Chapter 85: Below the Mass Grave

"Stop!"

Ten miles away from the mass grave, the three were stopped.

It was a team of soldiers setting up a checkpoint at the intersection, and in the grassland in the distance, there were cavalry leading mastiffs patrolling.

Sha Lifei hurriedly dismounted, smiling and cupping his hands, "This soldier, we were invited by Daoist Luo of the Chenghuangmiao's Law Enforcement Hall to observe the ceremony. I hope you can make it convenient."

"Chenghuangmiao..."

The soldier blocking the road was full of suspicion, "Do you have a pass?"

Sha Lifei was stunned and looked back, while Li Yan shook his head.

Luo Mingzi only gave a verbal invitation. After returning, he was busy with a mess, and Li Yan went to the Chenghuangmiao to ask about the Cold Altar Wandering Master but couldn't find anyone. Where would he get a pass?

"None?"

The leading soldier's expression changed immediately, and he scolded, "Martial Cavalry Lieutenant Lord Fan has ordered that the mass grave be under martial law today to prevent martial arts scoundrels from sneaking in to cause trouble."

"You guys don't look like good people at a glance. If you are sensible, leave quickly!"

Today was the Double Ninth Festival. He had originally begged his superior to go home to visit his old father, but this temporary order disrupted his plan, and he was already unhappy, so his words were naturally harsh.

Sha Lifei still greeted him with a smiling face, secretly took out a string of copper coins, and whispered, "This soldier, make it convenient. If you don't believe me, send someone to ask..."

"Shut your dog mouth!"

The leading soldier's expression changed immediately, and he raised the long spear in his hand, "Everyone dismount, stop them! They must be martial arts bandits!"

As soon as the words fell, a team of cavalry in the distance rode over, bending their bows and setting arrows from afar, aiming the sharp arrows at the three.

Li Yan saw this, and his brows furrowed.

These soldiers were all from the local Xianyang garrison, under the jurisdiction of the Chang'an Regional Military Commissioner's Office. Even if their daily training was strict, they couldn't compare to battle-hardened veterans.

Just like this squad leader in front of him, he didn't look like he had stepped into Hidden Strength. Even with the help of his colleagues around him, he couldn't stop him.

But if he fought with the army, he would have no choice but to flee afterward.

What was more troublesome was that these soldiers had already lost their heads. If they were captured by them, they would inevitably be whipped, and if they met someone with a bad heart, even the money on them would be confiscated.

Li Yan was about to speak when he suddenly felt a movement in his heart and looked back.

"Stop!"

The sound of horse hooves rang out, and a team of knights whistled over.

There were seven people in total, all dressed in black brocade clothes, with the fierce beasts Ya Zi and Bi An embroidered in silver thread on their chests and backs, each with a deep aura and superb riding skills.

Commandant's Office?

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and recognized this attire.

The Commandant's Office was similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting ruthlessly and unscrupulously, and had a very bad reputation in the martial world, referred to as "Hounds, Black Dogs" in the spring code.

What surprised him even more was that the leader was none other than Guan Wanche.

Wasn't he the Xianyang Chief Constable? When did he join the Commandant's Office?

Li Yan suddenly remembered that at that time, Guan Wanche had already found evidence of Zhou Pan harming his father but didn't say a word, handing it to him to expose.

His behavior was strange; this guy was definitely not as simple as he imagined...

Just as Li Yan was thinking, Guan Wanche had already ridden over, first taking off his waist token to show it, and then said coldly, "What happened?"

The leading soldier hurriedly cupped his hands, "Squad Leader, these people are sneaky, and we were just about to take them down!"

Seeing Guan Wanche, Sha Lifei breathed a sigh of relief and said with a grinning face, "Lord Guan has been promoted, congratulations. We were invited by Daoist Luo of the Chenghuangmiao to observe the ceremony."

"Observe the ceremony?"

Guan Wanche snorted, originally wanting to say something, but held it back, saying solemnly, "These people are indeed related to the Chenghuangmiao. I will take them to see someone. If there are any lies, I will personally take them down for you."

"Yes, my lord!"

