Chapter 690: Nine Gates

"Oh? Senior, please continue…"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately perked up.

The Ying Wang Mansion has already fallen; those left behind will fare no better. Even if they knew nothing of the "Peach Banquet," the evils they committed and the enemies they made over the years will all erupt—truly, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when the wall collapses, everyone pushes.

The "Peach Banquet" is no different.

The nobles who consumed lives to extend their own are dead; their families and children cannot escape reckoning.

But this matter is far from over.

The true masterminds behind it—whether "Zhao Qingxu" or "Kong Hui"—have not been captured…

To brew "Peaches," child boys and girls are needed; the location remains unknown…

In the capital, the Jianmu must have more than just the "Peach Banquet" setup—otherwise, it wouldn't have been so cleanly severed…

The only possible advantage is that the nobles within the "Peach Banquet" are dead and can no longer leverage imperial power against them.

The Night Walker is one of the Jianmu's arrangements.

The opponent used the demonic aura of Liu Yuanheng to corrupt it; Li Yan has searched every city god temple in the capital and found nothing.

Yet, this fox immortal has uncovered a clue…

"Don't rush."

"Hu Yuanyuan" took a few more puffs of her earth-smoke. "I'm only speculating, old immortal that I am."

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'At the third watch, the drum sounds and the lanterns light'?"

Li Yan frowned slightly. "Isn't it 'At the third watch, the drum sounds and the fifth watch's lanterns light'?"

Before he finished speaking, Hu Yuanyuan's body trembled, her eyelids quivering wildly. She cried out urgently: "The girl's cultivation is too weak—she can't hold on. I told you before: let her speak to you herself…"

With that, her body stiffened, her head drooping.

Li Yan could smell the incense-fox stench swiftly departing, sinking into the wall behind him.

There, a hidden chamber opened; the incense altar must be concealed within.

At the same time, Hu Yuanyuan let out a moan and regained consciousness, but her face was pale, beads of sweat on her brow.

The widow Wang hurried forward and removed the gourd from her waist.

Upon opening it, a pungent alcohol scent spread; Li Yan could also smell tiger bone and deer antler.

He wasn't surprised—summoning a spirit into the body is no easy thing.

True deities never descend; whether "Xuanmen Invoking the Divine" or "Immortal Altar Invoking the Immortal," what comes is always a yin spirit—though powerful, it gathers yin-sha qi and inevitably burdens the human body, draining yang energy.

Just like the widow Wang's daughter, who was originally the fox immortal's out-ma disciple.

But she was too young; after several possessions, her body had grown weak.

The girl had good potential, so to avoid damaging her foundation, she was replaced by Hu Yuanyuan.

Tiger bone and deer antler are potent yang tonics, offering temporary relief.

"Forgive me for embarrassing Li Shaoxia…"

Hu Yuanyuan's spirits slightly recovered, and she continued explaining: "It truly is 'At the third watch, the drum sounds and the lanterns light.'"

"You've heard the saying: 'First watch, people stir; second watch, the drum; third watch, ghosts; fourth watch, thieves; fifth watch, roosters.' At the third watch, the hour of Zi, yin energy peaks—ghosts and specters are active. Hence, it's called 'Ghost Watch.' The night watchman beats his drum to mark time and ward off evil."

"At the fifth watch, roosters crow, yang energy begins to rise; the people light their lamps, city gates open, and the morning court prepares…"

Before she finished, Li Yan suddenly understood. "The lanterns lit at the third watch—are they ghost lanterns?"

"You could say that."

Hu Yuanyuan spoke gravely: "There exist places in this mortal realm akin to celestial realms—but only yin spirits of immortals or humans who lose their souls in dreams may enter. 'At the third watch, the drum sounds and the lanterns light'—this is when yin and yang grow chaotic, and such a realm within the capital opens."

"Oh, so that's how it is…"

Li Yan feigned sudden comprehension, but his heart tightened.

With her explanation, he immediately recognized the place.

The interstice between the Great Luo Dharma Realm and the mortal world!

The Shituo Forest, the Cloud Lord's Divine Palace, the Dragon Palace's Water Mansion—all are the same kind of place.

He hadn't expected such a thing to appear in the capital, so densely populated.

But then again, the capital is the site of state sacrifices, saturated with Xuanmen arrangements. Even if the enemy had corrupted the Night Walker with demonic aura, over time it would eventually be detected—only such an interstice could hide for long.

Thinking of this, Li Yan couldn't help asking: "Where is this place?"

"That place is hard to find."

Hu Yuanyuan shook her head. "For mortals to enter, they must either dream or send their yin spirits on a patrol, following the route of the nine gates' night watch."

"After the watchman strikes the wooden clapper for the third time, a thief-rat spirit sometimes appears behind him. This creature only dares steal the land god cakes offered at the third watch, when yin energy is strongest—normally, it wouldn't dare. Only then does it get its chance…"

"Once the third watch ends, the thief-rat spirits turn back—their haunts mark the entrance."

Li Yan frowned. "So secretive—how did you come to know this, Hu Senior?"

The tale sounded too fantastical; he couldn't help suspecting a trap.

