[{"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-84":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},2262389,4415,"Chapter 84: Cold Altar Wandering Master","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>The so-called yi zhuang originated from Song-era customs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In various clans, some were wealthy, others poor; the wealthy would fund yi zhuang, which contained ancestral halls, communal farmland, and even private tutors who taught impoverished clan children to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any place, when the rich established a yi zhuang, it was universally praised as a virtuous act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, maintaining such a large-scale yi zhuang required substantial funds; as families declined, many yi zhuang eventually served only one purpose: storing corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in Xianyang, a major city near an ancient ferry crossing, with many merchants traveling north and south and outsiders seeking livelihoods, it was inevitable that some would die far from home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Shenzhou valued returning to one’s roots; after death, these individuals were often placed in yi zhuang, waiting for fellow villagers to show kindness or for clan members to arrive and transport them home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xianyang yi zhuang lay outside the city’s western side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ancient times, this area had been an imperial hunting ground, so it was spacious, with vast hills, dense forests, and a single Yaowang Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road leading to the yi zhuang was flanked by mountains and woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the woods, many coffins were stored, typically built on brick-and-stone platforms raised three inches off the ground, covered with circular shelters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were ancient, their bricks and stones collapsed and covered in moss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had no stone platforms at all, merely propped on wooden frames long since rotted and collapsed, even the coffins cracked and blackened…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan and the others gaze around, Wang Daoxuan explained: “This is called fu cuo. According to funeral rites, a coffin must not touch the ground until buried. Sometimes descendants cannot dig in time, or when someone dies far from home, they must first perform fu cuo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei muttered: “Looks like these are all abandoned—poor in life, unable to rest in peace in death, truly pitiful…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not just poverty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan shook his head: “Many wealthy families do this too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned. “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan chuckled softly. “They seek an ideal fengshui site to bury ancestors and bless descendants, but good sites are hard to find, so many wealthy families leave coffins unburied for over a decade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a sin!” Sha Lifei cursed. “These unfilial sons, chasing wealth, leave their elders exposed to wind and sun, unable to rest in peace—don’t they fear retribution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan sighed helplessly. “The court has repeatedly banned this, but nobles in the imperial court do it, wealthy families imitate, and even commoners follow suit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his explanation, both asked questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, does fengshui really work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it does. Buried on a spiritual vein or auspicious spot, bathed in righteous qi, descendants gain fortune—but with each generation, bloodline thins, so the effect weakens; even the best site grants blessings for only three generations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet a hundred years is enough to build a prosperous family, so many fengshui masters travel north and south, and if they find one good spot, they can sell it for a high price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But all this is minor fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at imperial clans—don’t they expend vast manpower and wealth seeking perfect burial sites? Yet under the tide of mortal affairs, all is fleeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take the Zhou family—when Zhou the Monkey’s mother died, they spent a fortune hiring a master from Ganzhou’s Jiangxiang Sect to find an auspicious site, held a grand funeral, and that was only two or three years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If one’s virtue doesn’t match one’s position, no fengshui matters…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they talked, the three soon neared the yi zhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was the Xianyang yi zhuang—its grounds were indeed large, but due to age, it looked dilapidated, with some earthen walls half-collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had learned caution; whenever approaching such places, he always formed the Yang Seal and activated his sense of smell to detect anomalies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a flood of odors filled his nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face twisted in disgust, nearly retching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stench of corpses from different eras was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan smiled. “The Xianyang yi zhuang is guarded year-round, and the City God Temple regularly sends people to perform rituals and cleanse impure yin energies—no evil spirits dare trouble here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But in remote yi zhuang, strange events occur often; guards must be from the Daoist sects to suppress them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, they entered the yi zhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Yan had specifically instructed and Sha Lifei paid well, Wu Laosi’s coffin was well cared for, stored separately, shielded from wind and sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan had bought offerings along the way; after each lit incense, they arranged the coffin relocation time with the old caretaker and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they stepped outside, Li Yan sensed something wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spun around sharply and saw, deep in the dense woods to his left, a figure clad in bloodstained robes, pierced by chains, slowly raising a hand to point toward a spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly as in his dream the other night!