Knife splashing

Chapter 706 The Great Search in the Capital
Boom!Boom!Boom!
The fingertips tapped on the rosewood armrest, producing a dull thud like a heavy hammer striking a drum.

Luo Gongsheng felt his heart pounding.

"Disciple...disciple..."

He wanted to explain, but suddenly felt utterly powerless.

He completed his apprenticeship many years ago and revered those above him as if they were gods.

Over the years, they gradually gained control of the "Iron Anchor Society" and climbed up to the Prince of Yan's mansion, making them incredibly influential in the capital.

But now I realize that power, fame and fortune are all as fragile as porcelain in front of this master.

Finally, Huo Yin spoke slowly, his voice as cold as ice and iron.

"The Prince of Yan is impatient and doesn't manage his subordinates well. Sooner or later, he will bring disaster upon himself. Stay away from him from now on."

"You are to blame for the King Serpent incident. Go to the Priest of the Mystic Temple and accept your punishment."

"Go away, and don't come back again."

The voice was calm, but to Luo Gongsheng it sounded like thunder.

He knew that the King Serpent's defection to the demon had completely eliminated any potential dangers, but he was also expelled from his sect.

Without Huo Yin's protection, troubles will surely follow.

He wanted to plead for mercy, but looking at Huo Yin's indifferent face, he couldn't utter a single word. He could only grit his teeth, kowtow several times, and turn to leave.

He walked a hundred meters away, then turned back to look at the courtyard again, a surge of anger rising within him. He muttered to himself:

"Since you're so heartless, I'll show you that I, Luo Gongsheng, can hold my own even without you!"

Having said that, he led his men away.

Huo Yin inside heard his whispers clearly, but ignored them and calmly continued reading.

Soon, soldiers from the Imperial Guard rode up, knocked on the door, and entered, handing over the token and silk with both hands.

"Commander Huo, His Majesty has given an order!"

Huo Yin took it and glanced at it indifferently, then said, "I understand."

After saying that, he got up, pushed open the door, and went back into the house.

When he came out, he had changed into close-fitting short clothes and was carrying a large horn bow on his back.

Swish!
The soldier's vision blurred, and the person vanished without a trace, leaving only a faint footprint on the blue brick ground.

The soldier looked up immediately, his mouth agape.

But then a tiny black dot appeared in the sky, and suddenly leaped onto the towering city wall...

.........

Also in the southwest of the imperial city, there is a large, three-courtyard mansion.

This house combines the characteristics of northern houses, with spacious courtyards and lush, century-old trees, with the style of Huizhou and the water towns of Jiangnan, featuring moon arch gardens, scenic views at every turn, as well as ponds, stages, and waterside pavilions.

It appears understated, but the details reveal its luxuriousness.

The mansions in the southwest area of ​​the imperial city were inhabited by princes and nobles. Due to the hierarchical system, the mansions were built in varying degrees of luxury, and it was easy to find mansions better than this one.

What makes this house special is that many places are filled with rare and exotic treasures from overseas.

Precious spices such as frankincense, benzoin, and borneol from Southeast Asia were ground into powder, mixed with gold leaf or colored lacquer, and inlaid into large screens depicting "Maritime Trade Routes" or "Exotic Tribute Maps," which were then displayed in various main halls...

Sappanwood from regions with toxic odors is carved into totem poles depicting exotic animals, coated with lacquer for preservation, and placed on either side of the courtyard…

There are also ivory and coral, paired with a gilded base to create a "fairyland on the sea" landscape...

Any one of these items would be a priceless treasure on the market.

The reason is simple: this place is the Minzhou Chamber of Commerce, and also the gathering place of the Kaihai faction.

"This is the nautical chart of the Frankish Academy..."

The merchant in a brocade robe carefully explained, "The Portuguese have been roaming the oceans for many years. They are experienced, and their astrologers have their own ingenious methods. Together with the scholars of their academy, they have created this treasure, which can not only determine direction but also avoid storms and sea monsters."

Beside him walked an elderly man with white hair, a thin face, and wearing a black traditional Chinese jacket.

His face was covered with age spots, and he looked like he was on his deathbed.