Hu Yuanyuan spoke gravely: "Where there is yang, there is yin. The capital's incense is abundant—it naturally draws many things."

"Immortals on night patrol have seen the Rabbit God running through the streets, muttering about saving children, only to be blocked by the Night Walker…"

Li Yan's pupils contracted. He bowed. "Thank you."

At this moment, his suspicion had largely vanished.

Every place, beyond the true deities, has folk gods worshipped by the people for protection.

In the capital, there is the "Rabbit God."

Legend says that during the war between the Golden Yurt Wolf Kingdom and the Great Xing Dynasty, plague ravaged the land. Chang'e sent the Jade Rabbit down to save lives. The Jade Rabbit, disguised as a physician in the golden armor of the Vajrapani Bodhisattva, cured the plague. Exhausted, it fell asleep beneath a flagpole. The people, grateful for its mercy, honored it as the "Rabbit God."

Thus, every Mid-Autumn Festival, the people of the capital mold clay into rabbit shapes, dress them in human attire, seat them like people, and worship them.

For over a hundred years, the incense has grown strong.

Worship of the Rabbit God is meant to ward off disaster and plague.

The children it seeks to save may well be connected to the "Peaches"…

…………

After bidding farewell to Hu Yuanyuan, Li Yan immediately headed north.

After last night's events, they had returned with Luo Mingzi to the Xuan Jisi for rest.

The Xuan Jisi lies in the southwest corner of the imperial palace, not far from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, backed by the Grand Divine Spirit Shrine—the capital's City God Temple—forming the pattern of "Left Governs Heaven, Right Rules Yin and Yang." It was also sited at the White Tiger position, symbolizing suppression of all evil.

Passing behind the City God Temple, a vast palace complex appeared before him.

In other cities, the Xuan Jisi is housed within the City God Temple; in the capital, it has its own independent gate.

Above the black lacquered gate, a gilded plaque reads "Xuan Jisi." On either side stand stone xiezhi statues, symbolizing the discernment of treachery and the suppression of evil.

Outside, two sword-wielding Daoists guard the entrance; many people hurry in and out.

Li Yan knew it was because of last night's events.

"Li Shaoxia has returned."

The gate guards rushed forward, bowing. "Brother Luo Mingzi told me to wait here for you. Minister Pei has arrived."

"Oh?"

Li Yan was surprised. "Minister Pei is back? But wasn't he in Jinmen?"

They meant Pei Zongti, Left Vice Minister of Rites.

He was a Confucian master who now oversaw the Xuan Jisi; Li Yan had met him at the Qingcheng Wine Cellar Conference.

According to Luo Mingzi, he had gone to Yuzhou to help draft the calendar, then returned halfway with Imperial Astronomer Bai Chenshan, only to rush off again to handle the mess in Jinmen—he'd been running nonstop. "He just got back this morning."

The guard replied, then led him through the gate.

The Xuan Jisi's layout was highly orderly: three main complexes along the central axis.

The front court housed the Enforcement Hall; the central courtyard contained the Xuan Altar and the Demon-Subduing Well, an open ritual platform; the rear courtyard held the State Master's quarters and the dungeon.

After all, the capital was a place of exorbitant land value, nestled beneath the imperial palace—space was naturally cramped.

The two arrived at the front courtyard, where the main hall displayed a massive bronze scroll inscribed with sacred texts.

Before they even drew near, Li Yan's spiritual senses were suppressed—he could no longer perceive anything.

He knew it was the Xuan Jisi's treasured artifact: the "Supreme Mystery Lingbao Surveillance Register," linked by qi-veins to the thirteen provincial City God statues, forming a surveillance net covering the entire capital—any abnormal qi would appear on its surface.

Of course, even this treasure couldn't cover everything.

Like at the Perfumed Pavilion, the first to arrive had been the Night Walker controlled by demonic qi.

If one carried a state-sacrifice relic, this device couldn't sense it either.

The right-side annex was the Archive Hall, storing all Xuanmen ordination records and intelligence from across the realm.

The left-side annex was the Enforcement Hall's command center, handling daily affairs.

Both annexes stood wide open now, with many people coming and going.

As Li Yan entered, he immediately drew many glances.

"That's Li Yan?"

"So young…?"

Li Yan paid them no mind. Amid the stares, he strode into the hall and bowed. "Greetings, Brother Luo. Greetings, Minister Pei."

Inside the hall, Luo Mingzi and Pei Zongti were speaking.

"Li Shaoxia, no need for such formalities."

Pei Zongti, a Confucian, held Yan Jiuling in high regard and knew Li Yan well—so he spoke without ceremony, shaking his head with a weary smile: "Even in Jinmen, I heard of this affair. I'd barely returned when His Majesty summoned me and gave me a scolding. Fortunately, you discovered it—otherwise, the consequences would have been dire."

"Minister, you flatter me."

Li Yan was about to speak, but fell silent, turning his gaze behind him.

Pei Zongti immediately understood, waved his hand, and one of his guards stepped forward to close the door and stand guard outside.

"Li Yan, rest assured—no one else can hear us here," Luo Mingzi explained.