Although the soldier was unwilling, he could only order people to pull away the road blocks.

After the road was cleared, Guan Wanche didn't pay attention to the few and led his subordinates to ride away first.

Li Yan and the three looked at each other, shook their reins, and followed closely behind.

The distance of ten miles was really not much.

After riding for a while, they arrived at the foot of the mass grave mountain.

This place was originally a large open space with scattered dense forests around.

And now, the surrounding forests had been cleared, and a three-story Dharma altar was built in the center, square in shape, with red wood as pillars, and flags, knots, and banners arranged neatly on it, painted with Bagua, Taiji, Big Dipper, and even huge yellow talismans hanging down.

It looked flashy, but Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan both held their breath.

Wang Daoxuan was an insider, constantly verifying it with what he had learned in his heart.

Li Yan was an outsider, but his supernatural powers made him feel different.

Where the altar was located, the rich smell of incense swirled, hooking the earth veins below and connecting to the firmament above, as if a palace temple had appeared out of thin air, and a solemn and oppressive aura rushed toward them.

Just standing here, he felt his breathing a bit obstructed.

Among the three, the most relaxed was Sha Lifei.

The so-called "ignorant are fearless," he only felt that the air here was exceptionally fresh, and coupled with the Double Ninth Festival, he fiddled with the cornel branches in his hand, and he really had a feeling of an outing.

Li Yan took a deep breath, "Is this the altar?"

"Yes."

Wang Daoxuan said solemnly, "The Dharma altar used by this poor Daoist at most raised a small 'trend,' while the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect's altar has already become a 'situation.' With many hundred-year-old Dharma artifacts worshipped, this altar city alone is the accumulation of several generations of other Dharma lineages."

"And this is just the Chenghuangmiao in Xianyang..."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head with emotion, his eyes full of envy.

Li Yan's expression was calm, not surprised.

The Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect's lineage has been passed down since the Han Dynasty. Although it has experienced many disasters in the changes of dynasties in the red dust, the incense has never been interrupted.

Emperors of all dynasties have enfeoffed it as the state religion; how could it be ordinary?

Around the altar, tents were set up according to the Bagua directions, and many Daoists walked back and forth, some burning incense, some cleaning, and some chanting scriptures while beating bells and drums beside the altar, looking very busy.

These were all newly initiated Daoist children, clearly doing preparatory work. Just as the two were talking, a Daoist walked out of the tent on the left, wearing a black robe and an eight-sided crown, carrying a long sword on his back; it was Luo Mingzi.

He walked over hurriedly, and when they met, he smiled bitterly, "I've been busy these days and didn't expect the imperial court's troops to block the main road, making you suffer."

"Business is important, and I must thank you for letting us observe the ceremony." Li Yan hurriedly cupped his hands politely.

Beside Luo Mingzi, there was also a person from the Commandant's Office. Seeing this, he cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Daoist, since it's a misunderstanding, I will go back and report."

It was the person sent by Guan Wanche to verify.

Seeing him turn to leave, Li Yan's heart moved, and he pulled Sha Lifei to whisper a few words, letting him follow.

Li Yan learned the process of the Gu Shui Village tragedy in the bandit stronghold and promised to fulfill the dying wish of Zhao the Commander, so he naturally wouldn't break his word.

However, after returning, there were all kinds of troubles, so he didn't have a chance to report to the authorities.

Guan Wanche helped several times and had just joined the Commandant's Office, so it was just right to use this news to repay his favor.

Seeing this, Luo Mingzi didn't care, raised his hand and smiled, "Let's go, I have already told Senior Uncle Qingyangzi about your matter, and he is very interested, perhaps there is a way."

Li Yan's eyes lit up, "Many thanks, Senior."

!.

After saying that, he followed Luo Mingzi toward a large tent.

…………

"Sigh, this official, walk slower..."

Sha Lifei followed closely behind the Commandant's Office squad leader.

"What's the matter?"

The squad leader turned to ask, his eyes gloomy.

One of their duties in the Commandant's Office was to monitor the martial world.

The so-called "officials and bandits are not on the same road." Although Sha Lifei was not a bandit, this squad leader clearly had no good feelings for these people in the martial world.