However, the wealthy merchants around them all carefully surrounded them, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

This old man was none other than Dong Changxing of the Bagua Sect in the capital.

One of the Ten Great Masters of China.

Although he is old, he is still a towering figure in the martial arts world.

"It's really good."

Dong Changxing ran his fingertips lightly across the astrolabe and nodded in approval.

"do not worry."

The leading merchant beside him patted his chest and said, "Now that our trade route has been explored and the Bagua Sect disciples are on board, we are sure to have a smooth journey!"

The other merchants, also smiling, echoed the sentiment.

Overseas voyages are fraught with dangers such as storms and undercurrents, but nowadays, even more trouble comes from pirates.

The ships of the maritime nations were both merchant ships and pirate ships.

Aside from firearms, what they need most are skilled fighters.

However, the development of the Bagua School in Beijing has reached a bottleneck in recent years.

Seeing that Dong Changxing was getting old and would no longer be able to protect him in the future, they had to find more ways to help him.

Hopping onto the big ship of the Shanghai-based business community is undoubtedly one way to go.

As a result, the two sides hit it off immediately.

Even Dong Changxing, who had been living in seclusion for many years, personally came out to oversee things.

This demonstrates the importance both sides attach to this cooperation.

Just then, a servant rushed over, "Reporting to the Chairman..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was shoved aside by the Golden Guard who was delivering the message from behind.

"Mr. Dong, His Majesty has given an order!"

The merchants were initially unhappy, but upon seeing this, they immediately shut their mouths.

Dong Changxing took the yellow silk, glanced at it a few times, and then his cloudy pupils flashed with a cold light.

"The demons are rampaging through the capital. His Majesty has ordered us to take action. Gentlemen, we shall take our leave now."

"Important matters must be taken care of, Mr. Dong."

The merchants dared not stop them and quickly escorted the Bagua Sect group out of the mansion.

They hadn't gone far when the head of the Dong family, hearing this, frowned and said, "Father, you haven't been to the palace for many years, why...?"

Dong Changxing waved his hand to interrupt him, shaking his head and saying:
"The fact that the Dong family has been able to live peacefully in the capital all these years is a testament to how much face I have saved."

“If a master cannot be as loyal as Huo Yin, His Majesty will have a thorn in his side.”

"After this, I will completely retire from this life."

"How you proceed from here on out is up to you..."

Having said that, he stepped off the palace platform, his figure flashing nine times in a row, disappearing from the street in the blink of an eye…

…………

South City, Wansheng Escort Agency.

Inside the training ground, shirtless men were slamming stone weights, their sweat billowing like smoke.

Here, there is also a grandmaster, Wan Shengying.

He was not only the founder of Wanshengquan (a style of martial arts), but also the chief镖头 (chief镖头,镖局, a type of security escort agency) of thirteen provinces in the north and south.

Both the Grand Canal Gang and the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce had a very close relationship with him.

The outlaws and bandits on the waterways of the north and south would all avoid the "Victory Flag" if they saw it.

It can be said that Wansheng Escort Agency is a well-known entity in both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds of martial arts.

Similarly, the Imperial Guards arrived with orders and were led into the backyard.

Soon, Wan Sanshan, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Wansheng镖局 (escort agency), strode out and shouted:

"Stop! Throw 'skewer' to lock all 24 gates!"

"Spread the word to the bandits along the river: whoever lets the Jianmu tree cross the border... I'll tear down their ancestral hall!"

Unlike the other two companies, Wansheng Escort Agency mobilized a large force.

They wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to make a name for themselves by robbing and killing demons.

The three grandmasters who are based in the capital city represent different forces.

Huo Yin's divine fist has always been the iron gate of defense for the Imperial City's Forbidden Garden...

Dong Changxing's graceful, flowing movements resembled those of a disciple of the Bagua School, moving among the powerful and influential...

Wan Shengying's dart flags were planted all over the places inhabited by outlaws and bandits across the land...

The three grandmasters, who had fought many battles in their youth and rarely interacted, were now, under the emperor's decree, like three divine weapons unleashed...

…………

As noon approached, the sunlight gilded the glazed tiles of the palace with a dazzling golden edge.

