Knife splashing

Chapter 245 Full Moon Wine

The rain continued to fall, dripping on the window sill.

Li Yan sat in front of the window, holding a teacup, somewhat absent-minded.

Yu Lingzi's words touched his heart.

Let’s not talk about the gods for now.

These things are like myths.

No, it's a myth!

Even if he had entered the mysterious world and learned some miraculous magic, it was still completely beyond his comprehension and there was no point in thinking more.

The key nowadays is still strength.

Humanity is changing, China is in turmoil, and all kinds of demons and monsters are reviving. If you don't have any tricks up your sleeve, you will probably be in trouble in the end.

The Soul-Catching Rope is indeed powerful.

Because of this magical power, he can kill masters one after another, no matter if the opponent is a martial arts master or a third-level sorcerer.

But its limitations also emerged.

If the enemy has magical weapons to protect himself, it will be difficult to suppress his soul.

It’s not that the soul-stealing rope is not sharp.

Rather, the power of supernatural powers relies on one’s practice of Taoism.

Those ghost soldiers in the underworld also used soul-catching chains, but whether it was the old beggar in Xiling Gorge or the "Red Girl", they had no resistance and their souls were directly hooked away.

His Taoism is average, so his magical powers are naturally not strong either.
The use of a warrant to summon ghost soldiers from the underworld is indeed a killer move.

At least for now, no one can resist.

But as Yulingzi said, this technique is not invincible.

The Taixuan Orthodox Sect can summon soldiers from heaven, who are even stronger than the ghost soldiers from the underworld, but they are still unable to do anything to the demons.

Of course, summoning ghost soldiers from the underworld can also improve your status. Just like the soldiers in the underworld have guardian generals, the underworld also has guardian generals.

It was the divine general who personally stepped in to suppress the evil spirit in Shangjin Town.

But if you want to summon, the conditions may be more stringent.

But this thing is an external force after all, and there will be ways to break it.

Just like when he encountered the "Red Girl", one lured the enemy while the other attacked with the magic fire spear. Before he could summon the ghost soldiers, his chest was shattered.

Under normal circumstances, he would have died.

But these people could not calculate that he also had a Daluo Dharma body.

Also, the demon who possessed Liu Danqiu was a disciple of Tongtian Sanniang.

Zhao Changsheng’s real identity should not be Tongtian Sanniang, but since he can command these people, he is probably at least a master of the same level.

The ghost soldiers from the underworld might be useless to him.

At the critical moment, you have to rely on yourself!

He is now at the second level of Taoism and can learn "Northern Emperor's Mysterious Water Escape" and "Northern Emperor's Disaster-eliminating Technique".

One is a life-saving escape technique, and the other is used to break free from curses, calamities, and possession by evil spirits.

I have only mastered the "Xuanshui Dun" initially and am still learning the "Quyao Shu". To put it bluntly, they are both auxiliary techniques.

To practice more powerful techniques, one needs to go to the third floor.

He is currently concentrating his mind, but has not yet reached the requirements for building a building, otherwise he would have gone to Mount Wudang long ago.

Other means must be found.

Thinking of this, Li Yan raised his hand and looked at his palm. He just made a hand gesture, and immediately there was a crackling sound and flashes of lightning between his fingers.

This is "The Northern Emperor's Thunder Hand".

He practiced frequently and had become more and more proficient at it. He could use it directly by just making a gesture.

When this method is integrated into martial arts, it is called martial arts.

But Yin Lei is only good at hurting the soul. It is useless when encountering a master with a strong soul and the protection of magical weapons.

The only chance is to learn Yang Lei.

Yu Lingzi said that those monsters were killed by Master Sa Tianshi using thunder magic. Judging from various signs, Master Sa Tianshi is also a deity and has succeeded.

Master Sa Tianshi came from the Shenxiao School and later became the founder of the Xihe School. He was famous for his thunder magic and wrote "The Theory of Thunder", "The Secret Method of the Inner Tiangang", "Continuation of the Theory of Wind, Rain, Thunder and Lightning", etc.

Ordinary palm yang thunder is probably not as good as the "Northern Emperor's Yin Thunder Hand". Practicing them at the same time will cause an imbalance between yin and yang.

If the thunder method goes wrong, it can directly hurt yourself.

