[{"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-94":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},2262399,4415,"Chapter 94: Ancient Qinling Road","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>\"So what if they're tough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentle voice arose from the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a man slowly walked to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was young, clad in a blue scholar’s robe, with fair skin and a smiling face, looking like a scholar out for a countryside outing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at this seemingly harmless young man, the bearded man’s eyes flickered with fear, and he bowed his head in flattery: \"Of course, Third Brother, your wit is unmatched—dealing with these people is child’s play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man glanced at him and sighed: \"I don’t want the trouble either, but what can I do? Winter’s coming, and the boys in the gang need silver to buy winter shelter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know the situation up the mountain—if we don’t gather enough silver, the gang will collapse next year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look out the window: \"There are plenty on Mount Niubeiliang who covet this prize, but whether they can pull it off is another matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, find out their secrets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Third Brother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Young Master...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain drizzled endlessly; autumn days grew shorter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time Sha Li-fei returned from the inn, the sky had darkened; inside the dilapidated main hall, firelight flickered, and the air carried the scent of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei sniffed, his eyes brightened, and he quickened his pace, shouting before even entering: \"Hey! You’re eating without waiting for me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s the rush?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sat on a stone, wiping his Guanshan knife. \"Autumn chickens are fat, sure, but they’re still dry—simmer longer till they’re tender.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all things on the road, meat was the least of his worries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary travelers hurried along; even if they spotted wild game by the roadside, they rarely caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these were no problems for Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sense of smell was extraordinary—he sensed anything approaching, and he’d acquired some flying daggers in Xianyang; often, while walking, he’d suddenly fling one, and dinner was secured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aroma from the big pot made everyone’s mouths water, yet no one dared lift the lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Young Master Li was fussy about food—if the fire wasn’t right, and someone lifted the lid too soon, he’d curse and rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei had to endure it too; after setting down the wine jars and side dishes, he sidled up to Li Yan and recounted the news he’d gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned: \"The bandits are preparing to avoid winter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei nodded: \"Most likely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young porter, curious, asked: \"Why avoid winter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veteran cart driver, Old Meng, couldn’t wait—he rushed to the wine jar, poured himself a bowl, drank deeply, then squinted: \"You don’t know this, traveling the Jianghu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Winters on the mountains are brutal. Especially here in Qinling—snow seals the passes, food and clothes run short, roads are cut off. The bandits can’t rob anyone. Staying up there? That’s not just foolish—it’s insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So every year at this time, they raid hard, split the silver, and scatter down the mountain. Some go home to see their mothers, some hide with old mistresses, some set up gambling dens in villages...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Each does his own thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come spring, the bandit chief gathers them again. Those who don’t show up get three cuts and six punctures. If someone dies in a fight, the rest come to avenge him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all that, they return to robbing the roads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young porter stared in shock: \"Go home to see their mothers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei snorted: \"Bandits aren’t born from rocks—they’ve got mothers. Some even have entire families to support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sometimes, if you notice a village’s bad seed suddenly claims he’s going into business elsewhere, only returning for New Year with money in hand—you can bet he’s a bandit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young porter finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then all eyes turned to Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The porters had assumed the decision-maker would be Sha Li-fei, with his Jianghu experience, or Wang Daoxuan, the steady elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But over these days, Li Yan had arranged everything flawlessly—they’d fully trusted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan pondered: \"We’ll decide when we reach Mount Zhongnan. The news about Niubeiliang’s bandits must have spread—let’s see how they react...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he suddenly frowned, looking toward the door: \"Someone’s coming. Many of them. Stay alert.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei grabbed his knife and rushed to the door, peered out, then shook his head: \"It’s these officials—they actually came!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recounted what he’d seen at the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan said nothing, turning to Wang Daoxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan shook his head: \"We’re all travelers. Why not make things easier? We’ll give them one room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the trio’s division of labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan handled threats, Wang Daoxuan mediated, and Sha Li-fei adapted—firm when needed, soft when required, always leaving room to maneuver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, as soon as they finished speaking, the middle-aged man named Feng Ping appeared at the door, bowing: \"Gentlemen, the wind and rain are fierce—could you spare one room?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. We’re reasonable people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made the decision, Sha Li-fei naturally played the good guy—he and the porters moved the belongings from the other room, then asked casually: \"We’ve got hot food here—want some?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, but no.