Li Yan nodded, then spoke: "This matter isn't over…"

He laid out his suspicions, including the matter of the "Night Walker."

After all, investigating this required the aid of the Xuan Priest.

"That place is called 'Nine Gates Yin Xu'!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Zongti's expression turned grave.

Li Yan wasn't surprised—he was an Xuan Priest, after all, and surely knew more than the outsider Fox Immortal.

But seeing Luo Mingzi's stunned expression, it was clear this secret ran deep.

Meeting their gazes, Pei Zongti hesitated, then shook his head: "That place must not be tampered with."

"This is a state secret, known to very few. The capital was once the great capital of the Golden Tent Wolf Nation. When the Wolf Nation fell, its remnants burned the city upon fleeing, leaving behind certain arrangements. Thus, when rebuilding the imperial palace, many measures were taken to suppress the lingering malice of the former dynasty."

"Over time, strange incidents multiplied. Fifty years ago, at midnight, a night watchman once saw a ghost market like a wasteland, candles flickering—common folk called it 'Yin Xu at Zi Hour.' Within the inner city of the capital, there are nine gates, and all such incidents occurred near these nine gates, hence the name 'Nine Gates Yin Xu.'"

Li Yan frowned. "If this is such a deadly place, why wasn't it dealt with sooner?"

"It's not that simple."

Pei Zongti glanced around, then whispered: "Where there is yang, there is yin. The imperial palace suppresses the Wolf Nation's malice, but it also ties into the Great Xuan Dragon Vein. The Clan Office has already issued orders forbidding any Xuan Sect members from approaching it—it's one of the capital's taboos."

Hearing this, Li Yan fell silent.

Beside him, Luo Mingzi spoke gravely: "Your Excellency, right now that place is likely where the demons hide—how can we stand idle?"

Pei Zongti rubbed his temples, weary. "Fine. I'll report this to His Majesty, and we'll decide after."

The imperial family was deeply wary of anything touching the Great Xuan Dragon Vein.

He himself was of the Xuan Sect, so he naturally spoke with caution on such matters.

Li Yan vaguely understood the reason, and changed the subject: "Has Yu Wenhai confessed?"

Luo Mingzi replied coldly: "Once inside the Xuan Priest's prison, who's to say what he does?"

"The 'Rotten Scroll Scholar' Kong Hui has indeed arrived in the capital. They originally planned to summon the 'Peach Banquet,' using dark arts to control it and spark chaos in the city. But we moved faster—they had no choice but to silence him."

Li Yan's heart sank. "Did I blow my cover?"

"Yes."

Luo Mingzi didn't mince words: "That night at Piaoxiang Pavilion, the Jianmu people learned you'd infiltrated the capital. They had agents hidden among the City God Fair attendees—they saw you leave with that 'son of a bitch,' then tracked you down and tortured the old man who sold braised meat."

The old man who sold braised meat was dead. The 'son of a bitch' had vanished somewhere.

"They knew you'd uncovered something, so they rushed to reveal the 'Peach Banquet.'"

Li Yan clenched his fist tightly. "Is the 'son of a bitch' dead too?"

Luo Mingzi replied: "I've sent men to search. Yu Wenhai is still being interrogated—he's hiding something, clamping his mouth shut. Even soul-distorting spells can't pry it out. It must be crucial to Jianmu. We still haven't uncovered Zhao Qingxu's identity…"

As he spoke, a rapid knocking came from outside.

Pei Zongti frowned slightly. "Enter!"

Whoosh~

The guard from earlier pushed the door open, bowing urgently: "Your Excellency, Yu Wenhai is dead!"

"What?!"

Pei Zongti leapt to his feet, fury on his face. "How could this happen? Didn't I tell you to be careful?!"

Without another word, he hurried out of the hall with the two others.

The three followed the corridor to the central courtyard.

In the center of the yard stood a stone altar, paved with five-colored earth, and at its center rose a nine-zhang bronze banner pole.

Inscribed upon it were the words: "Edict of Ten Thousand Spirits"—a place where Xuan Priest masters performed rituals.

What caught Li Yan's attention was the well directly opposite the altar.

The stone well was small, barely large enough for a washbasin, its mouth sealed by an octagonal demon-suppressing stone.

This was the Demon-Subduing Well, said to imprison the formless yin spirits captured by the Xuan Priests.

Li Yan had only heard of it—he'd never seen one before.

What surprised him was how strikingly similar it was to the well he'd seen in his Yin Si mission.

But now was not the time to ask questions.

The group proceeded to the rear dungeon, following the jailer Daoist inside.

This dungeon held Xuan Sect criminals, and its design was distinct: dark and oppressive, torches flickering along the walls, every cell barred by heavy iron doors, even the walls cast from cinnabar mixed with iron filings, carved with talismans.

They reached one open cell, and several Daoists outside quickly stepped aside.

Li Yan looked inside—Yu Wenhai, bound to a pillar, his body covered in bloody wounds.

His face wore a grotesque smile; his forehead had burst open, brains splattered everywhere.

From the scene, it looked as if he'd exploded from within…

(End of Chapter)