However, the thunder techniques of several factions of Taixuan Orthodox Sect are all unique and secret. They are the foundation of the sect and will not be easily passed on to outsiders.

His martial arts method is based on Pi Gua Hong Quan and practiced with Dayun Lei Yin. Practicing both Yin and Yang thunder together will surely bring him extraordinary power.

The only thing missing now is a Yang Lei.

Also, weapons can be upgraded.

At this point, he no longer cared about the court's taboos. After being shot, he realized the power of the Divine Fire Gun.

The Divine Fire Gun that Sharifei got was too big and not suitable for him. It would be better for him to get a Divine Fire Pistol so that it could exert its power in close combat.

Similarly, there are drawings and materials.

The only thing missing is a powerful Xuanmen craftsman.

Including the earth dragon scales and bones they obtained on Qinglong Mountain in Yunyang City, they are still in the City God Temple and cannot be used.

Yang Lei Fa, a powerful Taoist craftsman.

That’s their next goal!
……

Boom boom boom!
Just as Li Yan was deep in thought, there was a knock on the door.

He frowned slightly, stood up and opened the door.

Several people are now temporarily staying at Changfeng Inn, which is considered an official inn. Most of the people staying here are court officials.

And the smell outside the door was clearly that of a stranger.

Sure enough, after opening the door, there stood an unfamiliar middle-aged man outside. He was dressed in a Confucian scholar's robe, and his expression seemed familiar.

"But Young Master Li."

The man smiled and bowed respectfully, "My name is Yan Wuyue, and I am Brother Jiuling. I have come to invite Young Master Li to the banquet."

"Oh?"

Li Yan suddenly realized, "It turned out to be Brother Yan."

Yan Jiuling said that he had an elder brother named "Wu Yue" and a younger sister named "Liu Ya".

Jiuling means longevity and good fortune, Wuyue means moderation and joy, Liuya means contentment and elegance, all of which are auspicious names.

Didn’t he run to Hankou?

Suddenly invited to dinner...

Li Yan suddenly thought of a possibility, his eyes lit up, "Is the imperial examination in the capital over?"

Yan Wuyue burst out laughing, "No, Young Master Li forgot that the palace examination will be held next year."

"This time it was my son's full moon. My father and mother heard that Young Master Li had returned, so they specially asked me to come and invite him."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply again, his eyes reddened, "I would also like to thank you, Young Master Li. If it weren't for you, my parents might have been killed."

"Brother Yan, please don't be so polite."

Li Yan quickly stopped him and said with a smile: "Brother Jiuling and I are of the same mind. It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning."

"Since it's a happy event, it's natural for us to come and ask for a glass of water and wine."

After saying that, he called Sha Lifei, Wang Daoxuan and Lu San together, just in time for a feast before leaving.

On the way, Li Yan couldn't help but ask, "Aren't Brother Yan's family in Hankou? Why are you back?"

Yan Wuyue shook his head and sighed, "I originally thought that my father was worrying too much, but I didn't expect those people to really dare to do it. When we heard the news, we rushed back immediately."

"I won't leave this time no matter what. Whatever happens, we have to face it together as a family. Even if we die, we have to die together."

"And Hankou isn't necessarily safe either. The entire Miao region might be in turmoil this time."

Li Yan frowned slightly, "Something happened in Hankou as well?"

Yan Wuyue nodded and said, "Zigui County was attacked, and the Ezhou army is mainly stationed in Yunyang Prefecture. The imperial army has not yet arrived, so we can only withdraw the garrisons in Hankou and Xiangyang."

"In order to delay the army, some chieftains in Miaojiang hired a large number of gangsters and evil sorcerers to cause trouble in Dongting Lake in Hankou, and the gangsters in Ezhou fought back."

"Right now, it's peaceful over there during the day, but at night, all kinds of strange things happen, and people are dying everywhere..."

"Not only that, I also heard some news. Because the imperial army is mainly stationed along the Yangtze River, the inland defense is inevitably somewhat empty. Some bandits also took advantage of the situation to cause chaos, rob people on the road, and harass nearby villages in an attempt to disperse the imperial army."

"Nowadays, all the land and mountain roads in Ezhou are not peaceful..."

"I see." Li Yan nodded and looked at each other with Sharifei.