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Ping bowed stiffly, face cold and solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei had only offered out of politeness; since they refused, he shrugged and turned back inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them leave, Feng Ping began directing others to light fires, then lifted the sedan curtain and carefully helped down an elderly man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was tall but stout, with white eyebrows and a long beard, his gaze calm, radiating an inexplicable aura of authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Madam, Miss, we’ve arrived,\" Feng Ping said, lifting the second sedan curtain. A dignified white-robed woman emerged, supporting an elderly woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group entered the side hall, looking at the room thick with dust. The old man sighed: \"Travel is hard—always inconveniences. Feng Ping, bring chairs for the Madam and Miss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And bring some pastries to the neighbors—maintain proper courtesy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man first carried out two small chairs from the sedan, then lifted a lacquered box, entering Li Yan’s room and bowing: \"Thank you, gentlemen. My master asked me to send you some pastries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Si Fang Zhai pastries?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei’s eyes lit up—he snatched the box: \"How can we accept this? Please thank your master for us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need for thanks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Ping nodded and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, look at their manners—definitely a wealthy household!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Li-fei praised as he opened the lacquered box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black lacquer box with red patterns was an ancient craft dating back to the Han—elegant and timeless. Inside, colorful pastries were neatly arranged, pleasing to the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Si Fang Zhai pastries...\" Sha Li-fei sighed nostalgically: \"These aren’t cheap—ten taels per box. Last time I had one was when I helped a wealthy Xianyang merchant with funeral arrangements—I just got a taste.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had eaten countless delicacies in his past life; though these looked pretty, he wasn’t impressed. He told everyone to share them, then stepped forward and lifted the pot lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, steam rose, and the aroma flooded the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a simple pot dish—chicken chopped, stir-fried with preserved vegetables, boiled with water and a pinch of salt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his extraordinary sense of smell allowed him to handle ordinary ingredients perfectly, controlling the fire with precision, unlocking their true flavors—making it delicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone, long impatient, rushed forward to ladle out big bowls, crumbling their dried bread into the hot broth, sipping wine, swallowing rice, squatting on the ground, slurping loudly, sweat pouring down their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, everyone went to sleep early. Though rain forced a temporary halt, all were seasoned travelers—they knew the road ahead was harsh and needed every moment of rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Wang Daoxuan and Li Yan sat by the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They planned to take turns meditating through the night—the one resting would guard and keep watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan took the second half of the night. After everyone slept, he sat cross-legged, visualizing his five organs and six viscera, then gathered the faint spiritual light in his mind into his third eye, entering deep meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a white glow expanded from his third eye, forming a figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After months of cultivation, the shape of his spirit was clearer—now faintly discernible, resembling a Dalaofashen, clad in a Daoist robe, seated on a lotus throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His facial features matched his own exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the deity Li Yan had visualized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Dalaofashen guarding his spirit from the start, not a speck of spiritual light was wasted. Without engaging in combat, his spiritual awareness remained unharmed—his progress was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time he reached Mount Taibai, his cultivation would be sufficient to build his tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To others, this seemed miraculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary cultivators, without a tower to anchor their spirit, would lose their spiritual light each night despite diligent practice—like a pool with water flowing in and leaking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this loss wasted immense time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had no such worry. Worse—he could transfer spiritual injuries to the Dalaofashen, preventing his cultivation from regressing after any battle, free of such constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, he felt no joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his dantian, upon the left palm of the Dalaofashen, the \"Gou Die\" mark had grown sharper, as if it had become a natural pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a relic from the Underworld!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That mysterious place even the Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao feared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he was a living Underworld official, would his secret be discovered...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The closer he came to Qinling, the more uneasy Li Yan felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, his daily spirit meditation ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan awoke—it was past midnight. The others slept, snoring loudly. The fire blazed, yet could not dispel the chill of the autumn rain-soaked night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Wang Daoxuan in meditation, Li Yan added more wood to the fire and sat before it, keeping watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he wasn’t idle—he took two books from his satchel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the *Pigua Quan Manual*, the other the *Qin-Han Drum Rhythms*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were gifts from Master Zhou of the Spring Wind Troupe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunlei Divine Drum was still a magical artifact; he carried it with him, slung over his horse’s back, and struck it at fixed times each day to train his hidden strength, his cultivation clearly growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to use it as a true artifact, random pounding wouldn’t do—he needed to align his spirit with the *Qin-Han Drum