Knife splashing

Chapter 778 Wu Land Snake God
The night was as dark as ink, and the mist on the canal carried the chill of autumn.

Inside Lin Jiabao's cabin, the lights were on.

After seeing off the last group of patients, no one showed any signs of fatigue or rushed to rest. Instead, they continued their work and waited patiently.

Just when they thought nothing would happen tonight, a turning point suddenly appeared.

"coming!"

Li Yan sniffed, his gaze piercing through the porthole.

On the dock, a row of swaying lanterns suddenly appeared in the distance.

Then, a cacophony of footsteps and whispers approached from afar and stopped at the end of the pier.

But the people who came were somewhat unexpected.

One of them was dressed in the armor of a military commander, with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes, and was a large, burly man. Li Yan had seen him in the imperial envoy's entourage during the day; he was the newly appointed commander of the Yangzhou military command, holding real power.

The other person, however, made him slightly narrow his eyes.

This man was about fifty years old, with a sturdy and robust build. He stood there like an iron stake, completely still.

Beneath a dark brocade robe, the bulging muscles were faintly visible.

He had a square face, thick, furrowed brows, and an air of reluctance, yet he exuded an imposing presence.

Shalifei quickly whispered, "Zhang Tiankui from the Zhang family of Yangzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately frowned.

When he inquired about people in Yangzhou before, he learned that the local martial arts families were famous for their "Zhang Family Martial Arts Scholar Fist" and the unique "Seven Star Step," and that they had produced martial arts champions for several generations.

The current patriarch, Zhang Tiankui, is a master who has already reached the Gang Jin level.

Could it be that there's something wrong with the Zhang family...?

As soon as the newly appointed Captain Si Qianhu stepped onto the deck, he hurried forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Greetings, Young Hero Li. You must be tired after a long day. It is truly our last resort that we have disturbed you so late at night!"

Li Yan nodded slightly. "Commander Zhou, you're too kind. What can I do for you?"

This week, Qianhu stepped aside to let Zhang Tiankui pass and said in a deep voice, "This is the head of the Zhang family in Yangzhou, as you probably already know. A distant relative of the Zhang family has run into trouble in Zhangjiawan, not far from the city."

"The entire clan... regardless of age, gender, or woman, was wiped out overnight... not a single chicken or dog was spared!"

His voice trembled slightly as he finished speaking.

After saying that, he looked at Zhang Tiankui.

Zhang Tiankui was clearly somewhat reluctant, and casually cupped his hands to Li Yan, saying, "I am not here to seek medical treatment. It's just that the scene of that tragedy is extremely strange, and the Commandery suspects... that it was left behind by Japanese pirates or those sorcerers from before."

His tone was stiff, and he closed his eyes after speaking.

Li Yan's gaze swept across the two faces, his mind racing, and he had already made a guess.

Zhang Tiankui was a renowned figure in the local martial arts world, but he was absent from the Yangzhou turmoil three days ago, and his disciples were caught off guard and became mere spectators.

Li Yan lifted the siege of Yangzhou, but this also highlighted their incompetence, so naturally they were unwilling to come.

The matter concerning Zhang's distant relatives should have been reported to the authorities normally, but at this juncture, the Commandant's Office was being cautious and did not want to cause any further trouble, so they naturally wanted to drag the other party to come.

It seems that these two are not highly suspicious.

However, the Zhang family's distant relatives were wiped out, precisely at the time when the Japanese pirates were fleeing...

Thinking of this, Li Yan solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Dealing with the Japanese pirates and evil spirits is my duty. There is no time to lose. Please, Commander Qian and Senior Zhang, lead the way. We will go with the ship to investigate!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Zhang Tiankui's eyes, while the commander was overjoyed:

"Young Master Li, your kindness is boundless! The boats are ready and waiting at the dock!"

The Lin family's treasure ship was slightly damaged that night and was being repaired, so they could only travel by official boat.