Next, they will head to the Zigai Cave, a blessed place in Dangyang County, to investigate the strange happenings at the Taixuan Orthodox Taoist Temple there.

This was the case that had been promised to Gu Hanzi of Yunyang City God Temple. Because of the Zigui County incident, it had been delayed for several days and could not be put off any longer.

During this trip, we will pass through many mountain roads.

Looks like we need to be more careful on this road...

…………

When we arrived at Yan's house, it was already bustling with noise.

The Yan family was recognized by the emperor for its "Ten Strategies for Securing the Country" and has become the banner of the Confucian scholars in Ezhou.

There was even news that the imperial court wanted to posthumously confer the title of Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy on Yan Jiuling's late grandfather.

Originally, the scholars of the Hanlin Academy only helped the emperor draft imperial edicts. However, after the position of prime minister was abolished in the Daxuan Dynasty, the grand secretaries of the Hanlin Academy gradually became involved in political decision-making.

Today, many cabinet ministers come from the Hanlin Academy.

The emperor's move was clearly intended to make the opening of the sea and the transformation of the natives into Han Chinese completely a national policy in order to shut up the opposition.

Whether the Yan family likes it or not, they have been pushed into this position, and more and more scholars and officials come to visit them.

In addition, Lei Zhen, a big shot in the Ezhou underworld, also resides in Yan's mansion.

The other party has taken strong control of the Yichang Shenquan Club, and almost all the nearby martial arts sects are under its command and cooperate with the court's offensive.

Therefore, the Yan family no longer had the peace they once had.

When Li Yan and others arrived, the place was already full of guests.

As soon as they arrived, they attracted a lot of people's attention. Some Confucian scholars frowned slightly, unable to hide the surprise in their eyes.

Yan Wuyue left suddenly. I thought he was going to invite some important person, but unexpectedly he just invited a few people from the underworld.

Considering the current status of the Yan family, this matter is probably inappropriate.

However, something even more surprising happened to them.

Yan Boyan, the head of the Yan family, and his first wife actually came out to greet them in person, and their words were full of intimacy.

"Meet Uncle Yan and Auntie."

"Don't be so polite. We have heard about what happened in Zigui County. And, kid, why don't you come to eat when you come?"

"Just arrived yesterday."

Before he finished speaking, two more people came out to greet him.

One is Yulingzi, the priest of City God Temple.

Everyone knows that although the Yichang City God Temple is in a state of decline and its walls were smashed by rioters last time, its importance will increase as the imperial army is stationed there.

There is another one, who is the commander of the Siyuan Commandery.

This former captain was a prominent figure in Yichang recently. He suddenly took action, uncovered several traitors in the captain's office, obtained a lot of important intelligence, and wiped out the secret hall of the Longxiang Army in Yichang.

The Yunyang Prefecture was furious and directly dismissed the Yichang Chief of Staff from his post and escorted him, along with a group of traitors, to Yunyang for trial.

The former captain took control of the power of the Yichang Duwei Division.

As soon as he took office, he took drastic measures. He cleaned up the Yichang Garrison, dismissed all those who were just waiting to die, and promoted the best soldiers at the bottom.

The atmosphere in Yichang changed and efficiency improved accordingly. With the cooperation of Lei Zhen, almost all the nearby rebel strongholds were eliminated.

Everyone knows that this former captain has a bright future. If he makes great contributions after the war in the southwest, he will definitely be transferred to the capital to take up a post.

So many people came to greet us.

He is definitely not an ordinary person in the world!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Yan and others suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. They didn't like the feeling of attracting attention.

Fortunately, Yan Boyan, Yulingzi and Yuan Qianhu were all smart people. After a few casual greetings, they led the few people to the backyard and sat alone.

As soon as they left, many people started whispering to each other.

All those present were prominent figures in Yichang Prefecture, and many of them were well-informed, so a lot of information was gradually pieced together.

The chivalrous hero from Guanzhong, who kept his promise and sent medicine over a thousand miles, strangled the elite of the Longxiang Army, and defeated the Ghost Cult of Zigui with his wits...

Many people were stunned by these stories.

After all, they lived a stable life. Even if there was war in the southwest, they stayed safely in the city. At most, the family business would be damaged.

These things sound just like the stories of Tang Qixia.

