decision involved fengshui and strategic aims; though the timeline had shifted, Beiping still became the imperial capital.

The entire capital was shaped like a " Tu "-form city wall.

From the center outward, the regions were: the Imperial City, the Imperial City Wall, and the Inner City.

Outside the Imperial City's Wu Men gate lay the site for daily court assemblies and imperial beatings; the Three Great Halls hosted grand ceremonies and state affairs; Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace served as the emperor and empress's sleeping quarters. A moat encircled it, four gates guarded by elite troops, walls tall and thick—only the emperor could enter or exit through the main gate, Great Ming Gate.

The Imperial City Wall housed ritual structures, arranged according to state sacrifices: the ancestral temple on the left, the altar of soil and grain on the right.

Left was the Grand Ancestral Temple, honoring ancestors; right was the Altar of Soil and Grain. The square before Chentian Gate was where edicts were proclaimed. The Five Ministries and Six Departments stood symmetrically along Chang'an Street, alongside imperial gardens.

The Inner City housed government offices and residences: the eastern quarter held civil bureaus, the western quarter military institutions—commonly called "East Civil, West Military."

Additionally, the Inner City had nine gates, each with distinct functions.

For instance, "Zhaoyang Gate" was the entry for grain shipments via canal, directly linked to the Grand Canal. "Desheng Gate" was the gate for returning victorious armies. "Xizhi Gate" was reserved for imperial water from Yuquan Mountain, superior in quality to the city's bitter wells.

The Outer City formed the outer defensive wall, with seven gates, serving as the common people's dwelling zone.

Thus, the layout formed "central imperial prohibition with concentric layers of defense," showcasing the capital's majesty.

Li Yan entered through Yongding Gate; the moment he stepped into the Outer City, the clamor of urban life surged around him.

The scent mingled roasted bread's char, medicinal bitterness, and the musk of mules and horses.

Li Yan frowned slightly, rubbing his nose, his gaze flicking to the notice posted inside the gate.

The headline read: "Strict Prohibition Against Foreign Merchants Colluding with the Maitreya Sect and Other Heretical Cults to Deceive the People."

It stated: By Imperial Edict: Recent investigations in Jinmen, Tongzhou, and other areas reveal that foreign red-haired merchants, under the guise of tribute trade, secretly conspire with Maitreya heretics, illegally trafficking Fushou ointment, establishing lewd altars, deceiving the ignorant, and even colluding with Japanese pirates and salt smugglers—crimes too heinous to pardon!

It listed numerous prohibitions.

"One: Prohibit collusion with heretical sects. All foreign merchants entering ports must present a permit from the Maritime Trade Office, and have their goods and accompanying personnel verified by local officials. Anyone who establishes fire-worship altars, Maitreya incense halls, or associates with heretics shall be flayed alive; accomplices beheaded; property confiscated; and any merchant guilds or interpreters who knowingly conceal such acts shall share the same punishment…"

"Two: Prohibit smuggling of forbidden drugs. Fushou ointment is a foreign poison; users waste away to skeletons, ceasing all production. From today, all customs posts shall rigorously inspect foreign ships for hidden Fushou ointment. Any found shall be burned immediately. Sellers, whether Han or foreign, shall be charged with 'treason against the state'—the ringleader shall be torn apart by chariots; buyers exiled three thousand li…"

Each prohibition was clearly listed, with harsh penalties.

The seals of the Censorate and the Five City Military Command bore fresh vermilion ink.

So that was why…

Li Yan understood at once.

The attack on Jinmen's docks had deeply angered the court.

If civilian laws were strict, the court's infighting must be even fiercer.

What reassured Li Yan was the court's ban on Fushou ointment—perhaps this poison could no longer plague Shenzhou.

But it also meant he could not meet Yan Jiuling for now.

This brother, whether he wished it or not, had become a banner for the Open-Sea Faction due to his grandfather's legacy.

The Jinmen incident gave the local faction an opening to launch fierce attacks on the Open-Sea Faction.

The emperor, seeking balance, chose to watch the tigers fight.

Yan Jiuling was likely suffering greatly.

