Knife splashing

Chapter 508 Baixi Village

Those who come to the earth secretly.

This was not the first time Li Yan had heard of this.

This has happened in history, with fairies and gods descending to earth. Many of these stories are true and false, and perhaps they have prototypes.

But the "Heavenly Laws" are stricter than the "Yin Laws".

Once you come down to the earth without permission, you will be struck by five thunders.

Therefore, the endings of some folk stories about immortals who want to descend to the mortal world are usually not very happy.

Therefore, those who descend to the mortal world commit far fewer sins than those who return to the world of life.

Of course, there are other reasons for people to come down to earth.

For example, during the Battle of the Gods, Zhou rituals replaced Shang sacrifices, many immortals came down to earth, the seventy-two demons were banned, and human sacrificial rituals changed.

What surprised Li Yan was that those who came down to earth were usually dealt with by the orthodox Buddhist and Taoist religions with strong religious patronage, in a way similar to that of living ghost messengers, who would guide and bring down thunder disasters.

Why give him this task for no apparent reason?
Could it be that the Xuanmen Orthodox Church has caused trouble...

Looking at the certificate in his hand, Li Yan was full of confusion.

But anyway, it's a good thing.

The method of using this Leifu Order should be a bit like a hook certificate, to generate induction, find the target, and guide the heavenly calamity to fall.

The reward given by Heaven should not be worse than that of the underworld.

Thinking of this, Li Yan put away the certificate, sat cross-legged and meditated, and after completing his daily homework, he fell asleep.

Now that the team has gathered and everyone is doing their job, he has complete confidence in Lu San's abilities and can sleep soundly.

Before you know it, night falls.

The light snow had stopped in the evening, but the cold night was even more biting, and the town, which had been bustling all day, fell into silence.

Occasionally there were a few taverns with lanterns lit, which were extremely conspicuous in the dark night. In the remote streets and alleys, the sound of dogs barking could be heard from time to time.

In the streets and alleys near Qingyuanlou Inn, a few rats hid in the dark, holding stiff steamed buns in their mouths and looking around with their sneaky eyes.

Suddenly, they all looked somewhere.

I saw a head secretly poking out from the dark alley opposite, looking towards Qingyuan Tower, appearing a little panicked.

After hesitating for a long time, the figure finally made up his mind, looked around, and walked along the corner of the wall to the bottom of Qingyuan Building.

He was short but very agile. He climbed up to the second floor easily by grabbing the gaps between the bricks and using the angle of the wall.

At first glance, it can be seen that he is good at climbing up roofs and walls.

When he came to a window, he was about to knock on it when the window suddenly opened. A big hand grabbed his collar and pulled him in.

"what--!"

The figure only had time to let out a half-scream before someone covered his mouth and pushed him to the ground.

"Woo~"

He was terrified and struggled with his eyes wide open.

I saw candles burning in the room, and a group of people sitting around. They were Li Yan and others who were awakened by Lu San.

"It's a hollow one."

Sharifei took a look and saw the identity of this person. He said with some dissatisfaction: "I said you are a gangster, how come you don't even have the slightest clue and come to provoke us."

He was just in a bad mood after waking up.

I finally got a good night's sleep, but was disturbed again.

Li Yan noticed something strange and gave Wu Ba a look. Wu Ba immediately loosened his hand and let the man go.

This was a thin man with thief eyes. Seeing the cold looks from everyone, he immediately knelt on the ground and said, "My dear friends, I am not here to scout the place."

Then he looked at Wang Daoxuan and asked, "Are you Taoist Priest Youji?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded and said, "That's right."

"That's right!"

The little thief breathed a sigh of relief and quickly clasped his fists and said, "I am Lian Peng, and I am here at the request of Brother Chen Sanbang to warn you and ask for help."

Wang Daoxuan frowned, "What happened to Chen Sanbang?"

Chen Sanbang, the leader of several monster hunters who had been running errands for him, received the mission and went to find the madman who said he had seen human sacrifice.

"Brother Chen has been detained."

The little thief Lian Peng quickly said, "I have been hanging around here for many years and I am familiar with the local conditions. I was hired by Brother Chen for money."

"We found a clue. It turns out that this madman is not alone. He was taken away by his family some time ago and returned to the village to retire."

"The village is called Baixi Town. Brother Chen and his friends went to the village to inquire, but they were surprised to find that the entire village was full of martial artists. They were very wary of us and would start a fight if we disagreed."

"Brother Chen and his men were no match for the four and were captured. When the people in the village heard that it was you who entrusted them, they released me and told you to go and get them yourself."

"White Creek Town?"

Sharifei asked quickly: "What is this place?"

The little thief Lian Peng explained, "This village is in the mountains across the river. It's very secretive. There are rumors on the street that the villagers make a living by selling illegal salt."

