Knife splashing

Chapter 418 Strange Girl
"It must be the Saltwater Tribe!"

"Clipper Zhang" on the side swallowed his saliva and said, "I have seen the salt pond of the Ba people. It is completely different from this place. The 'guest in the fog' must be the wronged soul of the dead saltwater tribe..."

His voice trembled a little. He felt scared when he thought about how he was recklessly delivering goods through this secret passage.

After saying that, he glanced at the side inadvertently, his eyes suddenly widened, and he walked to a zombie in three or two steps, and whispered: "Isn't this Yang Heigou, how did he become like this?"

All the zombies in the salt pond ruins have been killed.

There are many kinds of zombies, all of which are born with evil energy. They can be formed by wax seals, corpse-raising grounds, poisonous insects, the barking of cats and dogs... many situations.

Although this kind of salted food is rare, Li Yan didn't care about it. However, he didn't expect that he was an acquaintance of "Clipper Zhang".

"Seniors know each other?"

"Ah."

"Fast Boat Zhang" nodded and said, "This man is called Yang Heigou, a member of the Shuzhong Salt Gang. He often travels around the border between Sichuan and Hubei. He is also familiar with me. I was entrusted by him to deliver the goods through this secret passage."

As he spoke, he sighed, "He is also an old man in the underworld, and he has his own way of doing things. I didn't expect him to die here."

Sharifei shook his head and said, "If you walk too much on the night road, you will inevitably encounter ghosts. If you transport goods from here, you will get into trouble sooner or later."

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "I'm afraid it's not that simple!"

Then, in the surprised gaze of everyone, he came to the cliff near the altar and pulled aside the dense vines, revealing a cave.

Everyone came forward to watch.

The cave was not big. Sharifei held up a torch and shone it inside. He was immediately surprised and asked, "Why are there two girls lying there?"

There were two girls lying on the ground in the cave, about seven or eight years old, wearing embroidered clothes and blue scarves on their heads, typical attire for Yi girls.

They have fair skin, black hair, and are as pretty as white porcelain dolls. They are twins and are very pleasing to look at.

However, both girls were tied up with hemp ropes, their lips were pale, and they were dying.

"Master, please save them!"

Li Yan's expression became solemn.

The clothes of the two girls were embroidered with golden phoenixes circling in a circle, which looked abstract and simple.

It was exactly the same as the phoenix gold ornament he had found!
…………

"Master, a small token of my appreciation..."

"No, no, no."

"Don't look down on the country folks because they are poor."

"Master, this is the bacon that was just made this year..."

The Zhang family mansion was bustling with people, all of them were folks from Jinyangping.

Fortunately, Li Yan and his men rescued them in time. Although these people were confronted with evil spirits, it was not fatal and they just needed to rest for a period of time.

The villagers were simple and honest, and they vied with each other to send the best things from their homes.

The villagers were cunning and tried to find ways to ask them to look at their feng shui.

Even with the sand flying, it was still a bit difficult to cope with.

However, inside the Zhang family mansion, it was a tragic scene. Zhang Linsheng could not be saved after all, and his soul had been devoured, so the funeral went on as usual.

"Country Husband" Xie Chengzu was lucky. Although he suffered a stroke, he only had a crooked mouth and eyes and drooled when he spoke, but his legs and feet were still agile.

But this kind of situation will have nothing to do with the practice in the future.

The Zhang family lost a large sum of money, and when something happened to the opera troupe, they had no intention of staying any longer and simply left Jinyangping.

"Have you thought about it?"

Inside the main room, "Clipper Zhang" asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Sibei nodded and said, "I've thought about it. My father didn't pass down any tricks to hide the treasure, so it's meaningless to stay here. I plan to sell my property and go to Xiangyang to do some small business..."

Having said that, the real reason was that I was scared.

Some rural ghost stories are the subject of conversation after dinner, but if you really encounter them, few people can face them calmly.

Xiangyang is a big city and is protected by the City God Temple, so such incidents are relatively rare.

"Alright."

"Clipper Zhang" said in a deep voice: "I know some people in Xiangyang. I will introduce them to you and then we can open a shop..."

The Zhang family's uncle and nephew were discussing the future in the front room, while Li Yan and others were waiting in the backyard.

Lu San had already woken up, but his soul was injured and his face was still pale. He asked weakly, "Brother Yan, are you sure?"

"It should be right."

Li Yan took out the phoenix gold ornament from his arms and said thoughtfully: "This is the Chu Wu Ling, the symbol of the Chu Wu organization 'Si Ming Hui'. I checked carefully and they are exactly the same."

"These two girls were kidnapped by someone, most likely the Salt Gang. Although we don't know what they are up to, the two girls were not harmed by the 'Mist Man', so their identities must be extraordinary."

"Long Linzi said that there is also a Chu Wu lineage in Wushan, and they rarely see outsiders. These two girls may be the clue."

"If we can find it, maybe your inheritance can be completed, and I also have some questions that can be answered..."