If Li Yan appeared, Zhao Qingxu might set a trap—and it would doom Yan Jiuling.

He must investigate in secret.

But how could he infiltrate the Ying Prince's mansion…?

Li Yan walked along the blue-stone street, lost in thought.

The Great Xuan Dynasty's fortune flourished; the capital's splendor was unmatched in Shenzhou.

Shop signs on either side crowded the sky, nearly blotting out daylight.

Beneath the golden plaque of "Ruifuxiang" silk shop, clerks unfurled a bolt of Suzhou-cloud brocade, drawing passing merchants…

Next door, a bronze mortar ground herbs with a rumble; an apprentice in hemp tunic shouted: "Tongxin Hall Tiger Bone Wine—dispels dampness, drives away cold!"

Shouts of vendors, the clatter of mules and horses, rose and fell endlessly—every sight was noise.

Li Yan had no rush to reach the Ying Prince's mansion; he wandered the city at leisure. He would stay in the capital for some time—better to learn it early.

After all, he was a seasoned traveler of the Jianghu; others saw only splendor, but Li Yan saw more.

The bare-chested giant performing on the ground was smashing a stone with his chest.

Usually, such performers belonged to the Jianghu "Guazi" trade, divided into "Qing Guazi" and "Tiaojiang Han."

"Qing Guazi" merely performed martial arts for coins; "Tiaojiang Han" also sold fake medicines—wild herbs, strength pills, tiger bone wine.

Either way, they were "xing bashi"—their martial skill was poor.

After all, who with real ability would endure such humiliation?

Yet when the iron hammer struck, this bare-chested man's chest swelled—and with hidden force, he shattered the blue stone.

The impact from above and below split the stone into four jagged pieces, far beyond ordinary trickery.

"Bravo!"

The crowd cheered, tossing copper coins.

The man ignored the coins clattering in his ceramic bowl, his face cold.

Yet his legs had been severed at the roots by blades.

After the crowd dispersed, the young man wielding the hammer hurried forward, face filled with sorrow: "Master…"

"Don't speak. I can still hold on."

The man's eyes were filled with desolation. "Once we've saved enough money, we'll return to Jizhou—leave this man-eating capital!"

Li Yan, walking away with the crowd, shook his head slightly, not even glancing back, and flicked his wrist casually.

Ding ding ding!

A small silver ingot spun rapidly in the broken bowl, before the stunned gaze of the master and disciple.

The man quickly looked up, but amid the noisy street, there was no trace of anyone—he could only bow to the empty air. "Thank you, brother…"

Where there were the down-and-out, there were also the triumphant.

Strong-bodied bodyguards, in groups of three or five, laughed as they entered brothels, clearly having just earned rewards from escorting goods.

There were also aristocratic disciples in flowing white robes, leading horses through the streets, adorned with flowers, exuding elegance.

But in the capital, imperial authority and law reigned supreme.

No matter who they were, everyone avoided the patrolling officials and soldiers on the streets.

Unconsciously, as dusk fell, Li Yan passed through the Zhengyang Gate's arrow tower and entered the inner city.

The surroundings instantly grew solemn.

Outside Dongjiangmi Alley, clerks in blue robes and small caps hurried with documents before the Six Ministries' offices;

Outside the Western Chang'an Street's military bureaus, squads of soldiers marched in formation.

Relatively speaking, the streets of the inner city were cleaner, for here stood not only the various government offices but also the mansions of many nobles—even a small courtyard was beyond the means of ordinary folk.

Of course, the inner city was equally bustling.

Tea houses and taverns along the streets were more splendidly built, and those entering and leaving wore no tattered clothes.

As twilight deepened, Li Yan slipped into Wang Zhima Hutong, north of Dongsi Paolou.

The alley was even quieter, lined with grand mansions, with only occasional passersby.

In a short time, Li Yan spotted several official residences of court ministers.

All bore vermilion gates tightly shut; to seek someone, one had to knock on the bronze door studs.

Almost every household had talismans placed at their entrances.

Like his own "Hundred Battles Plaque," the stone lions and stone drums granted by the court were used to ward off evil and protect the home.