When they arrived at the backyard, Yan Boyan and his wife settled them down and then went to the front yard to greet the guests.

As soon as they left, Yu Lingzi stroked his beard and smiled, "Young Master Li, I already have some idea about the matter you asked about."

"Oh?"

Li Yan's eyes lit up, "Master, please speak."

Yu Lingzi smiled and said, "Just a few days ago, in Wuchang Prefecture, some mountain people from the Bibao clan discovered an ancient mine pit from the Western Zhou Dynasty."

"The mine is unfathomable, strange things happen one after another, and treasures from heaven and earth appear one after another. There are also many smelting secrets from the ancient Zhou Dynasty that are recorded in the mine."

"This incident has caused a sensation in the Xuanmen. Many Xuanmen craftsmen rushed there overnight and set up camp outside the mine. There are many masters among them."

"On ordinary days, these great craftsmen of the Xuanmen hide in various places, and it is rare for them to gather together. If you go there, you may be able to find a suitable craftsman."

"real!"

Sharifei was very excited when he heard this.

Yu Lingzi laughed dumbly, "Why would I lie to you? Many people in the Xuanmen have heard the news and have gone there. If it weren't for the current situation, I'm afraid many disciples from my Zhenwu Palace would have gone there to join in the fun."

Li Yan also smiled, "Okay, after we finish the matter at Zigai Cave, we will set off immediately!"

The former captain beside him also raised his glass, "Young Master Li, without further ado, I'll toast you a glass."

Li Yan raised his glass in response, and both sides expressed their views without saying a word.

After drinking the wine in the cup in one gulp, Yuan Qianhu said in a deep voice: "I have heard some rumors about that matter, but I am afraid it will take some time."

"The battle in the southwest is approaching. I will set off tomorrow and personally lead my men into Miao territory to clear the way for the army."

"If you are still alive after this, help Young Master Li do this."

"Not urgent."

Li Yan toasted again and said seriously, "My Lord, be careful."

"Hahaha…"

The former captain smiled and said, "A real man should make great achievements and die on the battlefield. I have wasted many years not just to catch a few thieves."

"Dry!"

"Dry!"

Everyone stopped talking nonsense and drank heavily.

"My lords."

At this moment, the servant came running over with a happy face to announce, "The young master is going to have his hair shaved for the full moon. The master invites everyone to come and watch the ceremony."

"Okay, okay, let's go together!"

Everyone walked towards the front yard with smiles on their faces.

According to the custom in Ezhou, when a child is one month old, he or she must have his or her hair shaved. On this day, a barber will be invited and guests will be entertained.

There are some rules to shaving your head when it’s the full moon day.

The first rule is to shave all the hair off, even the eyebrows, because children who don't shave their eyebrows will grow up to be short-sighted and steal things.

The second one is to calculate the taboos of birth. If one's horoscope is weak and easily frightened, one should leave a tuft of "tile hair" on the forehead, which means that the person is cheap and easy to support.

Of course, the grandson of the Yan family was a tough guy, so soon, amid the laughter of everyone, his eyebrows and hair were shaved cleanly.

"Wow! Wow!"

Amid the child's crying, the barber smiled and rolled a boiled and peeled egg over the child's head, chanting:
"One roll means eternity, two rolls mean eternity, three rolls mean brotherhood in Peach Garden, four rolls mean wealth for four seasons, five rolls mean five sons will pass the imperial examinations..."

"Everyone, everyone!"

Yan Boyan motioned for everyone to be silent, then sighed, "A few days ago, the Yan family suffered a great disaster, and Wu Yue and the others were driven away to Hankou by me."

"I was not around when the child was born, and he hadn't even been named yet. Today is the full moon, and I have to send him to the City God Temple to 'entrust his name'. I can't delay any longer."

As he said that, he turned his head to look at Li Yan and said with a smile: "Young Master Li, you saved my wife and solved the difficulties of my Yan family. You can be regarded as a noble of my Yan family. This name is for you to choose."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone put the child in Li Yan's arms.

Holding this new life, Li Yan was a little stunned at first, then his face became solemn. Thinking of the current chaos in the southwest, he couldn't help but blurt out:
"Let's call this child Dingguo!"

　Two updates today

　　
　
(End of this chapter)