What he was talking about was the Shengang.

This special kind of energy can strengthen the soul-catching rope, and a stable channel is to complete the task of capturing evil spirits in the underworld.

But this item is also mentioned in the Chu Wu Ling.

However, the orthodox lineage of the Xuanmen sect has never been seen.

Li Yan had a feeling that this thing was very important to him...

squeak~
At this moment, the wooden door opened, and Wang Daoxuan came out carrying a medicine box, smiling and saying, "It's okay, let the kitchen make some porridge."

Soon, the Zhang family cooked two bowls of porridge.

The two girls had been hungry for several days and obviously could not eat big fish and meat, so they could only be fed with thin porridge to gradually restore their stomach energy.

The two of them lay in bed, and even though they were extremely hungry, they drank their porridge quietly without crying or making a fuss.

The two little girls who looked like porcelain dolls were so cute that everyone loved them. Zhang Sibei's wife even fed them herself. After feeding them, her face was filled with tears of heartache. As soon as she left the house, she started cursing: "What a beast! He even tied up the children..."

After drinking the porridge, the two girls felt a little more energetic.

Sharifi leaned forward and said, "Kid, where are you from?"

Looking at his ferocious face, the two girls were suddenly filled with fear.

"Go, go, go... the Taoist priest is here to ask."

Li Yan pushed Sharifei away.

For this kind of thing, Wang Daoxuan is the best choice. He looks like an immortal, speaks in a gentle and courteous manner, and everyone thinks he is a good person.

Finally, the two girls said timidly:

"My name is Wu Chaoyun."

"My name is Wu Xingyu."

"We live in Dachang County with my mother-in-law."

"Good children, go to sleep first, and then I will take you home to find grandma..."

After some consolation, the two girls fell into a deep sleep, and everyone tiptoed out of the room.

"I know about Dachang City."

As soon as we arrived at the courtyard, "Fast Boat Zhang" said, "It's in nearby Wushan County. It's only half a day's journey across the Little Three Gorges."

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "That's great, let's go for a walk later."

As he said this, he looked at Wang Daoxuan who was frowning beside him.

"Master, is there something wrong?"

Wang Daoxuan shook his head, stroked his beard and said, "These two girls' names are quite interesting."

"In the past, King Xiang of Chu and Song Yu traveled to Yunmeng Terrace. In Song Yu's "Gaotang Fu", he wrote that a woman claimed to be on the south side of Wushan Mountain, blocked by high hills, and that she was morning clouds in the morning and rain in the evening..."

"Chao Yun and Xing Yu are referring to the Goddess of Wushan!"

…………The river is surging and the cliffs on both sides are towering.

The ancient and steep winding mountain road was shrouded in clouds and mist. Two rows of men were carrying heavy stones and walking on the dangerous mountain road.

As they walked, they sang the workers' song:

"Yo~ yeah~ yo ho~ hi~
Don't panic, man.
Man, what do you say?
The number is shouting yoyo

Guys, lift the stone.

Keep your feet steady..."

The singing style is simple and rich, echoing among the mountains. As it is obscured by clouds and mist, it becomes a little unclear when it reaches the river below.

The macaques in the mountains followed the calls and ran around everywhere.

The river flows at the foot of the mountain, and boats of all sizes cruise slowly.

Li Yan stopped on one of the pleasure boats and watched.

"Clipper Zhang" next to him said, "Young Master Li, look, that's the Goddess Peak over there."

"Where? Where?"

Upon hearing this, Sharifei and others also ran out of the cabin.

Li Yan also looked up, but unfortunately, the weather was gloomy and the mountains were covered in thick fog, so he could only see vague shadows.

“I can’t see anything here!”

Sharifei shook his head and said, "Brother Zhang, are you playing?"

"Hahaha…"

Clipper Zhang pulled at his sweatshirt and said, "The weather has been bad these days. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until the sun comes out after a heavy rain before we can see clearly."

"If you don't mind, the goddess is hiding her face, deep in the clouds, that's the Goddess Peak. If the sun comes out, it's too clear. What's the difference between it and an ordinary mountain?"

"Yo!"

Sha Lifei raised his eyebrows and said, "Brother Zhang, you are a man who has been through thick and thin, and has always been a tough guy. How come you have the same problem of being poor as those scholars?"

"Ah~"

"Speedboat Zhang" sighed, "Maybe I'm getting old. When I used to travel this waterway, I was just rushing back and forth, and I missed a lot of things."

"Now, I suddenly want to slow down, find a place to drink some tea, and spend my days leisurely. It's time to retire from society."

"master!"

The disciple next to him was very anxious, his face full of disbelief.

"What are you yelling about..."

Clipper Zhang glared at him and said, "I am already so old, am I still going to follow you guys?"

"I have already decided to send Young Master Li to Shuzhong. We will return to Xiangyang and settle down soon. As for whether you will be called 'Fast Boat Li' or 'Fast Boat Zhao' in the future, it all depends on your ability!"