Li Yan gave a signal, and everyone immediately packed up their valuables and disembarked.

Soon, a fast imperial ship carrying everyone, along with the elite troops of the Commandery, quietly departed from the Dongguan Wharf and headed southwest towards Zhangjiawan, against the current of a tributary of the canal.

The night wind was strong, making people's clothes flutter loudly.

Throughout the journey, the newly appointed Commander Zhou kept fawning over Li Yan.

This guy is a shrewd operator; he clearly knows Li Yan's influence in the capital.

As for Zhang Tiankui, he only brought two disciples and stood at the bow of the ship, remaining silent.

About half an hour later, at a bend in the river ahead, a village nestled in a bay came into view.

The village was deathly silent, shrouded in the darkness of night.

As the speedboat approached the dock, the air was filled with the metallic, bloody smell.

It was thick and pungent, and a chilling sensation that went deep into the bones washed over me.

"It's that big family up ahead..."

Despite his discomfort, Commander Zhou pointed to the outline of a wall in the darkness and said, "The villagers are all one family. It was only two days after the incident that the peddler discovered it. I specifically ordered that the scene not be disturbed."

Li Yan nodded and led everyone ashore.

He first went to the nearest farmer's house to check, but found it filled with a foul stench, blackness, and blood.

Everyone else was covered in blood and gore, but the strong and healthy protagonist had only a few scars on his body. He held a wood-chopping knife in his neck, and his eyes were just bloody holes.

"He was possessed by an evil spirit, killed his family members, and then committed suicide."

Everyone present was experienced and immediately understood what had happened.

After that, the various families almost all engaged in infighting.

Upon arriving at the center of the village, Zhang Tiankui remained silent. With a flick of his toes, he appeared like a ghost, leaving seven faint afterimages as he landed directly at the main gate of the mansion.

The footwork is mysterious and profound; it is none other than the renowned "Seven Star Steps" that has made him famous throughout the martial arts world.

Li Yan followed closely behind with a calm expression, using the Shrinking Earth Technique to move at an incredible speed.

Zhang Tiankui narrowed his eyes and glanced at him. Then he walked to the heavy vermilion gate of the mansion, pressed his palm down, released a little bit of qi, and the door hinges made a teeth-grinding "click" sound.

Boom!

The gate collapsed, and an even stronger stench of blood and corpses surged out like a tidal wave.

"Ugh..." A Zhang family disciple couldn't help but gag.

This large mansion, with its many people, has become a battleground.

Before Li Yan and the others could examine the body, a flash of anger crossed Zhang Tiankui's eyes. He leaped forward, examined the corpse several times, and then exclaimed in surprise, "It's 'snakehead sores'?!"

Li Yan noticed his gaze, squatted down, and examined a male corpse nearby.

This person must have been a servant of the household. His death was particularly gruesome. Blood was flowing from his seven orifices, and his upper body was bluish-purple, especially his fingertips, which were even more bizarre.

Li Yan frowned and examined the other corpses.

Sure enough, the fingertips of all the corpses' hands showed a strange ulceration.

Unlike cuts or corrosion marks from sharp instruments, this one appeared to have burst open from deep within the flesh and at the tip of the finger bone, with the flesh rolled up, the knuckles twisted and deformed, and black blood and rotten tissue remaining.

Li Yan borrowed a silver needle from the accompanying officers of the Commandery and gently pried open the rotting flesh. An indescribable stench, a mixture of earthy and deathly stench, wafted out, far more eerie than the stench of ordinary corpses.

The silver needle did not change color.

"It's not a weapon, it's not poison..."

Li Yan slowly rose to his feet, his eyes sharp. "It's a curse! An extremely insidious curse!"

"curse?"

Upon hearing this, Commander Zhou swallowed hard and looked around. "W-what curse is so vicious?"