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He startled, gripped his blade, and formed the Yang Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he smelled no unusual odor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blink, the figure vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei asked anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face was grim. “I think I’ve been tainted by something unclean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then recounted his dream from last night and what he had just seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must’ve imagined it!” Sha Lifei shook his head. “Neither I nor Master saw anything, and you didn’t smell anything either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan frowned. “Your description matches something recorded in ancient texts. It must be a Leng Tan You Shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at Wendaoguan, Wang Daoxuan flipped through a damaged ancient book for a long time before finding a page and showing it to Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It read: “During the Great Prosperity, the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom invaded from the south. In my dream, I saw my former master—even in daylight—and I was terrified. Later, a wandering Daoist guided me, revealing the legend of the Leng Tan You Shi. I entered Zhongnan Mountain, found the Leng Tan in a cave, and enshrined Chen Tianjun, inheriting the Western Xuan lineage…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan patiently explained: “This is from our Western Xuan sect’s records, sadly incomplete. Later, I consulted Elder Qingyangzi and learned of the Leng Tan You Shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve seen Leng Tan Chang Bing. A Leng Tan You Shi is similar: when a master with deep arts dies without disciples to continue his lineage, he performs a ritual to become a wandering spirit, seeking a successor to inherit his teachings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is also called a divine connection. During the late Tang, when chaos reigned and demonic forces rose while Daoist power waned, many lineages vanished, so Leng Tan You Shi appeared most frequently; some entered folk tales as immortals appearing in dreams to transmit teachings…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned slightly. “Is it dangerous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan pondered. “According to Elder Qingyangzi, if you encounter this, simply follow its direction to the Leng Tan. If you refuse to inherit, the lineage’s fortune is permanently severed, and it will no longer haunt you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, this depends on fate. Have you encountered any strange events before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange? More than that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sighed, raised his palm to reveal the Gou Die seal, and recounted the events in the cave and Luo Mingzi’s warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan said gravely. “Luo Mingzi said to first uncover the origin—perhaps following the Leng Tan You Shi will lead you to it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, the Leng Tan You Shi appeared frequently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan grew weary but discerned a pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit occasionally appeared in dreams—avoidable by focusing the spirit—but in daylight, wherever he was, it always pointed south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was precisely where the Qinling Mountains lay!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, as Wang Daoxuan said, the spirit did nothing but occasionally point the way; as Li Yan grew accustomed, he no longer worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, a new plan emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering Wu Laosi home, they would enter the Qinling Mountains first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was an opportunity—if it suited him, it would offer a better choice when building the Louguan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, without realizing it, the ninth day of the ninth month arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongyang Day, the ninth of nine, returning to truth, the primordial beginning—auspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, on this day, the people practiced climbing heights to pray for blessings, honoring gods and ancestors, feasting to wish for longevity, and in some places, holding harvest rituals to thank heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day agreed upon with Luo Mingzi to observe the consecration of the Mountain God at the mass grave, so they rose early to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before dawn, someone knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan opened it to find his neighbor, Aunt Liu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carried a bamboo basket filled with a dozen persimmons, zibao cakes, and a small bottle of wine, neatly arranged, beautifully presented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Li, you probably didn’t prepare anything for Chongyang,” Aunt Liu smiled, handing him the basket. “Homemade—try some.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, you’re too kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Yan could respond, Sha Lifei snatched the basket, grabbed a zibao cake, and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, “Delicious, Auntie, your skills are excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat, eat, you unlucky fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Liu’s face darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei grinned, hurriedly fetched a wrapped roasted chicken from inside, and offered it. “Auntie, calm down—wishing you good health.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Liu accepted the chicken, her expression softening slightly; she glanced at them again. “You’re dressed so neatly—are you climbing high?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting, she hurried home and returned with three sprigs of zhuyu, their green leaves vibrant and red berries blazing like fire, handing them to Li Yan. “All you men understand nothing—how can you climb without zhuyu? Without women at home, you’re completely clueless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei muttered a reply. “Auntie Liu, we’re in a hurry—we’re off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he hurriedly shut the door with Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Liu couldn’t stop them, stomping her foot in frustration. “You wicked bald-headed devil!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the three rode out of Xianyang’s city gate, Sha Lifei chuckled. “That gift—only a bride’s family gives it to a son-in-law. Auntie Liu probably wants to marry you off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was stunned, looked at Wang Daoxuan’s silent smile, recalled Aunt Liu’s daughter’s face, broke into a cold sweat, and bowed. “Thank you, Uncle Sha, for saving me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei laughed heartily, divided the zhuyu sprigs, tucked one each into their collars, and spurred their horses toward the mass grave…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1750,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","27a533223172475bbeb27100ddea4d9eef380650b85fda0b8640bf4be357d10c","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-85","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-83",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]