"It's master."

The disciples gritted their teeth and dared not say anything more.

Sharifei stroked his bald head and said with a smile: "The story of Jianghu will always come to an end. Brother Zhang should retire when it's time. There's nothing you can't let go of..."

"Yes."

"Clipper Zhang" nodded in agreement, then suddenly pointed to the opposite side and whispered: "Everyone, the Lingyun Temple is up there, do you want to..."

He knew that the "Guest in the Mist" was the one who escaped from Lingyun Temple, and was now suppressed in a jar by Li Yan and others and placed on the boat.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and shook his head, saying, "Lingyun Temple has been destroyed. I don't know who did it. There are many masters hidden in Wushan. There is no need to create trouble and find another place to suppress them."

"Row."

"Fast Boat Zhang" didn't ask any more questions, but pointed ahead, "After this fork in the road, Wushan County is on the other side."

"Go north along the Daning River and through the Little Three Gorges, and you will reach Dachang City. Do you want to rest or continue on your journey?"

"Just keep on your way."

Li Yan turned his head and glanced at the cabin, "Get there early to avoid worrying the child's family."

Inside the cabin, the twin girls sat quietly, their big eyes looking around from time to time but not moving.

The little white fox on the seventh day of the lunar month, the hawk on the beginning of winter, and even the rat on the second day of the lunar month all had a liking for the girl. They came close to her, showing their bellies, rolling around, and trying to make her happy.

Li Yan's eyes twitched, and he looked at Lu San beside him and whispered, "I'm afraid these two girls are more talented than you."

Along the way, they have discovered something strange.

These two girls are very smart and sensible, and they attract the favor of animals. When they were going down the mountain, there was even a tiger secretly following them and watching over them.

Lu San also looked solemn, "Chu Qi said that she likes these two girls very much and wants to stay with them."

"Brother Yan, do you think it could be..."

Li Yan was silent for a moment, "It's hard to say."

What Lu San meant was that these two girls were most likely the reincarnations of something. After all, they knew some things, and even Yun Zhongjun was plotting to reincarnate and become a god.

These two girls have amazing talents, their names also have deep meanings, and they are also related to Chu Wu. It's too much of a coincidence...

…………

It was already noon when we passed Wushan County.

The pleasure boat did not dock, but turned north, entered the Daning River and continued moving forward.

What they didn't realize was that on the dock, several figures stared at them stealthily, then quickly left, with a pigeon delivering a message...

After entering the Daning River and passing the Longmen Gorge, the waterway immediately becomes narrower, with towering mountains on both sides and surrounded by clouds and fog, making it impossible to see the sky.

"The Wu Gorge is the longest of the three gorges in Badong. The three cries of apes make me cry."

Although the scenery before them did not evoke anyone's homesickness, it was indeed eerie and strange.

Surrounded by clouds and mist, one can often see the Ba people's hanging coffins and cliff burials on the cliffs. There are even a few small boat-shaped coffins that are vaguely visible in the thick fog.

The monkey's cry was shrill, and it seemed that something would jump out of it at any time.

"Tsk, tsk."

Sharifei shook his head and said, "I can't understand why they went through so much trouble to hang the coffin up there, exposed to the wind, sun and rain..."

Wang Daoxuan smiled and said, "First, it is to take advantage of the dragon energy of the Yangtze River. Second, it is also said to help you get promoted, get rich, and get a high position and generous salary."

"Everyone, stop talking for now."

"Speedboat Zhang" suddenly spoke up, looked around and whispered, "Something is wrong. There are two ships that have been following us since they left Wushan County."

Sharifei remained calm and turned his head to take a look. "Brother Zhang, I don't know much about this business on the water. How did you figure it out?"

"Speedboat Zhang" said in a deep voice: "Those two are speedboats, but they deliberately slowed down. At this distance, they can either escape or chase."

"Also, the other ships are gone. I'm afraid someone is intercepting them ahead. You guys should act accordingly."

"Zhu Zi, be alert."

"Yes, master."

After "Fast Boat Zhang" gave some instructions, the atmosphere on the ship immediately became tense, and his disciples also secretly took out their bows and arrows.

Li Yan winked and Lu San whistled softly. The falcon Lidong immediately flapped its wings and circled up and down in the air.

"There is a ship intercepting us ahead!" Lu San whispered.

Sharifi was amused. "Could it be that we ran into some blind pirates? This is the first time we have encountered such a thing on this journey."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Not a pirate."

He didn't say much, but after turning the corner, Sharifei immediately understood why.

They saw a large ship parked on the river, obviously waiting for them, and there were two iron chains as thick as arms nailed to the cliffs on both sides.

Sharifei's eyelids twitched. "Iron Chains Across the River, what a big move."

"Clipper Zhang" looked at the opposite sail with a serious look in his eyes, "Everyone, we are in big trouble, it's the Sichuan Salt Gang!"

(End of this chapter)