"They don't cause trouble and have good relations with all parties. If it weren't for this incident, I wouldn't have known that there were so many martial artists hiding in the village."

Sharifei looked at Li Yan when he heard this, "Could it be them?"

Li Yan seemed to be thinking about something, then shook his head and said, "Not really."

"If it was really them, I'm afraid they would have dealt with the lunatic immediately and would not have sent someone back to report the news and let the Taoist priest go to pick him up."

"There is no rush for this matter. Since we were told to lead the people, we must follow the rules of the martial arts world. Those monster hunters will not be in danger for the time being."

When everyone thought about it, this was also the case.

He immediately woke up the shopkeeper and asked the waiter to arrange a room for the thief, and then they all went back to their rooms to rest.

They know what's going on, so they're not in a hurry.

I slept until dawn.

The next day, the light snow finally stopped, but the sky was still gloomy and the cold wind was blowing, making people shiver all over.

Compared to yesterday, the Longfeng Ancient Town Pier is more lively.

There are only three days left before the Guangde Temple Dharma Assembly, and some devout believers from other provinces have even started their journey at the beginning of the month.

Whether in Longfeng Ancient Town or Suining County, the inns were basically full. As soon as Li Yan and his friends left the house, their rooms were booked in a flash.

When we got near the pier, there were even more pedestrians.

There were dragon and lion dances, as well as opera troupes, driving donkey carts with silk banners and piled high with boxes. When they met each other, they greeted each other and the Sichuan accent continued.

"Good guy."

Seeing this, Sharifei couldn't help but exclaimed: "This Guangde Temple is so popular, even the temple fair at Wudang Mountain is not as lively as this one."

"I have also inquired about this matter."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and said, "There have been rumors about this place since ancient times, saying that Suining was once the West Sea, and there was a small country called Baijue. The king of the country, King Miaozhuang, and his queen, Lady Boya, had three princesses, named Miaoqing, Miaoyin, and Miaoshan, who were the three sisters of Guanyin."

"They attained enlightenment at the same time and became Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, but they practiced in different places. So there is a local folk song:

The three sisters of Guanyin Bodhisattva eat from the same pot but practice their own cultivation. The eldest sister practices in Guangde Temple, the second sister practices in Lingquan Temple, and only the third sister practices far away, in Putuo Temple in Nanhai.

"In Suining, the Buddhist culture is even stronger, with countless temples. Guangde Temple is the 'first Buddhist temple in the west', with more than a thousand monks, and it governs more than 300 mountain Buddhist temples in Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan."

"Emei Qingcheng is more famous, but in the eyes of Buddhist disciples, Guangde Temple is the real holy place."

Li Yan thought for a moment, "They don't seem to be very ostentatious?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded. "During the Tang Dynasty, there was an eminent monk in Guangde Temple, whose Buddhist name was Zen Master Keyou. He was a member of the royal family, and his father was Emperor Daizong, so the royal families of all dynasties would posthumously confer titles on him."

"This place is also considered the royal family's ancestral temple. Given its status, it has everything it needs. They don't need to cause trouble and can practice in peace, so they act very low-key."

"Even the Suining County Law Enforcement Hall and the City God Temple were handed over to the Iron Buddha Sect to manage." "That's pretty smart..."

While they were chatting, they found a ferry, which slowly carried them away from the dock and headed to the other side.

As soon as they left, two figures appeared on the dock, hiding in the shade of the trees and watching from afar.

"It seems to be confirmed. These twelve Yuanchen are Li Yan's team. They are so bold to be so brazen even though they are wanted by the palace!"

"or…"

"Don't act rashly. Someone from the palace has been asked to handle this matter. Most likely, things have changed."

"The palace has lost face this time. Will they retreat?"

"I'm not sure..."

……

After Li Yan and his companions got ashore, they walked towards the mountains in the east under the leadership of Lian Peng.

They now have a complete staff and have replenished the Gangling Order. To be honest, they are not afraid of any enemies.

Therefore, there was no need to conceal one's whereabouts too much.

This place is still in the Sichuan Basin, with a relatively flat terrain. There are no high mountains, only hills formed by river erosion.

Looking around, the mountains are covered with bamboo forests. The snow has not melted yet. Walking along the mountain path, the ground is covered with withered and yellow bamboo leaves.

Not long after entering the mountain, Lu San raised his hand and waved, asking everyone to stop.

Suddenly, two men appeared from the bamboo forest, one short and thin, the other tall and strong, and they saluted and said at the same time:
"But Taoist Priest Youji and Young Master Li."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "That's right."

It is normal to know Wang Daoxuan, but the fact that they can call out his name directly shows that these people are not closed-minded and are well-informed.

The short and thin man immediately bowed and said, "Nice to meet you. I have heard of your great name for a long time. I am Feng Delu. The clan leader has already set up a banquet in the village and asked the two of us to welcome you here."