Li Yan's gaze swept across the hellish courtyard, and he said in a deep voice, "Entangled by resentment, the insidious poison emanates from the fingertips, penetrating directly into the bone marrow, destroying the life force and blood. Those afflicted will suffer excruciating pain, until their blood vessels are stiffened and their minds are driven mad... This is no ordinary method." "Senior Zhang, it seems you know this curse?"

"Ah."

Zhang Tiankui, no longer caring about his temper, nodded solemnly and said, "The Wu region is crisscrossed by waterways and has a great many snakes. Our ancestors worshipped snakes, and snake worship was a common practice. They especially regarded domestic snakes as 'barbarian snakes' and offered them up in hopes of peace."

"Not to mention ordinary households, even city god temples in various places also worship snake gods."

"Ordinary people have many taboos regarding snakes. For example, they avoid calling snakes by their names, referring to them as 'barbarians.' When talking about snakes, they avoid gesturing to indicate their length. They avoid killing a house snake, believing it will bring misfortune. Finding a house snake on a rice bin or bed is auspicious, while finding it on the eaves or beams is inauspicious. Seeing a snake hanging in the morning is good news, while seeing it hanging in the evening signifies death..."

He rattled off a string of taboos, then looked at the corpse on the ground. “These rules were taught to us by adults when we were young. One of them is that you should never point at a snake with your finger, otherwise you will get ‘snake head sores’ on your fingertip.”

"To be honest, I had never seen it before and thought it was just the talk of a foolish villager."

"Tsk tsk..."

Shalifei shook his head and said, "That is indeed rare. Every place has its own customs. But from what you said, 'snakehead sores' are just a minor problem. It's a bit strange that so many people have died from it all at once."

Zhang Tiankui remained silent. "I've never heard of such a thing before."

At this moment, several elite scouts from the Commandery stepped forward to report:
"Reporting to you, sir, we have searched the entire village but found no trace of outsiders."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "Senior Zhang, what other customs are associated with the worship of snakes in the Wu region?"

Zhang Tiankui replied, “Ordinary families would either build a small niche next to the stove or rice bin, or construct an inconspicuous little room with bricks and stones to set up a ‘Snake King’s shrine. Many people would dig cellars to build ‘Snake God Temples,’ which would not be opened unless it was a major festival or sacrifice. On ordinary days, the head of the household would personally manage and offer incense.”

"cellar?"

Without saying a word, Li Yan immediately activated his supernatural powers by performing the Yang-Yang incantation.

In an instant, the senses were amplified infinitely.

All the scents in the air rushed into my nostrils like a torrent:
The front yard still reeks of blood, the back yard is quiet and serene with grass and trees, the soil is damp, and there's a faint fishy smell from the dripping water... and from the ground in the backyard, there's the smell of aged incense ash.

There was also a faint snake smell!
"follow me!"

Li Yan immediately stepped forward, followed closely by the others.

After passing through the corridor and a moon gate, you enter the quiet backyard.

This place is a bit further away from the killing field in the front yard, so the smell of blood is much fainter, but it is even more gloomy.

Parting several clumps of evergreen vines that were almost touching the ground and covered in water droplets, a very low, blue-brick stone passage leading underground, barely wide enough for one person to bend over and enter, suddenly appeared before my eyes.

After breaking open the stone door, there was indeed a small temple below.

The small temple is completely embedded under a small artificial hill. The temple gate is made of two rough-polished bluestone slabs. There is no plaque on the lintel, only a few blurry, winding lines like snakes.

An almost tangible chill was continuously seeping out from the cracks in the stone door.

The inside of the door was pitch black, like the gaping maw of an abyss ready to devour anyone who dared to enter.

A soldier from the Commandant's Office dropped his torch and immediately saw the situation inside the temple:
On the stone wall directly opposite the temple gate, there is a relief carving.

The relief lines are simple and rugged. The upper half is a male face with blurred features and disheveled hair and beard, with a majestic yet eerie expression. The lower half is a snake's body that is coiled and twisted in various ways, with its tail extending deep into the end of the underground relief, as if rooted in the netherworld.