The streets and alleys of the capital were filled with a chilling atmosphere that clashed sharply with the clear sky.

With the imperial decree issued, the massive net for hunting down the Jianmu demon was suddenly tightened.

All city gates were temporarily closed, and checkpoints were set up at intersections throughout the capital.

Inside the City God Temple, the somber scent of sandalwood overwhelmed the aroma of cooking.

Several Taoist priests, dressed in Xuanmen robes and with white hair and youthful faces, sat cross-legged on the high altar, their demeanor as serene and composed as mountains.

They were the imperial advisors of the Tai Xuan Zheng Sect in the capital.

Logically speaking, the position of Imperial Preceptor is usually held by a highly respected figure in the Taoist community.

For example, Chen Tuan, Qiu Chuji, and Zhang Sanfeng...

But often, these people have other important matters to attend to.

For example, the "Jade Toad Master" of Wudang was invited to the capital by the imperial court several times, but he was too busy with other matters and could only decline each time.

Even so, these "national teachers" are all outstanding figures from various sects within the Xuanmen (Taoist) system.

On the altar in front of them were castings resembling star trails.

At its core, a huge "Taiyi-style plate" hums and spins.

Whenever the Taoists changed their incantations, the "hanging slips" on the "form plate" would move automatically without any wind.

This is the Taiyi Divine Calculation, which is said to have been created by Feng Hou at the behest of the Yellow Emperor. It was used for troop deployment in the battle against Chiyou and was modeled after the Nine Palaces method of the Yiwei Qianzaodu. In the Records of the Grand Historian of the Western Han Dynasty, it was listed as one of the seven schools of divination.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, it was listed as a compulsory subject in the Imperial Academy, and was given equal importance to calendrical calculations and astronomy.

However, only the Imperial Observatory could produce such a large "Taiyi-style plate" ritual implement, and it was powered by incense.

The head of the group, the Long-browed National Preceptor, came from the "Doumu Academy" of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect, and his Taoist name was Yuanzai.

The Doumu Academy is well-versed in astrology and played a significant role in formulating the new calendar. They are also extremely proficient in divination.

As he watched the "Taiyi Plate" spin, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice, though aged, was clear and distinct.

"The fire in the Li Palace blazes fiercely... the Dui position is obscure... a faint glimmer of blood appears in the Wuxu year!"

The disciples of the Xuanji priest standing below the altar immediately began to write swiftly, marking the location and anomaly on the sand table model of the capital city not far away.

The areas outlined in vermilion were precisely where Pei Zongti had seen the deep-seated evil aura.

These imperial advisors were not only calculating the whereabouts of Zhao Qingxu and Kong Hui, but also monitoring and locking onto the "evil energy nodes" that had been corrupted by evil energy.

Amidst the rising smoke from the incense burner beside the altar, the shrine dedicated to the City God of the Nine Gates trembled faintly.

This is an invisible "community command" force, already activated and ready to provide support at any time...

…………

The streets near the outskirts of the capital present a completely different, somber scene.

The orderly sound of horses' hooves shattered the tranquility of the street as the elite Imperial Guards, clad in armor and armed with weapons, charged forth.

Pei Zongti, dressed in a scarlet robe, rode his horse at the forefront.

Under his leadership, the Imperial Guards surged into the first designated area like an iron torrent:
A neighborhood outside Chaoyangmen, lined with warehouses.

In an instant, the street corner was blocked by heavy troops, powerful bows and crossbows were strung with menacing force, and a chilling killing intent froze the air.

The black-clad, Taotie-patterned captains and their cavalry, like hunting dogs that have smelled blood, split into dozens of groups under Luo Mingzi's command and nimbly slipped into the narrow alleys and deep lanes between the warehouses and residences.

They not only led the mountain-guarding dogs, but also took out a specially made compass for guidance.

Wang Wang Wang!
The "mountain guardian dogs," specially trained and extremely sensitive to foul air, barked wildly.

The group conducted a thorough search of each house, including rooftop cellars and hidden compartments in the walls.

Any suspicious area will be subject to the most rigorous investigation and sealing with talismans.

