[{"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-767":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},2263072,4415,"Chapter 767","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-767",767,"\u003Cp>“Meow~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tricolor cat meowed softly, licking its paws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other cats lounged lazily, and passersby paid them no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Lin Fatty was also surprised: “Strange, why has Yangzhou gotten so many cats? I didn’t see any last time I came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, they felt no unusual aura from these cats, but they were all members of the Daoist sects and knew that nothing happens without cause—any anomaly is an omen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You gentlemen are new to Yangzhou, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing they didn’t disembark, the old boatman adjusted his straw hat and smiled ingratiatingly: “There are many cats here—we’re used to them. In fact, there’s a story behind it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifa became interested and tossed out a few silver pieces: “Tell us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man caught them midair, quickly tucked them into his bosom, then began speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all started last winter. For some reason, the city was overrun by rats—day or night, they ran in packs through the streets. Worse still, they were enormous, big enough to kill even the common people’s ducks and chicks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even more terrifying: one night, the night watchman claimed he saw ghostly soldiers patrolling the streets—but when he rubbed his eyes, they turned out to be rats. He died suddenly in his home afterward, and a plague broke out across the city. Everyone says it’s the work of rat demons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know, Yangzhou is a major grain transport hub with countless granaries. When this chaos sparked panic, we summoned many Daoists and monks to perform rituals—but all their bells and drums were useless. Until the great salt merchant, Master Wang, brought in a fairy maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fairy maiden was extraordinary—they say she kept a spirit cat. That very night, it caught and killed the demon rats. Afterward, the number of cats in the city began to grow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These little cats cause no trouble—they even catch rats. So people just got used to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how it is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Li Yan fell into thought, then bowed: “Thank you, old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he led the two others off the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifa whispered: “Sounds a bit too convenient. Could this be the thief crying ‘thief!’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan shook his head slightly: “Yangzhou has no shortage of Daoist masters—no one here is a fool. If this were some outsider’s scheme, the local sects would handle it. We’ve got our own business to attend to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, they arrived outside the Qionghua Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they reached the door, a slender figure ducked forward, bowing low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, wearing a faded gray short jacket, with slightly yellow, thinning hair. His eyes darted restlessly, gleaming with cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First time here, gentlemen? Looking for fragrance or flowers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was a pimp. His voice was low, oily, but his gaze quickly swept over Li Yan and the others, lingering longest on their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan gave him a cool glance: “No time. The river’s full of riffraff—we don’t want to taint the Bodhisattva’s eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s eyes narrowed slightly. He stepped forward half a pace, whispering like an ant’s murmur, yet every word clear: “Digging sand from the well has its way—what lotus blooms to draw you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan said nothing, pulling out the Golden Swallow Gate’s token from his bosom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an old hand—he instantly recognized the boy as a spy planted by the Golden Swallow Gate. No need for words—he revealed his identity outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy took the token, glanced at it, and his face changed instantly: “So it’s esteemed guests! There’s a private room upstairs—tea just steeped. Gentlemen, please come in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he led them through the glow of hanging red lanterns and into the Qionghua Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped inside, noise mingled with the scents of powder, wine, food, and incense—starkly contrasting the fresh river air outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first-floor hall was bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of the usual neat rows of tables and chairs, the center featured an ingeniously designed shallow pool, in which rested a tiny, exquisitely painted black-awning boat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though motionless, it served as the stage for courtesans to play lutes and sing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the boat, a pipa player in a lotus-pink ruqun gently plucked the strings, the music flowing sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around her sat patrons: wealthy merchants, martial artists with swords and blades, even officials in silk robes—some listening intently, others whispering and laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiters in sky-blue short jackets, white towels draped over shoulders, darted between tables like fish, moving silently despite their speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan could even smell the steam rising from steamer baskets: the savory aroma of crab-paste lion’s head, the toasted sesame scent of freshly baked Huangqiao biscuits, and the flour fragrance of the famed Huaiyang San Ding buns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one lingered on the first floor. Under the boy’s lead, they headed straight for an unassuming carved wooden staircase on the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they climbed, the noise on the second-floor private rooms noticeably faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the private room named “Listening to the Waves,” the boy eagerly opened the carved wooden door and stepped aside, bowing: “Gentlemen, this way, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they entered, he bowed respectfully again: “I’m called Xiao Lai Zi. I’ll report your arrival. Should you need anything, just call out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he carefully closed the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan turned to look—the “Listening to the Waves” room was elegantly arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the river was a sliding window, its upper half raised, letting in the crisp river breeze along with the reflections of lanterns and boats on the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside lay the gentle flow of the Little Qinhuai River, bathed in moonlight and lamplight, shimmering with ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the window stood a large octagonal table and several armchairs. On the table were a set of blue-and-white lidded tea bowls, a pot of hot tea steaming gently, and beside it, a dish of delicate dried fruits and candied treats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the walls hung a few ink-wash paintings of mountains, birds, and flowers. In the corner stood a purple-copper incense burner shaped like a crane, exhaling sweet sandalwood smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifa sniffed, sat down, grabbed a candied treat, and popped it into his mouth, chewing as he grinned: “The Golden Swallow Gate really knows how to pick a spot—mix of dragons and snakes, rumors flow from all corners of the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan shook his head: “The Golden Swallow Gate’s reputation didn’t come by accident—it has its ways of surviving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, steady footsteps sounded outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened gently, and two figures entered—one ahead, one behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead figure was a middle-aged woman, around forty, dressed in deep purple brocade robes, a golden swallow hairpin in her hair, her figure plump, her brow smiling. She bowed upon entering: “I am Cheng Yun of the Yangzhou Golden Swallow Gate. Unaware of your esteemed arrival, I apologize for the lack of welcome!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must be Li Shaoxia, Sha Xianshi, and Lin Young Master from the Jade Capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her came an elderly man, about fifty, his beard and hair neatly combed, dressed in a dark blue cotton robe, his gaze sharp yet steady—clearly a subordinate or white-fan advisor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and the others rose to return the bow: “Madam Cheng, you’re too kind. We’re newcomers—thank you for your hospitality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guests sat, and servants promptly brought fresh tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yun exchanged a few pleasantries, her gaze pausing slightly on Li Yan’s face before smiling: “We’ve received word from Elder Su in the capital. All branches in Jiangnan are already promoting the Twelve Zodiacs…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t urgent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan waved his hand quickly, his voice grave: “The situation in Jiangnan is far more complex than we imagined. The enemy is hidden, we are exposed—too much publicity will put us at a disadvantage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was their prior agreement with the Golden Swallow Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Golden Swallow Gate would use the Twelve Zodiacs’ name to build connections through missions, while he would receive intelligence support and generous rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But under current circumstances, it was clearly unwise to make too much noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yun laughed softly: “You’ve misunderstood, young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chaos in Chengdu’s Wang Fu, the demon capture at Luoyang’s Mangshan, the divine protection at the capital’s academy, and last month’s affair at Mount Tai—you’re already famous throughout the martial world. There’s no hiding you now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Along this journey, countless eyes must be watching…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Xiao Lai Zi suddenly rushed in and handed her a note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yun glanced at it and smiled: “Your boat is moored at the dock—someone’s already gone there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyes turned sharp: “Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1433,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d0c71227d7a5f4f1eccaab3bef3ada06123e6e3a2587bc5d7c7ab36910d119de","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-768","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-766",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]