Knife splashing

Chapter 379 The aftermath
The Xiangyang Wharf is now crowded with people.

On the largest stone platform, Taoist priests from the City God Temple were performing a ritual. Amid the sound of sheng, flute, and drums, Taoist priests in robes were circling around a boat, holding tablets, whisks, incense burners and other items.

They stepped on the steps and chanted to the sound of music:
"Taiji divides the primordial energy, and the two yin and yang give rise to the four images.

The five elements are spread in all directions, and heaven and earth form their order.

The sun and the moon illuminate the universe, and yin and yang transform all things..."

What they sang was called Buxu Ci.

According to legend, when Cao Zhi, the Prince of Chensi, was hiking in the mountains, he suddenly heard the sound of scriptures being chanted in the air. The sound was clear, distant, and loud. People who understood music wrote it down and thought it was the voice of immortals.

The Taoist followed his example and composed the Buxu poem.

Its melody is ethereal, like immortals walking in the air. Taoists often chant it while walking around the altar or through flowers.

The small boat they were surrounding had its hull painted with all kinds of thunder and cloud symbols, decorated with colorful ribbons, and hung with lanterns.

There were also grains, tea, wine, rooster blood, and five straw men inside, with the names "Spring Plague Zhang Yuanbo", "Summer Plague Liu Yuanda", "Autumn Plague Zhao Gongming", "Winter Plague Zhong Rengui", and "General Manager of Plague Shi Wenye" ​​written on them.

This ritual is called Sending Away the Plague Ship.

This custom originated in Ezhou. Today, it has spread to all parts of China. Wherever there are rivers, it is held in the first month of the lunar year and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Now that the epidemic has just passed, there must naturally be a ceremony to send away the plague ship, so that the wharf will be officially opened and the people can rest assured.

Amid the curling green smoke, Taoists burned incense and prayed, asking the gods from all directions to clean the boats with pure water, serve tea, and burn notices to the gods.

Finally, the Taoists chanted together: "Set sail and beat the waves, and board the boat to the shore of Chu. Clap the gongs and beat the drums, and quickly return to the road to Luoyang..."

The waves splashed everywhere, and the plague ship was pushed into the river by the porters, with the sails blown against the wind, and flowed along the Han River.

As the ship left the dock, several Taoists held fire bells, chanted the Fire Bell Mantra, and made hand gestures together, pointing at the plague ship in the distance.

boom!
In an instant, fire broke out on the ship.

At the same time, alligators of all sizes appeared around the plague ship, stirring up waves and escorting the plague ship downstream.

When the people at the dock saw this, they all cheered in unison.

This plague happened to occur during a time of war in the southwest. Xiangyang City was relatively well off, but in Fancheng across the street, almost every household had someone in mourning.

Not to mention that some villages outside the city have become deserted.

The masters of Zhenwu Palace have all gone to Nanzhang and Baokang counties. Those who came to preside over the ceremony are ordinary Taoists from the City God Temple. It is hard to say how effective this ritual to send away the God of Plague will be.

But at times like this, it can undoubtedly soothe people's hearts.

As for the appearance of those alligators, arrangements had been made in advance.

This was the reward Li Yan received for accepting the mission in Xiangyang City. As long as the source of the plague was found, the government would help Master Tuo in his plan to confer the title of Water God.

There are already rumors among the people that the plague was resolved thanks to the great efforts of a crocodile god. Coupled with the scene of sending the plague ship away, the crocodile god will gradually be accepted by the people of Xiangyang.

Xiangyang is an important town on the Han River. As long as we can capture it, the gods will appear to rescue ships in distress on weekdays, and help the court in the battle in the southwest.

It was not difficult for Master Tuo to confer the title of water god of Han River.

"Open the dock!"

Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, the boatmen shouted in unison.

Ships of all sizes also untied their ropes.

The Xiangyang City Pier has finally reopened. I believe it won’t be long before it will return to its former bustling state…

…………

A group of people also gathered in a river near the pier.

The liver of the Donghu ancestor was roasted over a raging fire. Thick smoke billowed, and the white poisonous insects inside kept tumbling and popping, eventually turning into a ball of charcoal.

"Okay, that's almost it."

A middle-aged man in a Confucian robe spoke up and led his men to take the coke, pound it into powder, and then add other colorful minerals, grinding them into powder and mixing them.

As he operated, he explained: "This thing is called 'water Gu'. It has been passed down since ancient times. People who like to eat 'fish sashimi' are often infected with this Gu, and their stomachs become as big as drums. Taoist doctors call it 'Gu swelling disease'."

"But I have never seen such a powerful 'water Gu' in my life. If I am not mistaken, it is the 'Jiao Gu' mentioned by our ancestors."

"It is unlikely that using Gu Fang alone will work. Realgar, arsenic, and gallstones must be added to make it effective..."

The speaker was Li Facheng, the descendant of the Medicine Saint.

Not only was he proficient in Taoist medicine, he also became a disciple of the Meishan sect in order to collect medicinal materials. He was considered a true inheritor of the Saint of Medicine's sect.

