[{"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-771":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},2263076,4415,"Chapter 771: The Opera Troupe","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-771",771,"\u003Cp>「Ah… this is…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Squire, his emotions calmed, finally noticed something was amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan glanced around, stroked his beard, and frowned: 「This fog seals the qi, enveloping the entire city—no ordinary trick. And by the docks, perhaps it’s the work of Japanese pirates.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, a flapping of wings echoed through the air; the hawk Liding landed on Lu San’s shoulder, chirped twice, then Lu San shook his head in confusion: 「The sky is sealed by thick fog too—there’s a confusion array set up. Can these pirates really manage this?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Unclear.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan’s face grew grim: 「The docks are crowded—no major issue there. I’m worried about Young Li Yan—he’s alone, and he hasn’t returned this long. He may be in trouble.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they spoke, fog surged violently outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out from the thick mist dashed the white fox Chuqi, leaping onto Lu San’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Chuqi?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San smiled, stroking the white fox’s head, but as he heard its cry, his eyes darkened with gravity—he rose to his feet: 「Something’s definitely happened.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Young Li Yan found the mastermind behind this and followed him to the home of a wealthy merchant. Chuqi came back to warn us, but on the way, thick fog and ghostly loops appeared. Luckily, its sense of smell is extraordinary—it used its spiritual power to pierce through illusions and made it back.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「So that’s how it is…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan immediately said: 「Then we mustn’t delay—let’s go.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without further words, after bidding farewell to Yu Squire, the two immediately stepped onto the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Chuqi!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San gave a low command, and the white fox dashed without hesitation into the thick fog, leading the way ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moving through the fog, all five senses were lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them stretched endless gray-white; the moon gave no light, and their sense of direction was utterly scrambled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the thick fog, strange, twisted whispers could be heard—as if rising from underground, yet also right beside their ears—with phantom sounds of clashing weapons, screams, and children crying drifting through, striking at their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet that agile white form remained ever ahead, flickering in and out as guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, to be safe, Wang Daoxuan also took out the Yuanjia Luo Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Chuqi’s sense of smell and this treasure, the fog was no longer an obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghostly loops that could trap and kill ordinary men, they ignored completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, they encountered many others trapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drunken men reeking of alcohol, city foxes and rat gangs active at night, noblemen seeking pleasure, night watchmen and city patrol officers—all without exception, stranded on the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They panicked wildly, darting about as if seeing ghosts; Wang Daoxuan and Lu San stood just a few meters away, yet these people could not see them at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the situation was urgent—they had no time to rescue them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the white fox’s guidance, they headed toward the 「Jiyu Garden」 of the salt merchant Wang Maode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After running for a long while, weaving through winding alleys, the lead fox Chuqi suddenly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan and Lu San stepped forward a few paces; through the faintly trembling gaps in the fog, a grand, imposing mansion suddenly appeared—shrouded in black mist nearly solid as substance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vermilion-painted gates were tightly shut; two massive stone lions loomed half-visible within the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mist blocked all light and sound, making it look like a haunted manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「We’re here!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San narrowed his eyes, gripping his blade’s hilt from behind: 「This is it!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan swiftly observed the flow of the surrounding array, then looked at the Yuanjia Luo Pan in his hand and frowned: 「This mansion is clearly the core of the array—the illusions are denser here. The front gate won’t be easy to enter…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Wait!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu San grabbed his arm, ears twitching, staring fixedly ahead, sweat beading on his forehead: 「Something’s wrong ahead.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan knew Lu San’s abilities—he could hear the speech of birds and beasts. Though he couldn’t understand ghostly or divine tongues like Li Yan, he could still perceive certain special sounds with exceptional clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Drums, gongs, erhu, opera singing… and many wailing funeral chants…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Lu San himself found it absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t imagine what could be causing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, both men felt a sudden chill rise in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Wuwa—!!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing, soul-rending infant’s wail exploded without warning beside their ears!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound didn’t come from one direction—it seemed to erupt from all sides, even from within their own skulls, stabbing straight into their spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Daoxuan’s cultivation was profound, his spirit still reeled; his head spun dizzily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Papapa… pili-pili-pili!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rapid, cold, emotionless clacking of abacus beads, like a death decree, came from deep within the fog to the left of the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sound carried a strange rhythm; each “pili” made Wang Daoxuan feel his heart clench as if gripped by an invisible icy hand, his blood and qi abruptly stalling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sinews and bones felt bound by invisible threads, growing sluggish and stiff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan’s face turned instantly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Master Daoist!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the danger, Lu San swiftly pulled Wang Daoxuan behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「It’s the Yin Debt Curse—protect me!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan, sweat pouring from his brow, gritted his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San heard this and his worry deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Daoist sects, there’s a saying: when each soul reincarnates, it borrows a sum of 「Yin Debt」 from the Netherworld—this debt may manifest as earth qi, fortune, or wealth, shaping one’s life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these, official debts are called Shousheng Debt; personal debts are called Yuanqin Debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further still, there are Skin Debts, Merchant Debts, Official Debts, Marriage Debts, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s also a highly complex system of calculation for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether this claim is true or false, no one knows; some unscrupulous Daoists use the excuse of “repaying Yin Debt” to extort wealth, while true cultivators use it to help others overcome calamities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some evil cultivators use this method to cast curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier on the road, they had discussed this; Li Yan speculated it might be an innate flaw in each person’s qi—after all, no one is perfect, everyone has shortcomings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with indecisive natures miss opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with cold hearts have shallow ties to family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people also have deficiencies in the Five Elements, which reflect in their five viscera, creating vulnerabilities—the Yin Debt Curse exploits precisely these flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though merely a speculation, Wang Daoxuan had deduced a way to counter the Yin Debt Curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he took out the 「Ruyi Treasure Pearl」; the instant he opened the wooden box, moonlight flowed, blocking both qi and the curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Daoist drew a yellow talisman, formed a hand seal, and chanted a spell as he traced it over his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though kind-hearted, he was no weakling—he had begun his counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the glow of the treasure drew attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Ruyi Treasure Pearl!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shadows, a hoarse, greedy voice spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San acted instantly, launching two steel darts whistling through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His acute hearing had already pinpointed the attacker’s location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhhhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of a string of beads jingling arose.\u003C\u002Fp>",1192,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aad79399493f6ca4800553cf3d7c4981ca4988cee9af354c44ed91333fa0c1f8","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-772","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-770",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]