Chapter 764: The Clustered Local Snakes

"Meow~"

The calico cat let out a cry and licked its paws gently.

The other cats were also lazy, and the passing commoners didn't care at all.

Seeing this scene, Fatty Lin was also a little surprised, "Strange, why are there so many cats in Yangzhou? I didn't see them last time I came."

To be honest, he didn't feel any abnormal aura from these cats, but they were all people of the Mystic Sect and knew that everything had a cause; the appearance of anomalies was a sign.

"The guests just arrived in Yangzhou, right?"

Seeing them not getting off the ship, the old boatman adjusted his bamboo hat and smiled flatteringly: "There are many cats here, and we are already used to it. Speaking of which, there is an allusion."

"Oh?"

Sha Lifei became interested and threw out a piece of silver, "Let's hear it."

The old man grabbed it, hurriedly stuffed it into his bosom, and only then began to tell the story.

"The matter started last winter. For some reason, a rat plague broke out in the city. They didn't care whether it was day or night, running in groups on the street. Not only that, they were surprisingly large, and could even bite ducks and chicks raised by the commoners to death."

"What's even more terrifying is that one day the old man who beat the watch said he saw ghost soldiers patrolling the street in the middle of the night, but when he rubbed his eyes, he found it was a group of rats, and then he died suddenly at home. There was also a plague in the city, and everyone said it was the work of rat demons."

"You all know that our Yangzhou is a critical location for grain transport, with many granaries. Coupled with the fact that this matter made people panic, many Daoist priests and monks were invited to perform rituals, but the whole day of clanging and banging was of no use. It wasn't until the big salt merchant Wang Squire invited a fairy aunt."

"This fairy aunt is truly remarkable. I heard she raised a spiritual cat. That very night, she caught and bit the rat demon that was causing trouble to death, and since then, there have been more and more cats in the city."

"These little cats don't get in the way and can catch rats, so everyone is no longer surprised."

"So that's how it is..."

Li Yan was thoughtful after hearing this and cupped his hands: "Many thanks, old man."

After saying that, he took the two of them off the ship.

Sha Lifei whispered: "Sounds a bit coincidental. Could it be a thief calling for a thief?"

Li Yan shook his head slightly and said: "There are many Mystic Sect experts in Yangzhou, and no one is a fool. If it really is a trick played by outsiders, there are naturally people who care about it. Let's get down to business."

While speaking, they had already arrived outside the Qionghua Building.

Just as they walked to the door, a thin and small figure dodged over, bowing and scraping.

This person was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a half-old, half-new gray short jacket. His hair was slightly yellow and sparse, but his eyes were rolling around, revealing a thievish light.

"The three masters are here for the first time, right? Are you looking for fragrance or admiring flowers?"

This kid was actually a pimp. His voice was not high, carrying a bit of oiliness, but his eyes quickly swept over Li Yan and the three, especially lingering on their weapons.

Li Yan glanced at him lightly, "Can't spare the time. There are many waves on the river, afraid of muddying the Bodhisattva's eyes."

The kid narrowed his eyes, took half a step forward, his voice as low as an ant's, but every word was clear: "Sifting sand at the bottom of the well has its own way. Which lotus flower opens to lead you here?"

Li Yan didn't talk nonsense and took out the token of the Jin Yanmen from his bosom.

He was an old Jianghu hand and saw at a glance that this kid was an eye and ear placed outside by the Jin Yanmen, so he was too lazy to talk nonsense and directly revealed his identity.

The kid's face changed drastically when he saw the token, "So it's a distinguished guest visiting. There are elegant seats upstairs, and the tea has just been brewed. Three masters, please come in!"

After saying that, he led the three through the light and shadow of the red lanterns hanging at the door and stepped into the Qionghua Building.

As soon as they entered the door, the noise mixed with the smell of grease, powder, wine, food, and incense came rushing toward them, forming a sharp contrast with the freshness of the river water outside the door.

The first-floor lobby was extremely lively.

In the center, it was not arranged with tables and chairs as neatly as in an ordinary restaurant, but ingeniously enclosed a shallow pool, and a small and exquisite black-awning painting boat was actually moored in the pool!

Although it couldn't sail, it became a place for geishas to play the zither and sing.

On the painting boat, a pipa player in a lotus-colored skirt plucked the strings with her plain hands, and the sound of silk and bamboo was heard.

The guests around included those who looked like wealthy merchants, those who were dressed in Jianghu style with swords and swords, and even those who wore silk shirts and looked like small officials, either listening intently or talking and laughing in low voices.