"Thank you."

Li Yan clasped his hands and bowed with a serious expression.

Going out ten miles to greet someone is already a very important courtesy according to the rules of the underworld, and it only occurs when welcoming distinguished guests.

Sure enough, at the fifth mile, third mile, and even the last mile, there were people waiting to greet them, and they surrounded them and came to Baixi Town.

The location of Baixi Town is indeed very secretive. There is a village sandwiched between three mountains, and a muddy white stream that bends down from the mountain and flows near the village.

This water is not drinkable at all. It is the material for making brine.

A group of people were already waiting under the big tree at the entrance of the village.

The leader was an old man with a hunched back, white hair, a red band on his head, and a dragon-headed cane.

Seeing Li Yan and his group, the old man smiled slightly and said directly, "Feng Laohai from the Salt Gang, nice to meet Young Master Li, Taoist Youji."

"I've met senior."

Li Yan's expression remained unchanged and he bowed in return.

In fact, he had already noticed something strange on the way.

There are not so many secret forces in this world. Moreover, even a small thief knows about it. The high-ranking people in Suining underworld must know about Baixi Village.

There must be a reason for leaving it alone.

Those who specialize in selling salt are mostly related to the Salt Gang.

Thinking of this, Li Yan did not shy away from speaking directly in a deep voice: "We have an average relationship with the Salt Gang. Senior, you are so polite to welcome me. I am really confused."

"Please indicate what you want to do!"

"Why is Young Master Li so anxious?"

The old man surnamed Feng smiled slightly and said, "Since we are treating you with courtesy, we have no intention of making enemies with you."

"Why don't we go into the village first, and then we can drink and talk."

"it is good!"

Things had come to this point, if they continued to ask more questions, it would make them seem cowardly, so Li Yan agreed directly.

Besides, these are just ordinary martial artists.

If they want to leave, we can't stop them.

"please!"

The old man immediately raised his hand and invited them into the village.

The village is not big. Looking around, there are only strong men. There are very few women and children. Even if there are, they all hide in the rooms.

But it was different from what Li Yan had imagined.

It stands to reason that since the Salt Gang is wealthy, they would not let their lives be too miserable even if they were boiling salt here.

But this village looks like a decayed place.

Some houses even had white couplets posted to indicate that someone had just died.

In the center of the village is the ancestral hall, and the door is closed at the moment.

After the old man invited them into his house, a banquet had already been set up inside.

It was a very cold day, but the dishes were still steaming, which meant someone was waiting and calculated the time precisely, serving the dishes before they entered the door.

Such an arrangement can be said to be thoughtful.

If someone is nice to you without any reason, he must be asking for something.

Li Yan already understood it in his heart. After drinking a glass of wine, he said directly: "Senior, if you have something to say, you might as well say it directly. Otherwise, we will not feel comfortable drinking this wine."

Feng Laohai put down his wine glass and said in a deep voice: "In this case, I will not waste any more words."

"To be honest, I was originally an elder of the Salt Gang. The Sichuan Salt Gang is not one family, but since ancient times, everyone has been supporting each other."

"A few years ago, they wanted to join the Shu Palace, but I strongly opposed it. They are all gangsters, neither black nor white. Once they get involved in some things, they can never get out of it."

"Unfortunately, those people were blinded by power. Not only did I fail to persuade them, but I was also driven here from Zigong."

"Fortunately, they still have some reputation in the martial arts world, so they can't do anything too extreme. With the previous methods, they are still doing well."

Li Yan glanced at it calmly, "These seem to have nothing to do with us."

"Hahaha."

Feng Laohai stroked his beard and smiled, "It has nothing to do with us. We don't want to cause trouble or offend you."

"But if you send someone here, then there will be a relationship."

Go ahead and clap your hands.

Two men left immediately, and soon they came back, supporting another man and walking into the main hall.

The man who came in was dressed cleanly, but his eyes were blank and he was drooling. He stared in one direction and kept muttering, "Night Dragon King, Night Dragon King..."

"This is the person you are looking for."

Feng Laohai sighed and shook his head, saying, "To be honest, he was originally the captain of our salt smuggling ship. He knew a few small routes that could help him avoid inspections by soldiers and send salt to Chongqing."

"The last time he delivered a package, I don't know what happened. He was the only one who came back. He was crazy and kept running around."

"Isn't it right?"

Li Yan said coldly: "Longfeng Ancient Town is not far from here. He is begging on the streets there. How could you not know?"

Feng Laohai shook his head and said, "It was released on purpose."

"I wanted to lure those people out, but I didn't expect to attract Taoist Priest Youji."

As he spoke, his face was full of bitterness, "After listening to what those demon hunters said, I realized how much trouble I had caused."

"We really can't afford to offend the Dragon Worship Cult..."

(End of this chapter)