[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-745":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263050,4415,"Chapter 745: Smoke and Waves Pavilion by Great Ming Lake","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-745",745,"\u003Cp>“What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao sprang to his feet at these words, his face ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is this…?” Qian the Shopkeeper blinked, whispering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin the Fat shook his head. “This is my brother—he’s also the son of that Master Kong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian the Shopkeeper instantly understood, glanced around, then lowered his voice. “This matter? It broke open just two days ago—entire Jinan Prefecture was thrown into uproar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the group. “I only heard it secondhand: that morning, the servant assigned to sweep the ancestral hall had just opened the door when the Descendant of Confucius lay sprawled inside, already cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this young brother’s father lay beside him—still alive, but unresponsive no matter how they called him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The entire Kong household exploded! You all know—the Descendant of Confucius is the direct bloodline of the Sage; his status is exalted. How could such a thing be hidden? They immediately planned to carry out private justice, yet for some reason, they sent the man to Jinan Prefecture for trial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Kong Shangzhao staggered violently, his face pale, fists clenched so tight his nails nearly dug into his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan calmly pressed his shoulder, then asked in a low tone: “If the victim also collapsed in the ancestral hall, and the killer had already fled, didn’t anyone notice anything suspicious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Suspicious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian the Shopkeeper sighed. “It’s not just that—there are far too many oddities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, the Kong family has many elite guards. The ancestral hall is heavily guarded at night—no human could slip in, let alone a rat. How did the killer get in? How did he kill? And how did he escape without a trace? Jinan’s constables searched all day and found not a single sign of forced entry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, Master Kong was perfectly healthy—why did he collapse? The coroner checked: no poison, no external wounds. It’s downright unnatural!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third—and the most heated point among the Kong family—is the claim that Master Kong held a grudge against the Descendant of Confucius’s grandson and thus plotted murder. But if he truly had such courage, why would he be forced to surrender his shop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian the Shopkeeper shook his head. “This matter is too big, too entangled. The Prefect’s office dares not make a decision. The Kong family’s various branches are screaming like enemies, each demanding a full investigation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the Prefect is utterly overwhelmed—he’s ordered Master Kong placed under strict custody.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the words “strict custody” and “heavy prison,” Kong Shangzhao could no longer suppress his inner turmoil and grief. He leapt from his chair, crying out: “My father could never be the killer! I must see him! Let my father go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan suddenly tightened his grip, pinning him down. “Stay calm! That’s the Jinan Prefect’s office—rushing in recklessly will only doom your father and yourself! This matter is far from simple—we must plan carefully!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those around them quickly urged him to calm down, and eventually Kong Shangzhao steadied himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was young, inexperienced—he could remain composed when analyzing others’ affairs, but when it came to his own, he lost control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their state, Qian the Shopkeeper said no more. Yet as he stepped out with Lin the Fat, he murmured: “Young Master Lin, be careful—this matter has many hidden currents. The situation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang isn’t good either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, Old Qian—I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After offering reassurance, Lin the Fat rubbed his face, then turned and entered the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Li Yan—after all, in such a situation, he must decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan pondered: “This case has too many inconsistencies. The Kong family could have executed private justice, yet Master Kong was sent to Jinan—there’s likely internal family strife at play. We must not act rashly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You all stay here. I and Old Sha will go to Great Ming Lake to investigate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The summer rain had just ceased; evening mist rose from the shores of Great Ming Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stifling air of the day, now dampened by water, carried a faint chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Yan and Sha Li stepped out of Yuelai Inn, dusk had fallen, yet the lakeside was far noisier than by day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! The rain’s cleared things up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li wore only a coarse cotton tunic, his muscular chest exposed, breathing deeply of the damp air tinged with lotus fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, Jinan Prefecture, which had cowered under the rain, now seemed to awaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the lakeside streets, crowds surged, shoulders brushing, elbows jostling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lanterns flickered one by one: official long-burning gauze lanterns hung