The "Medicine Saint" has an outstanding reputation, but most of his direct descendants have become scholars and officials. Only people like Li Facheng are still running around to carry on the lost knowledge of the old sage.

He was the mastermind behind the Xiangyang plague and had even found clues, but unfortunately he was ambushed and kidnapped.

"Jiao Gu?"

Li Yan, who was standing beside him, heard this and frowned, "Did it come from the dragon?"

"Yes."

Li Facheng nodded and said, "As the saying goes, when water accumulates to form a deep pool, dragons will be born there. When there are 3,600 fish in the pond, a dragon will come to make it the leader. In the high mountains and lakes of Hubei and Hunan provinces, dragons often breed, and ordinary people rarely see them."

"If there is wind, thunder and rain, they will flow down the mountain torrents and enter the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. They will transform themselves with the energy of the wind and thunder dragon veins. This is called transformation into a dragon."

“If the Yangtze and Yellow rivers flow into the sea, they will transform into dragons. From then on, they can be large or small, or they can create clouds and rain, or they can gather dragon veins.”

"But the timing of transformation is very important. Some are trapped in a deep pool for life, and are called trapped dragons. If they can't get their vital energy flowing, they will breed 'dragon poison'."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and praised: "Fellow Daoist, you have great insight!"

Li Facheng shook his head and said, "These are all mentioned in the notes of our ancestors. He traveled all over China, and this is the first time I have seen him."

As he spoke, he poured honey into the mixed powder and rolled it into pills of different sizes. He then took out the largest ones and threw them into the water.

In the river, the crocodile master quickly opened his mouth and swallowed it, then twisted his body in pain, and dense white nematodes crawled out from his scales.

hum!
Lu San, who had been prepared, slapped the magic gourd, and a swarm of poisonous bees immediately rushed out and ate all the poisonous insects.

Last time, Li Yan and his team used the dried corpse of Fei Yi to remove the poison, which was very easy. But this time they didn't dare to do anything rash, so they asked Li Facheng for help.

Seeing the magic gourd devouring the Gu worm, Li Facheng looked on with envy, "Daoyou's magic weapon can be called the killer of Gu poison. Add these 'Jiao Gu Pills', and most Gu techniques can be resolved."

"The Jiao is a tyrant. No matter how rampant the Gu insects are, they can be forced out by taking a Jiao Gu Pill. I have an unwelcome request..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Yan said directly: "Sir, you practice medicine everywhere, so I will give you half of these things as a reward for this time."

"Thank you."

Upon hearing this, Li Facheng's face lit up with joy. "This thing is precious. There are Gu diseases in the south. With this medicine, I can feel much more relaxed. Please don't laugh at me."

"You are too polite, sir."

After a conversation, both sides had a good impression of each other.

Li Yan also wanted to make friends with this "Medicine Saint" who was a descendant of the Li family. Moreover, the other party had also been invited by Qiankun Academy, so they might become colleagues in the future.

After packing up his things, Li Facheng immediately bowed and said, "The matter in Xiangyang is settled. I will take my leave now." Li Yan was a little surprised, "So urgent?"

"no way."

Li Facheng shook his head and said, "In the forests of Jingchu, there are evil ways releasing poison everywhere to delay the army's route. The Yang family in Bozhou also has many poison experts. My elders asked me to follow the army and I cannot delay."

After saying this, he bowed and left quickly with his disciples.

Sharifei said with a click of his tongue: "The Five Dragons Palace has led people from Baokang to Shennongjia, and the army from Yunyang has gained the upper hand. It seems that the Tiansheng Sect will not be able to survive for much longer."

"hope so."

Li Yan nodded, then winked at Lu San.

Lu San understood what he meant and immediately stepped forward and started communicating with Master Tu in the upper language.

They did not stand idly by in helping Master Tu this time, but some things had to be clarified, otherwise there would be big trouble.

For example, whose idea was it for Master Tu to take advantage of the Wudang Mountain’s incense offerings?
Hearing Lu San's question, Master Crocodile was puzzled at first, then he fell into deep thought. He growled for a long time and then spit out something from his mouth.

Lu San turned around and said, "This matter is indeed strange."

"At that time, Brother Yan suggested that Master Tu take advantage of the chaos in the southwest to join Xuanmen Shintoism. After returning, he began to look for relevant methods."

"The Divine Palace of Lord Yunzhong will appear in certain places regularly. The methods of Master Tu's lineage all come from them. We should find an opportunity to offer sacrifices to him again."

"If you want to enter the Divine Palace of the Lord of the Clouds, you have to choose the right time. Most of the time it is difficult to get close, so you asked me for help last time."

“But this time, it entered easily, and only after obtaining this object did it know the method.”

Li Yan looked at the ground and saw a bunch of bamboo slips.

After he picked it up, he took a look at it and said, "Master, take a look."

Wang Daoxuan took it and opened it. "This bamboo slip is ancient in shape, simple and plain, with bold and vigorous strokes. It is similar to the combination of large seal script and official script of Qin and Han dynasties. It is a typical Chu bamboo slip."