The waiter wore a treasure-blue short shirt with a white towel on his shoulder, shuttling through the tables like a swimming fish with a food tray, but his footsteps were light and silent.

Li Yan could even smell the steam when the steamer was lifted, wrapped in the fresh aroma of crab powder lion's head, the sesame burnt aroma of freshly baked Huangqiao sesame cakes, and the flour aroma of the famous Huaiyang three-diced steamed buns.

Everyone did not stay on the first floor for long, but walked straight toward a wooden staircase with carvings that was not conspicuous on the side, led by the kid in front.

Walking up the stairs, the noise in the elegant room area on the second floor was significantly weaker.

Arriving in front of the carved wooden door of an elegant room named "Listening to the Waves" on the river side, the kid in front opened it diligently, stood sideways, and cupped his hands: "Three masters, please come this way."

After they entered the door, he cupped his hands respectfully again and said: "The little one is called Xiao Lai Zi. I will go and report now. If the three masters have any needs, just call someone."

After saying that, he carefully closed the door.

Li Yan turned his head to look. This "Listening to the Waves" elegant room was decorated quite elegantly.

By the river was a support window. At this moment, the upper half was propped up, and the clear river breeze and the reflections of lanterns and ships on the distant river surface surged in together.

Outside the window was the flowing Little Qinhuai River, with moonlight and lantern light falling, sparkling.

By the window was an eight-immortal table and several circle chairs. On the table were sets of blue and white covered bowls, a pot of hot tea was steaming with white air, and several exquisite preserved fruits and honeyed fruits were placed on the plates beside it.

Several small landscape and flower-and-bird paintings with dripping ink were hung on the walls, and a purple copper crane incense burner was set in the corner, spitting out sweet sandalwood incense.

Sha Lifei sniffed, picked up a honeyed fruit and threw it into his mouth after sitting down, and laughed while chewing: "This Jin Yanmen really knows how to choose a place, mixed with dragons and snakes, with information reaching all four seas."

"That's natural."

Li Yan shook his head and said: "The Jin Yanmen can make such a big name, naturally it has its way of survival."

Not long after, steady footsteps came from outside the door.

The door opened slightly, and two people walked in one after another.

The first person was a middle-aged woman, about forty years old, wearing a crimson brocade robe, with a golden swallow hairpin in her hair. Her figure was plump, and her eyebrows were smiling. As soon as she entered the door, she cupped her hands and said: "I am Cheng Yun of the Yangzhou Jin Yanmen. I don't know that distinguished guests have arrived, and I have failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me, forgive me!"

"The three are Li Shaoxia, Sha Xiashi, and Lin Young Master from Yujing City, right?"

Following closely behind was an old man about fifty years old, whose beard and hair were combed meticulously. He was wearing a dark blue cloth straight robe, and his eyes were sharp with a bit of steadiness. Judging by his appearance, he was a subordinate or a white paper fan.

Li Yan and the three stood up to return the salute, "Cheng Duozhu is too polite, we are newcomers and have disturbed you."

The host and guests sat down, and the servants served fragrant tea again.

Cheng Yun exchanged a few pleasantries, her gaze paused slightly on Li Yan's face, and she smiled: "We have already received the news from Elder Su in the capital, and all the branch helms in Jiangnan are already making a name for the Twelve Yuan Chen..."

"This matter is not urgent."

Li Yan waved his hand hurriedly and said in a deep voice: "The situation in Jiangnan is complex, far beyond our imagination. The great enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light. Being too ostentatious will lead to disadvantages."

This was the agreement he had with the Jin Yanmen before.

The Jin Yanmen would use the name of the Twelve Yuan Chen to make connections by doing tasks, and he would get information support from the Jin Yanmen, as well as generous rewards.

But in the current situation, it was obviously not suitable to make too much noise.

"Oh..."

Cheng Yun laughed dumbfoundedly, "Li Young Master thought wrong."

"Pacifying the rebellion in the Chengdu Prince's Estate, capturing demons in Mangshan, Luoyang, protecting the gods in the capital's academy, plus the Mount Tai incident a few days ago, you all are already famous in the Jianghu, and you can't hide even if you want to."

"On this journey, I'm afraid I don't know how many eyes are staring at you..."

Just as she was speaking, the Xiao Lai Zi from just now suddenly ran in and handed over a note.

Cheng Yun looked at it and smiled: "Young Master's ship is docked at the wharf, right? Someone has already gone."

Li Yan's eyes suddenly became sharp, "Who?" ===== CHAPTER 765 =====