Sha Lifei didn't care and said with a grin, "This official, why such a big temper? I have a great merit to give to Lord Guan."

The Commandant's Office squad leader narrowed his eyes and snorted, "Then follow."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Sha Lifei followed him all the way quickly, and before long, he arrived at the foot of a small mound.

Only to see a few people standing on horseback on the mound, waving their hands, huge hawks whistling into the air, fighting for the meat chunks they threw, and then flapping their wings and flying away.

Guan Wanche was among them.

Sha Lifei felt a burst of heat in his eyes.

He had heard of this thing. Since the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty, they had searched for strange people and scholars from all over the world. There were those who were good at training hawks, and they passed this craft to the Commandant's Office.

With the help of the imperial court's huge manpower and material resources, the Commandant's Office carried forward the means of training hawks, both golden eagles that could kill beasts and peregrine falcons that were fast and good at reconnaissance, including hunting dogs, which were also numerous.

Therefore, the Commandant's Office was also called "Hounds" by people in the martial world.

But having said that, the attraction of these raptors to men was not covered up.

Sha Lifei's brain turned, and he wanted to exchange news for a hawk, but remembering Li Yan's instructions and the fierce name of the Commandant's Office, he dispelled this thought.

"What is your business?"

Guan Wanche glanced at him faintly.

He and Li Hu were brothers, so he naturally knew this useless junior brother, never looked down on him, and had no friendship.

Sha Lifei grinned, "My lord, it's better to speak in private."

As soon as Guan Wanche heard this, and saw the one-eyed man next to him, his face immediately became ugly, "Guan acts upright, what is there that cannot be said in person!"

What kind of place was the Commandant's Office? He had just joined, how could he leave a handle for others?

Sha Lifei was originally well-intentioned, but was inexplicably scolded, and he was also angry in his heart, thinking to himself, you melon-headed guy, you are not afraid of the merit being snatched by others.

Since that's the case, don't regret it afterward!

Anyway, conveying the news was repaying the favor.

Thinking of this, he didn't hide it and told everything about the Gu Shui Village, the bandit stronghold, the cockscomb snake, and the mysterious sorcerer.

As soon as these words came out, everyone from the Commandant's Office present changed their expressions.

The one-eyed man slowly turned his horse and said gloomily, "Is there any falsehood?"

"Every word is true!"

Sha Lifei cupped his hands, "For this kind of thing, how would I dare to talk nonsense? I didn't want to provoke right and wrong, but came entirely to repay Lord Guan's favor."

In fact, he regretted it a bit after saying it in public. After all, Guan Wanche had already been promoted, and he might need to use him in the future, so he added this to make up for it.

The one-eyed man nodded, "Reward!"

As soon as the words fell, a subordinate took off a bag from his waist and threw it at Sha Lifei's feet with a *whoosh*. The bag split open, and it was full of snowy white silver.

Sha Lifei raised his eyebrows, "Human favor and righteousness, a thousand gold cannot be sold!"

The one-eyed man showed appreciation and nodded, "Not bad, you are a good man. I advise you, treat this matter as if you don't know it when you go back, so as not to bring about a fatal disaster."

Sha Lifei cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Halfway there, he touched his chest, his face full of grief, and muttered to himself: It hurts my grandfather's heart, melon-headed guy, being a good man is too expensive, I won't be one in the future...

After he left, the one-eyed man's eyes returned to calm:

"Wanche, what do you think?"

Guan Wanche cupped his hands, "These people are likely remnants of Maitreya!"

The one-eyed man nodded and said solemnly, "Same as I thought. That person who drove the cockscomb snake is called Dugu Gan, with the nickname Grave Snake, one of the sixty-four Incense Masters of Maitreya. He escaped the encirclement and suppression many years ago, and now it seems his cultivation has greatly advanced."

"The remnants of Maitreya have been encircled and suppressed for generations, but they will always be resurrected, like spring grass that cannot be killed. There are traces of them all over the Divine Land, so they don't count as much of a threat."

As he spoke, he sighed, "The real trouble with this matter is in the capital!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 86 =====