Because Luo Mingzi had repeatedly warned him, Li Yan did not lightly use his spiritual powers to probe.

He merely used his light-body technique, suppressing his aura, moving through the shadows of the streets at dusk.

Not long after, Li Yan arrived outside a sizable mansion.

From afar, he saw a wooden plaque hanging above the gate: "Imperial-Granted Ying Wang's Official Office."

Li Yan glanced at the sky; seeing the sun had set, he darted into a dark alley, preparing to scale the wall.

But at that moment, he suddenly stopped, his expression turning strange.

The summoning warrant in his bosom began to grow warm!

Interesting…

Li Yan was genuinely surprised—this Ying Wang's mansion concealed a yin offender!

Without hesitation, Li Yan immediately sank his spirit inward.

Through the mist, he saw a stone well filled with black water.

He placed his hand on the well's rim; the black water swirled, and the yin offender's information instantly appeared:

This yin offender's name was Wuleji, from "Black Wolf Village" deep in the Greater Khingan Range, venerating the Wolf Immortal…

So it was the "Dark Five Immortals"!

Li Yan immediately guessed the man's lineage.

In the northern frontier, shamanic lineages dominated; the most famous were the Outriding Immortals, who venerated foxes, weasels, snakes, hedgehogs, and rats.

But few knew that beyond these "Bright Five Immortals," there were also the "Dark Five Immortals."

The "Dark Five Immortals" referred to those who venerated tiger, wolf, centipede, bat, and frog immortals.

Unlike orthodox Outriding Immortals, the Dark Five Immortals were infamous for blood sacrifices and soul-possession to extend life.

Like "Black Wolf Village," which was wiped out by the Five Immortals Sect for flaying pregnant women to forge "Mother-Child Wraiths," with only Wuleji escaping.

This man cultivated "Wolf Immortal Possession," requiring him to devour a living human heart and liver each month.

When the Ying Prince led troops to suppress northern frontier rebellions, he was ambushed by remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom, lured into the white mountains and black waters for slaughter.

Wuleji, having just returned from death and possessed a body, seized the chance to assassinate the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom's shaman, devoured his heart and liver to heal, and was taken in by the Ying Prince as a "remarkable man"…

Seeing this information, Li Yan felt disappointed.

He had thought the hidden presence was a Jianmu demon.

Now it seemed merely a hired thug kept by the prince's mansion.

He'd heard similar stories from the Huangquan Organization.

Most earth-immortal yin offenders hid in grotto-heavens and paradise realms, protected by major Daoist sects.

Both sides maintained an unspoken understanding: as long as no major incident occurred, yin officers would turn a blind eye.

But some lone wolf experts had no allies.

Those with patience could hide in remote, uninhabited mountains and wilds; others, unable to bear solitude, deliberately plunged into the murky world of mortals, hiding in royal palaces and noble homes as honored patrons.

Thinking of this, Li Yan halted.

If such a master lurked in the Ying Wang's mansion, sneaking in openly would surely be noticed.

He couldn't summon yin soldiers to arrest him—everyone in the mansion would die.

If the matter blew wide open, he'd only be forced to flee in disgrace.

He needed a foolproof plan.

At that moment, a small vermilion gate at the alley's rear creaked open.

This secluded spot, by standard layout, should have been the kitchen's supply route for groceries and firewood.

But out stepped a finely dressed young master, his features decently handsome but eyes lowered, face pale, dark bags under his eyes, walking with a hunched back—clearly worn out by wine and lust.

Behind him followed two mansion guards, both looking deeply troubled.

One pleaded: "Master, don't go. Don't make the old lady angry."

"What's there to fear?!"

The young master glared. "Grandmother is bedridden, everyone else is scheming—no one cares what I do."

"Come on, come on! I heard the Piaoxiang Pavilion just got a new girl, breathtakingly beautiful—tonight she's to be 'sold off.' Those bastards are all there. I won't drink their dishwater…"

With that, he lifted his robe and strode out.

The two guards sighed helplessly and followed behind.

Li Yan glanced at the mansion's high walls, lost in thought, then followed the young master's shadow into the night…

(End of Chapter)