[{"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-79":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},2262384,4415,"Chapter 79: Confrontation in the Hall","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>“That brat dares show up here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, carried away by success, pushing people too far!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Zhou family’s main gate, several disciples whispered low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes were all fixed on the Zhang family’s group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, besides Zhang’s father and son and their disciples, were two conspicuous figures: one in black military robes with sharp eyes, the other tall, bald, with a full beard—Li Yan and Sha Lifei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou disciples were all furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other factions were understandable—they all moved in Xianyang’s circles, had some past grudges or ties with the old Zhou family, and today came to settle accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what are you, Li Yan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You came to Xianyang, crippled Zhou Bai to make a name for yourself, even drove Zhou Peide to desperation, landing him in prison, sentenced to execution come autumn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In and out, you’ve never taken a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now you come knocking again—aren’t you stepping on their faces?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, given the current situation, no one dared speak up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After anger came helplessness and sorrow rising in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s spiritual awareness was sharp—he sensed every hostile glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t bother to care, instead glancing behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a middle-aged man in black robes, wearing a square hat, tall, with streaks of gray at his temples, his features stern and imposing, flanked by two yamen runners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Xianyang’s chief constable, Guan Wanchè.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Sha Lifei sneered low: “Why stare at him? A turncoat, not worth your time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei was right—many on the Guanzhong road knew Guan Wanchè had once been sworn brothers with Li Hu, closer than this old Zhang patriarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when his father died, Guan never showed up; for years he never visited Li family fortress to see his grandfather and grandson; Li Yan didn’t even know such a man existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Zhang Shi, when Guan Wanchè was transferred to Xianyang as constable, many thought he’d come to harass Zhou Pan—but nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only time he acted was during the Zheng Xian family massacre, when a runner tried to make him a scapegoat—Guan Wanchè stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t care about human coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Jianghu, people hadn’t even left before the tea turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled him was why Guan Wanchè was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing his gaze, Guan Wanchè walked straight over, expressionless, sizing him up, then said coolly: “Do you harbor resentment toward me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan replied calmly: “Strangers have no grudges.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Wanchè nodded with a cold smile: “I swore brotherhood with your father, but he betrayed my sister—ran off to Mount Taibai to become a Daoist, left my mother weeping daily. Have you ever seen a brother like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face stiffened, forcing a awkward laugh: “That… I don’t know much about the previous generation’s affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, he recalled the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father never came home for the New Year, already angering his grandfather—then two beautiful women showed up at the gate, fighting over him, throwing a tantrum that nearly killed the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them, he thought, had the surname Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from what they said, his father’s romantic debts went beyond that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it, Li Yan felt helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, not only Sha Lifei’s eyes widened, but even Zhang’s father and son and their disciples had all leaned in, faces alight with gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan shoved Sha Lifei aside, sternly saying: “I won’t speak of the elders’ affairs—but if you have grudges, bring them on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring them on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Wanchè sneered: “My sister was meek, took the loss and swallowed it—but some women aren’t to be trifled with. Can you handle them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression softened slightly, he sighed, clapped Li Yan on the shoulder: “After all, you’re the son of an old friend. Since you’ve entered the Jianghu, watch yourself—don’t follow your father’s path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned and strode into the Zhou family compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanshang beside him stroked his beard and nodded: “It seems this Constable Guan isn’t heartless—just holding onto anger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go. Today, we see off the old monkey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he led everyone into the compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan lagged behind a few steps, silently pulling a slip of paper from the seam of his shoulder robe—his eyes flashed with fury as he read the characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou family compound was vast, with multiple courtyards, each with its own training ground, weapons displayed everywhere—rumor had it they once had hundreds of disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only the martial school disciples, not counting the outer circles under the Eight Golden Giants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could imagine how glorious the Zhou family once was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, disciples had fled, leaving fewer than a hundred; many courtyards stood empty, floors littered and untended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the main hall was filled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall itself was large—over three times the size of Zhang’s martial school—and dignitaries sat on either side, disciples standing behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, large sections of the hall remained empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one presiding over the washing-of-the-basin ceremony was Zhou Yuan Shan, a disciple of Zhou Pan and one of the Eight Golden Giants, also a Zhou family member. Unlike Zhou Peide, he was tall, with a dull, honest demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed to all directions: “Today is an auspicious day—my master’s time to wash his basin. Your presence honors our humble home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save the flattery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in green robes scowled, sipped tea, and snapped: “So many Jianghu peers came—Zhou Pan doesn’t even greet us at the gate, makes us wait? How arrogant!” The speaker was Han Kun, boss of the Canal Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Canal Guild was a true giant, dominating northern docks—wherever rivers ran, their disciples walked; their branches were numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern Canal Guild, southern Pai Jiao, maritime Si Hai Guild—anyone making a living on water was tied to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xianyang’s Canal Guild was merely a small branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even so, Boss Han held high status—he was a Hua Jing expert, equal in rank to Zhou Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely because of the Canal Guild and Tai Xing Carting’s involvement that Zhou Pan grew wary, deciding to retreat and preserve strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Han Kun erupted, Zhou Yuan Shan broke into sweat, about to explain—when a series of elderly coughs came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Han, I’m not being arrogant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man slowly entered from the side door—it was Zhou Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he looked exhausted, hair and beard withered white, as if aged decades in mere days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forgive me for the spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the astonished stares, Zhou Pan chuckled bitterly: “Just settled some family matters. My disciples refused to come—fine—but even my own kin are demanding to split the family. Hah, truly laughable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many present were heads of households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without managing a household, you don’t know the cost of rice and salt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you do, you realize rice and salt are minor—what truly breaks you is disunity among people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering Zhou Pan’s former arrogance, all felt a chill—Jianghu is hard; who knows when it’ll be their turn?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan seemed drained, bowed, voice hoarse: “I spent my life striving, made few friends, many enemies. Now I see—everything is fate; not a single thing is in one’s hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I ever offended anyone, I beg your forgiveness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing silence, he gave a hollow laugh, shook his head: “I’m tired. I want to return home, become a peasant. Let’s settle all grudges today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Live or die—grudges erased!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned, nodded to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a bronze basin, its wooden stand made of fine sandalwood, the basin itself high-quality, gleaming gold, carved with five bats, half-filled with clear water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yuan Shan took three incense sticks, lit them, bowed thrice before the ancestral portrait, then placed them in the censer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Canal Guild, Tai Xing Carting, and the various martial schools led by the Zhang family had all prepared—they wouldn’t make trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heads nodded; disciples immediately stepped forward, tying red cloth strips to the basin’s stand, signifying no objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the three incense sticks burned out and no one raised objections, the basin-washing could begin—he’d fully exit the Jianghu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some things must be settled!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Shihai slammed his teacup down, coldly: “Old monkey, don’t play the victim—when you strutted around, you never thought of this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan seemed to expect it, bowed deeply: “Brother Luo, I wronged you. Bring him in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, two disciples dragged a man into the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a handsome middle-aged man, once noble-looking, but now with puffy eyes and a dissipated air, face pale with terror, kneeling and banging his head: “Uncle, spare me! Uncle, spare me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan sighed: “When a family grows large, things slip beyond control. When my mother was alive, one order from her—I had to betray Brother Luo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Luohai committed several crimes—I’ve reported him to the authorities. Constable Guan is here today—he’ll take him away. Likely execution come autumn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Luo, is this satisfactory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Shihai wouldn’t be satisfied: “You old bastard, playing the righteous one—why didn’t you do this sooner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he had no grounds to provoke—glared at Zhou Pan, then ordered his disciple to tie the red strip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan’s face remained calm, bowed again to all:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone else wish to settle grudges?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he’d lost everything, since he intended to wash his basin, he’d prepared—secretly negotiated with all sides, made many concessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the troublesome Luo Shihai had been handled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the basin-washing ended, he’d leave Xianyang immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as he felt triumphant inside, Li Yan slowly stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan’s gaze turned dark. “Boy, others I might overlook, but you crippled a Zhou family disciple—this grudge is ours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Settling grudges isn’t done this way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face was expressionless as he stepped into the hall and asked bluntly: “I only want to know—was my father’s death connected to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan shook his head. “Your father died dishonorably. Had I the chance, I would have defeated him openly and fairly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a fine ‘open and fair’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s eyes flashed with killing intent: “Anqing Hall, Lu Gongyuan—don’t tell me you’ve forgotten, man of the Zhou clan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Zhou Pan’s expression instantly changed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1689,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","29c327ad216da18c146e508ecc6908e46adbd3da0c5080933759ef06bb1a5eaf","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-80","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-78",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]