[{"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-784":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},2263089,4415,"Chapter 784: The Land Immortal","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-784",784,"\u003Cp>“Is this really it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan listened, somewhat surprised, yet also considerably relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Fashan was a name renowned far and wide—a high Daoist of the Tang era, who served through the reigns of Gaozong, Wu Zetian, and Zhongzong for fifty years, frequently summoned to the palace, appointed Minister of Rituals under Ruizong, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Dali Bronze Bell is said to have been cast by him, surrounded by countless legends, and is among the most supreme magical artifacts in the entire Profound Heaven Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yinru continued: “This treasure can suppress and seal. When performing the Dragon-Throwing Rite, the spectacle is immense, and the demon Lei Yin will surely use magic to obstruct it; with this artifact, the rite can proceed without hindrance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nanjing Daoist lineage has agreed and will fully cooperate, sending reinforcements; but the Jianmu demonic sect has many elite cultivators—perhaps even a Land Immortal may come to disturb us. I will be occupied presiding over the rite and cannot attend to other matters; at that time, I must rely on Li Shaoxia to lend your presence and intimidate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought: given Zhou Yinru’s status within the Daoist circles, even if he feared Li Yan causing trouble, he could easily avoid him and send someone else to deliver the message—he had no need to come in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he truly sought was to borrow Li Yan’s power as a Living Yin Officer to intimidate the Land Immortal elites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin Yan Gate’s invitation was merely to broker this alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded and said: “Lin Fatty and the others…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yinru interrupted: “I do not lie. I forced them to release them, but human greed is hard to quell; if the Lin family fails to find the killer and clear their name, after the Nanjing matter concludes, they will remain a lingering threat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Daoist’s words are sound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan spoke, then rose at once: “Saving lives cannot wait—I’ll skip the meal. Thank you for your hospitality; during the Dragon-Throwing Rite, I will act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were merely using each other; no need for false pleasantries here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yinru’s expression remained calm; he glanced behind him and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female hunter Wang Lu immediately raised her hand: “Li Shaoxia, please follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yan also rose quickly, seeing them off at Qiyans Lou, then sighed with relief and bowed with a smile: “Congratulations, Immortal. The Twelve Yuan Chen are formidable; with their aid, your great undertaking will succeed. Afterward, ten Battalion Commander will pray for your blessings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yinru gazed out the window at the night sky and let out a faint sigh:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All I seek is to survive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night was ink-black; Nanjing lay silent in grim solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan followed Wang Lu, threading through streets and alleys beneath sparse starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lu moved swiftly and silently, clearly familiar with Nanjing’s layout; she twisted and turned, avoiding several patrols of lantern-carrying soldiers, finally arriving near Wuding Gate in the southern city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Yan, he silently made a hand gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several figures hidden in the darkness atop the buildings behind continued to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though conditions had been met, they must still guard against a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a stern mansion emerged from the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High walls, deep courtyards, stone lions at the gate snarling, the plaque above the gate reading “Yingtian Prefecture” glinting coldly under dim lantern light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not as grand as the Central Six Ministries lining the imperial avenue, as Nanjing’s highest administrative center, its authority was unmistakable. Within the front gate, the outline of the ceremonial gate was faintly visible; to east and west lay the Earth God Shrine and the prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lu did not enter through the main gate but circled to the western side gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yamen runners on duty had clearly been instructed; after verifying Wang Lu’s token engraved with a flying swallow, they silently pulled open the heavy wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill, thick with the stench of mold, blood, and despair, rushed forth—the prison district of the prefectural Ya .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned slightly and followed Wang Lu and the jailer swiftly inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They passed through a narrow, dim corridor flanked by thick wooden bars, finally stopping before a cell at the very rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Lin Fatty, Kong Shangzhao, and a pale-faced young Lin family member huddled in the corner on a pile of straw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dim light, it was clear that just a few days in prison had left Lin Fatty visibly gaunt—his once plump cheeks sunken, eyes hollow, gaze dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three wore specially crafted shackles, with talisman needles inserted into several acupoints on their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a common yamen tactic, called the “Channel-Severing Method,” designed specifically for Daoists; any attempt to exert Qi or use magic would cause excruciating pain and convulsions throughout the meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spark of anger rose in Li Yan’s eyes; he whispered: “Lin Fatty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound, Lin Fatty jerked his head up, his cloudy eyes suddenly blazing with light; his voice hoarse: “Yan… Yan Young Master!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled to rise, but weakness and the shackles made him stumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Shangzhao and Kuai Dayou, who had been asleep, also woke with stunned joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jailer swiftly unlocked the cell, lowering his voice: “Hurry! Don’t make a sound. Orders are to take only these three; the others… must wait for the Prefect’s command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan heard this and wasted no words; he stepped forward into the cell, unleashed a subtle force with his palm, and slapped—pop, pop, pop—onto the shackles of the three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter-clatter-clatter~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shackles shattered; the talisman needles flew out from their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jailer’s eyes widened in alarm—these items were not cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could finish, Wang Lu waved him silent, signaling him not to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This female hunter was no fool; she sensed Li Yan’s anger and knew they couldn’t afford new complications over trivial matters after finally reaching an agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Fatty rose unsteadily, his gaze sweeping over the other cells, seeing the other Lin clan members’ eyes—some despairing, some numb, some envious—and his heart sank slightly, but he knew now was no time to stir trouble, so he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!” Li Yan ordered firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three were led out of the cell, passed again through the chilling corridor, and as they stepped out the western side gate of the prefecture, they instinctively drew deep breaths of fresh air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, all remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever patrol soldiers approached to question them, Wang Lu dismissed them easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After escorting them to a quiet alley near the Jinzhou Merchant Guild, Wang Lu bowed: “Li Shaoxia, I hope you honor your promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned and vanished into the alleyways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li Fei and the others leapt down from the pitch-black rooftops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu San whispered: “Since you entered the prefecture, many have been following you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyes were cold; he glanced back at the dark alley. “We’ll talk when we return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the rear courtyard’s best room, provided by the Jinzhou Merchant Guild, Li Yan immediately ordered the servants to bring hot water and clean clothes; Long Yan’er took out her personal healing ointment and spirit-cleansing powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing, applying the ointment, and taking the medicine, Lin Fatty and the other two finally regained some color and their spirits steadied slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1243,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ae0e10ffafea0c6474d52f182052330810be49b034315f53611210cdff9116c4","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-785","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-783",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]