Human head and snake body!

Upon seeing this, Li Yan inexplicably became interested.

The image of a human head and a snake's body originated from ancient beliefs.

Nuwa, Fuxi, and many other ancestral gods of our ancestors all share similar characteristics.

There was no incense burner or sacrificial offerings in front of the statue, but instead a dark red altar cloth that had faded and whose edges had turned black from years of dampness was laid out. On it were many burnt incense sticks and strange, unburnt grass stalks.

Several large, dull, lifeless fragments of snake skin were scattered on the ground.

In the corner, a few copper coins, stained with dark dirt, lay scattered, as if they were used by a shaman.

The entire small temple exuded an indescribable air of decay.

Long Yan'er followed Li Yan into the small temple, her eyes immediately drawn to the statues and altar.

Her delicate brows furrowed tightly as she strode towards the altar. Ignoring the filth on the ground, she picked up a small pinch of dark green powder remaining on the altar cloth with her fingertips, and her expression changed drastically.
"They are not worshipping ordinary snake gods!"

"What is that?" Shalifei asked curiously.

Long Yan'er looked at everyone: "It's a secret technique of the 'Snake Cult'!"

"The Snake Cult?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan was immediately surprised. "The Snake Cult has also spread to the Wu region?"

The Snake Cult is also a well-known religious sect, but its organization is loose and it is mostly located in Ganzhou, western Hunan.

Previously, while wandering the martial world, he had even fought against several sorcerers from the Snake Cult.

Long Yan'er explained, "This is a forbidden secret technique of the Snake Cult. I've only heard my older brother talk about it. They use methods of raising Gu and ghosts to raise snake demons, which makes them even more effective and extremely dangerous."

"Even within the Serpent Cult, it is classified as a forbidden art and cannot be practiced casually."

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

"So, this collateral relative brought this upon himself, and has nothing to do with the Japanese pirate leads..."

Zhou Qianhu wiped away his cold sweat, his face full of regret.

I thought that by following the clues and finding the traces of the Japanese pirates, with the help of the Twelve Zodiacs and Zhang Tiankui, as long as I succeeded, getting promoted and making a fortune would be within my reach.

Unexpectedly, this family brought this upon themselves.

Li Yan was also somewhat disappointed, but since things had come to this point, he couldn't just ignore it. So he looked at Long Yan'er and said, "Sister Long, if we find that beast, he's so vicious and will ultimately be a menace."

"can."

Long Yan'er lightly raised her wrist, and the Qin insect Gu darted out from her sleeve and ran outside.

Suddenly, melodious piano music filled the night sky.

The group immediately followed, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the back of the mountain.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, Li Yan raised his hand, signaling everyone to lower their bodies.

With Lü San absent, he became the main force for reconnaissance, which was relatively weak.

Even so, a faint light could still be seen on the mountainside in the distance.

"Young Master Li, it is..."

When Commander Zhou saw this, his eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

"Not urgent."

Li Yan turned his head and whispered, "Wait for me here."

The distance was too far, and only the firelight could be seen. The falcons of the Commandery were all ordinary animals, unlike Lü San, who could only see at night. Therefore, he had to go and investigate in person.

"No Gao! The primordial innocence, the essence of Ren and Gui. Internally corresponding to the kidneys, and above to Mercury..."

As the incantation of "Northern Emperor's Mysterious Water Escape" was chanted, Li Yan's figure immediately became blurred, enveloped in water vapor, and completely disappeared into the darkness.

While the others were alright, Zhang Tiankui was completely convinced.

On the way here, he had already witnessed Li Yan's skills, which were in no way inferior to his own.

Unexpectedly, even this escape technique was better than many of the sorcerers he had ever seen.

Ignoring Zhang Tiankui's thoughts, Li Yan used his escape technique and, as he approached the small mountain, suddenly stopped, somewhat surprised, and reached into his robes.

The hook was slowly heating up...

(End of this chapter)