at crossroads and pavilions, windproof paper lanterns dangling from shop eaves, and “air-dead” lanterns carried by peddlers weaving through alleys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dotting the darkness, they formed a brilliant, winding dragon, reflected on the lake’s surface, shimmering with flowing light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the willows and along the lake embankment, vendors had already set up their stalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sellers of seasonal fruits piled high lotus seeds, water chestnuts, and crisp green melons. Others hawked chilled jelly, eight-treasure porridge, and tofu pudding, their cries rising and falling. Storytellers, puppeteers, acrobats, and magicians each claimed their patches, drums, gongs, and cymbals clanging nonstop, drawing crowds who cheered and lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boats and painted pleasure barges glowed with lanterns, their prows and sterns strung with colorful lights; faint strains of silk and bamboo music drifted across the water, drawing necks craned from the shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike elsewhere, Jinan was steeped in scholarly culture: every shop and home along the way hung couplets, none identical, constantly drawing groups of scholars to debate and admire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was what ordinary people saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Li Yan’s eyes, those figures casually leaning against willows, squatting by river steps, or flickering at the edges of lantern light carried still, sharp energies—clearly undercover agents or Jianghu  spies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not surprising: with Jinan’s status as a major port, Jianghu  elements were surely numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the building?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking about half an hour, Sha Li pointed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them, the most brilliantly lit structure by the lake stood on the water’s edge—a grand pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two stories tall, with upturned eaves and bracket sets, lacquered red and gilded, it hung a row of large red lanterns inscribed with golden characters: “Yanbo Tower.” Even amid the dazzling lakeside lights, it stood out sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its size dwarfed all surrounding buildings—no wonder it was Jinan’s most famed luxury den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it, carriages and sedan chairs lined the road, packed tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officials, gentry, and merchants in brocade robes, literati with folding fans pretending elegance, were welcomed by a stream of beautiful courtesans and swept inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air carried a cloying scent of powder, utterly at odds with the lotus fragrance of the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded slightly; the two slipped into the crowd and drew near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance, a wave of heat—mingled with warm incense, alcohol, and sweat—hit them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doorkeeper, sharp-eyed, saw their attire was not top-tier luxurious but their bearing unmistakable. He bowed with a warm yet restrained smile: “Gentlemen, first time at Yanbo Tower? Any familiar girls? Shall I introduce you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li waved dismissively. “No need for chatter. Give us a quiet private booth. Bring good wine and food first! I hear your ‘Dengzhou Old Distill’ is excellent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right away! Gentlemen, this way upstairs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doorkeeper led them up to the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they stepped onto the upper level, the interior took their breath away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the noisy, crowded ground floor, the second floor was spacious and refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center stood a broad hall, laid with embroidered carpets, adorned with antique paintings and calligraphy, and furnished with rosewood pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not yet showtime, a few courtesans of exquisite beauty sat in the corners, cradling pipas or guzhengs, plucking soft, elegant melodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire space was skillfully divided into numerous private chambers by carved wooden partitions, waist-high, and gauzy curtains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through half-drawn silk, lantern shadows danced; within, cups clinked and figures moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some spoke loudly, others whispered—each hidden beneath the music of strings and flutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiters moved like shadows, carrying gold-lacquered trays piled with wine and dishes, weaving through the corridors between chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their movements were nimble, steps light—clearly well-trained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doorkeeper led them to a window-side private booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location was perfect: one side offered a view of Great Ming Lake’s twilight glow, the other a vantage over most of the interior. Soft cushions and low tables were already arranged, with mugwort incense burning to repel mosquitoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, please wait. Wine and dishes will arrive shortly.” The doorkeeper bowed and withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li settled comfortably, picked up the warm towel, and wiped his face. “Finally, some air! Brother Yan, what now? Who do we contact?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1440,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3c180da4d1cb678db040b29c3c3cad4fb5f174e29bac938e10b0e2b5d26c5326","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-746","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-744",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]