"The only thing is this ink. It was written recently, especially since Zhenwu Palace has only just risen in this dynasty. But it is clearly written on it. It is obvious that someone deliberately gave it to Master Tu..."

When the crocodile master at the side heard this, he was also a little at a loss.

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "There are probably some old ghosts hiding in Yunzhongjun's palace. Now that humanity has changed, they have also started to think about it."

"Master Tuo, be more careful in the future and stop contacting them. Focus on cooperating with the court and seeking the position of the God of the Han River. Don't get involved in any trouble."

"We need to remember that as a secular god, the right thing to do is to benefit the people along the river. Just like Erlang Shen in Shu, the imperial court banned him many times, but in the end, they compromised and conferred titles many times."

“The court may rise and fall, but the people’s will is the key.”

"Also, if you are lucky enough to meet the water gods along the Yangtze River, whether it's the Goddess of Hanshui, the Goddess of Wushan, General Yangsi, or the True Lord of Qingyuan Miaodao, you must show your respect to them."

"We have already negotiated with the Zhenwu Palace. Go back and get the Xuanwu statue and exchange it for the dragon ball as soon as possible so that it can protect you in the battle in the southwest."

"Thank you..."

The crocodile master made a hoarse human voice, then swung his tail, dived into the river, swam towards the Han River and disappeared.

After Master Tu left, Sharifei smiled and said, "Brother Yan, Wu Dehai from the Duwei Division said he would like to invite us to dinner tonight and would like to introduce us to some officials from Xiangyang."

"Go ahead and deal with it."

Li Yan shook his head and said, "During this plague, Xiangyang was wiped out from top to bottom. Countless people had their homes confiscated and their families exterminated. Although they deserved to die, it is inevitable that some people hold grudges."

"We are considered outsiders. If we get too close to those officials, we will inevitably be taken advantage of. We just need to settle the matter of the Tuo Master and don't get involved in this mess."

"You go to the banquet, I'll go to the Ghost Buddha Temple. I'll leave Xiangyang in two days."

After making the plan, everyone separated immediately.

Sha Lifei, Wang Daoxuan and others returned to Xiangyang City, while Li Yan rode his horse alone towards the southeast.

The Ghost Buddha Temple was not far from Xiangyang City. Li Yan rode his horse and in less than two incense sticks of time he saw the abandoned temple.

Swish!
Suddenly, more than a dozen people rushed out from the dense forest. Some were Taoists, while others were wearing black martial robes. They were the people from the Xiangyang Law Enforcement Hall and the Duwei Division.

"I have met Mr. Li."

The Taoist leader immediately clasped his fists and saluted.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Li Yan asked, "Has anyone come recently?"

The leading Taoist shook his head and said, "We have been guarding here for several days, but we still haven't seen the demon come to make contact. Most of them have given up."

"However, in the past two days, every midnight, there were candlelights floating in the temple, and the sound of monks chanting. According to the instructions of the layman, we did not enter, and we don't know what happened."

"Oh?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go and see if there's a quiet place tonight. I'll meditate and practice first."

"Please follow me, layman."

Both the Taoist priests from the Law Enforcement Hall and the Commandant General were quite polite.

Li Yan's team has become very famous in Ezhou recently. As soon as they came down the mountain, they eliminated the plague and slayed the demon, and almost everyone knows it.

Due to their strength, all parties are more polite towards them.

Soon, Li Yan was taken to a separate tent in the dense forest, and the people around him were tactful enough to disperse and not disturb him.

After Li Yan sat down in the tent, he unloaded his bag and took out a bunch of things from it, including copper coins and brocade boxes.

This is the spoils of war from the Battle of Danshan.

After coming out, they hurriedly helped Master Crocodile to remove the poison, and only now did they have time to take a careful inventory.

The first is the winning money.

The collection of the Donghu ancestor over the years is naturally extraordinary. Among them are many unique pieces, which Wang Daoxuan has carefully selected.

All of these are Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coins, more than seventy in total. Together with the ones Li Yan originally had, they made up exactly eighty-one.

With so many Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coins gathered together, the murderous aura immediately overflowed, and even the Taoists from the Law Enforcement Hall who were guarding in the distance felt a chill on their backs.

However, a trace of regret flashed across Li Yan's eyes.

The Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coins were forged by the demon soldiers of the previous dynasty. They are the weapons of the grandmasters. If one can gather 108 of them, one can create an amazing magical weapon.

Now there are eighty-one of them, which is not bad, and it just coincides with the number of ninety-nine. But Li Yan has no idea what to make.

If it is made into a money whip, it can be used to restrain...

If it is made into a gold and silver armor, it can resist evil spells...

But he has the Dust-Breaking Knife, the Soul-Breaking Flying Knife, the Soul-Catching Thunder Rope, and the Earth Dragon Armor, which are enough for both attack and defense.

At this moment, Li Yan suddenly had an idea and took out the certificate from his arms. He concentrated his mind and suddenly five black air rushed out and turned into small flags, hovering above the certificate.

This treasure is the biggest gain of this time.

Five-sided Luofeng flag!
　Second update in the afternoon
　　
　
(End of this chapter)