The experts from the Enforcement Hall followed closely behind, ready to take action at any moment.

Li Yan and the other members of the Twelve Yuan Chen were also mixed in with this elite force of the Enforcement Hall, personally led by Luo Mingzi.

They said they invited living underworld messengers to keep watch, but judging from the situation, there's no need for them to take action at all.

Instead, it was like watching a grand hunting exercise.

"Hey, look at this!"

Shalifei, holding the Divine Fire Gun, watched the team advance in an orderly fashion, and couldn't help but click his tongue.

Long Yan'er gently stroked her waist pouch, calming the restless Gu worms inside due to the intense malevolent energy, and shook her head, saying:

"This is the true power of the Great Xuan... but it is usually kept hidden. I don't know where the Yang family of Bozhou got the guts."

Li Yan nodded and said, "It seems the imperial court is desperate to tamper with the dragon veins."

Having said that, he turned his gaze further into the distance.

He could vaguely sense that three astonishing forces were rapidly approaching.

Soon, the team made a discovery.

Inside the abandoned warehouses of the old canal wharf, the rotten wooden beams and pillars were split open, revealing that they were covered with bluish-black tree burls.

Each tumor had a crack, from which pus dripped.

The sacks piled on the ground had long since turned into thick pus, and dozens of corpses were dragged out from the beams and pillars.

These corpses all had their skulls pierced by ochre-red tree roots, and fine fungi were emerging from their eye sockets, trembling slightly in the wind.

"Tsk tsk, this is the technique for driving live stakes..."

Kuai Dayou, who had come to join the fun, clicked his tongue and said, "Judging from the age, it's at least ten years old. Quite a few people must have died here."

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingzi, who was standing nearby, immediately ordered someone to summon the owner of the warehouse.

The obese merchant tried to lie, but after being slapped several times by the Commandant of the Capital Garrison, he immediately confessed the truth.

Many people have died here, mostly beggars who sneaked in at night.

Fearing that the warehouse would not be rented out, he bribed the government officials to cover up the matter.

"Audacity!"

The accompanying Ministry of Justice officials were trembling with anger.

Clearly, quite a few people are going to be unlucky today because of this...

The location was not just one.

Deep within the dry well in Tianshui Hutong, the sound of a drum being struck can be faintly heard after the well is opened.

Upon going down to investigate, they found that the well walls were seeping out a gelatinous black blood, which outlined large blood-red runes along the cracks in the brickwork.

At the bottom of the well, there were the corpses of two pregnant women with swollen bellies.

One yellow talisman to ward off evil spirits caused his belly to burst open, and many strange black fish emerged...

"This is the 'Well of the Dead'!"

Kuai Dayou's expression also turned serious. "The water nearby is no longer drinkable, otherwise a major epidemic will surely break out. What a vicious method!"

What they found next was even more terrifying.

In the courtyard of the former residence of a high-ranking official from the previous dynasty, in an abandoned yard, a century-old locust tree with a lush canopy and blackened leaves stands.

Hundreds of stray cats hung from faded silk ribbons in the branches of numerous trees.

The cat's carcass swayed and crashed against the tree trunk, making a meowing sound with each impact.

The area around the locust tree was frighteningly cold, with a layer of white frost covering it even at midday, and it was covered with cat paw prints.

Wang Daoxuan shook his head and said, "This is the 'Cat Demon Tomb' of the evil cultivators of Jiangzuo."

"Burn it!"

At Luo Mingzi's command, the Taoist priests of the Enforcement Hall immediately brought a large amount of peach wood to burn.

Amidst the blazing fire, the howls of countless wild cats rang out, sending chills down one's spine.

Although the results were significant, and many infected areas were identified.

However, Li Yan's heart remained uneasy.

Just then, the warrant in his arms suddenly felt warm.

Although he quickly lost contact with the wall, Li Yan did not hesitate to leap up and land on the courtyard wall.

Looking around, his gaze immediately locked onto the crowd of onlookers in the distance.

Inside, a scholar wearing a bamboo hat had slightly red pupils in his eyes.

"Kong Hui!"

Li Yan laughed heartily, "Now that we're here, why are we hiding!"

(End of this chapter)