Rhythms* to unleash its full power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was the *Pigua Quan Manual*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several fierce battles in recent days had revealed his weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside the gap in cultivation, his martial technique had shown clear flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Fist style was agile, excelling in close-range deceptive strikes; thanks to his father’s training and his past-life experiences, he had devoted real effort to mastering deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deceptive striking meant combining deception with striking—hooking, trapping, entangling, sticking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results proved it: in battle with Zhou Bai, once he closed the distance, he felt no fear, often overcoming stronger foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial combat placed great emphasis on distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to his father’s plan, long-range combat relied on the Guanshan Quick Blade, while close-range combat used Red Fist deception—this allowed his combat power to rapidly take shape and earn him a reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it was no longer enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that Red Fist was weak—it was that each person’s temperament and physique differed. With a foundational style, absorbing other fist arts and unlocking one’s potential would let him go further in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, in his fight with the Iron Wire Fist man, he had no answer, forced to rely on petty cleverness and exploiting his opponent’s psychological flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, over these past months, Li Yan had grown taller again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fist techniques naturally needed to adapt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Pan had unusually long arms, so he chose the Tongbei Monkey Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His choice, however, was this *Pigua Quan*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pigua relied heavily on palms, hence also called *Pigua Palm*, excelling at mid-to-long-range combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It emphasized extending strikes—far away, strike long; close up, strike sharply—capable of retracting or extending, long or short, best at controlling spatial distance, enough to compensate for his shortcomings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the Cannon Fist from Red Fist, its power grew even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Choosing this path had another reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hidden strength he had previously trained was Red Fist’s Silk-Piercing Force, but now he cultivated the Divine Drum’s Yunlei Sound—powerful, fierce, with thunderous energy shaking all directions—his fist art must align with it, or he could never forge a true fist intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the night’s campfire, Li Yan studied the manual, sometimes falling into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was only a preliminary understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changing a fist art was like climbing to heaven; though he wasn’t completely overhauling his style, forming his own characteristics wouldn’t come overnight—he’d need to seek guidance from masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang’an was filled with experts; after the Qinling journey ended, he’d head there to find an old master skilled in Pigua…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, the night passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Daoxuan had predicted, the autumn rain had not ceased by dawn—it drizzled intermittently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transporting a coffin home carried a taboo: the coffin must not touch the ground. In this weather, even wrapped in oilcloth, the casket would inevitably get wet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the cart slipped or overturned, disaster would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone chopped wood, boiled water, and cooked porridge; a bowl of steaming rice porridge, eaten with yesterday’s leftovers, made them feel warmth rising through their bodies despite being in a derelict house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near noon, the autumn rain finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan stepped outside to check the weather, just as the neighbor also left his courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man stroked his beard, gazing into the distance at the green mountains encircling them and white mist swirling, his mood brightening as he laughed: “Fengping, do you know what road we’re on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qin-Chu Ancient Road.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s its origin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gazed afar and sighed: “The Qinling divides north and south—it is the central dragon vein among the Three Dragon Veins. Built in the Qin era, it stretched from Xianyang to the southern slopes of the Qinling, hence the name Zhongnan Mountain. Later generations extended it, eventually linking Qin and Chu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see,” the middle-aged guard exclaimed in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man shook his head again: “From ancient times, our ancestors carved paths through hardship, crossing heavenly chasms to connect the four directions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s the Ziwu Road, stretching from Chang’an to Hanzhong, Ankang, and Bashu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s the Luogu Road, descending through Zhouzhi’s West Luogu Valley to Hanzhong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s also the Baoxie Road, said to have been carved by Emperor Yu, plus the Chencang, Lanwu, Yigu, and Xigu Roads…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard of that one—secretly crossing Chencang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely. If ancient ancestors could do this, what fear should I have for a temporary setback? When I return to Fengyang, I’ll sleep on brushwood and taste gall, nurture the next generation of my clan, and wait patiently. In thirty years, won’t the scene be entirely different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the old man’s refined speech, Wang Daoxuan couldn’t help but feel fondness: “Esteemed elder, your insight is remarkable. We’re also heading to Fengyang—may I ask your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man paused, then said: “Since we’re traveling the same path, carrying the dead home, there’s no need to hide it—I am Lu Kang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and Sha Li-fei both looked at each other with strange expressions…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2553,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3ca969f09007e997adab5578d102922d4a60fae0e59dc05c5a856e6f352d7e12","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-95","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-93",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]