Knife splashing

Chapter 783 The Turbulent City of Jinling

The morning mist was slightly chilly, and the river waves lapped against the rocks.

Over the crackling campfire, Lü San was smoking several fish on twigs, sprinkling them with spices and salt he carried with him from time to time, and soon the aroma filled the air.

He handed it to Wang Daoxuan, and then took the warmed wine from the Taoist priest. They chatted and ate, making do with a simple breakfast.

As for Wu Ba, who had an even bigger appetite, he was already gnawing on half a wild boar that he had roasted the night before, eating with his mouth full of oil, not caring that he had gotten his clothes dirty.

The three of them looked rather disheveled and reeked of a foul odor.

There was no other way. Ever since they left the Yangzhou dock and started tracking the clues, they hadn't had a good night's sleep. They were constantly investigating, pursuing, and fighting with enemies from unknown sources, leaving them with no time to wash up.

But the people opposite them were even more unlucky.

Dressed in black, some with long hair and bushy beards, others with menacing faces, all with fierce appearances, but all covered in dirt and bound by straw ropes, unable to move.

The pebbles beneath them were uncomfortable, the river wind had numbed their limbs all night, and the alluring aroma made them feel a little dizzy.

"Gentlemen, could you... give me something to eat?"

One of them finally couldn't help but ask.

"Easy to say."

Wang Daoxuan smiled slightly, waved the grilled fish in front of the group, making their mouths water, before saying, "Whoever confesses first, eats first."

The group looked each other over and remained silent.

Wang Daoxuan didn't mind, and shook his head and sighed, "What a pity, I can't enjoy this delicious fish. I'll be a starving ghost on the road to the Yellow Springs, and I won't be at peace even in the Netherworld."

These people gritted their teeth, simply closed their eyes, and pretended not to hear.

"Taoist Master, please don't be anxious."

Lu San, standing nearby, said coldly, "When Brother Yan and the others arrive, with Sister Long taking action, no one will be able to survive!"

As they were talking, some movement appeared on the canal in the distance.

But then the Lin family's treasure ship broke through the morning mist and slowly approached.

As soon as they reached the shore, Li Yan, Sha Lifeng, and Long Yan'er quickly disembarked and joined Wang Daoxuan and the others.

A cold glint flashed in Li Yan's eyes as he looked at the prisoners he had captured on the ground:
"Is it them?"

He received a secret message from a falcon, and Wang Daoxuan and others followed the clues to investigate, but unfortunately they were a step too late. The Yangzhou Cauldron had already been taken away, and the sorcerers were rebelling in Taihu Lake.

The only gain was capturing a few scoundrels who were covering their retreat.

"Yes."

Wang Daoxuan patted the dust off his clothes and shook his head, saying, "I used paper cranes to track them and caught them by the tail, but unfortunately these people used firearms to obstruct us, which ruined the mission."

"Okay, let's get on the boat first."

Li Yan invited everyone to board the boat, and they sailed downstream towards Jinling.

After Wang Daoxuan and the other two had washed up briefly, they gathered at the bottom of the cabin.

Seeing these guys pretending to be dead with their eyes closed, Li Yan didn't bother with any more words and looked directly at Long Yan'er, nodding slightly.

rustling…

Long Yan'er raised her hand and released a dense array of sesame-shaped Gu worms.

These Gu worms are small, like black sesame seeds, and you can't even see their legs, feet, mouth, and eyes clearly, but they are extremely ferocious and can burrow into people's skin.

Both the itching and the pain are unbearable for most people.

"what--!"

Soon, piercing screams echoed throughout the cabin.

These men were tough guys, but even the strongest men couldn't withstand this sesame seed poison. In less than half an incense stick's time, they were crying and snot streaming down their faces, revealing the truth of what had happened.

It turns out that these guys were all skilled members of the Jiangnan outlaws, notorious thugs in the area. They were being chased by the government and had nowhere to go, so they joined the "Cocoon Robe Cult" through an introduction.

This "Cocoon Clothes Sect" was founded by Lady Leiyin.

In fact, its doctrines are also related to sericulture.

Because of their transformation from cocoons into butterflies, the ancients believed that silkworms could reach the heavens, and that wearing silk clothes made from silkworm silk would allow one to ascend to heaven like a silkworm.

Therefore, the character “蚕” is composed of two parts: “天” (sky) and “虫” (insect).

The so-called "cocoon" means the mortal body. Its doctrine is to cultivate one's inner self, worship the gods, and at the time of death, one can shed the mortal body and become an immortal, free from the suffering of reincarnation.

This Lady Leiyin claims to be the reincarnation of Leizu, the wife of the ancient Yellow Emperor. She takes advantage of the silkworm farmers' devout faith in the "Silkworm Flower Goddess" and uses evil magic to create various miracles or spread epidemics to lure mulberry farmers and silkworm farmers into her religion.

For important figures, the "Silkworm Stupa Technique" is used for control.

They developed in secret, with a strict hierarchy, distinguishing status by "cocoons," and secretly grew stronger. They also frequently held gatherings and used evil magic to punish those who leaked secrets.

With the help of the ghost opera troupe, Lei Yin subdued various underworld masters.

Therefore, the organization grew quietly and rapidly in a short period of time…

Li Yan frowned. "How did you take the Yangzhou Cauldron?"

This was his biggest question.

Whether in Chengdu or Luoyang, the appearance of the precious cauldron always caused the earth to tremble, but this time it was done silently, which made him uneasy.

Upon hearing this, the prisoners fell silent, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and reverence.

"Say it!"

With a sharp shout from Li Yan, Long Yan'er activated the Sesame Gu again.

Finally, someone couldn't take it anymore and revealed a shocking secret:
"The Goddess Leiyin appeared to us in a dream, instructing us to dig up a desolate grave, open the coffin, and find a newborn child inside, looking like a monster, eating his mother's placenta..."

"After this monster was taken back, several groups of monks, Taoist priests, and shamans came. We don't know what they did, but the child ate like crazy and grew like a madman. In less than six months, he was as tall as a grown man and started eating people..."

"It can also spin silk and form cocoons. We found a cave in the mountains, used a hemp rope to lower it into an underground river, and soon we caught a large cocoon. We loaded it onto a boat and transported it to Taihu Lake..."

Listening to his story, everyone found it unbelievable.

Such things are rarely heard of, even in tales of the strange and supernatural.

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard thoughtfully and asked, "How did you manage to persuade Zhou Yinyao?"

"Who is Zhou Yinyao?" The man looked completely bewildered.

Wang Daoxuan said, "He has a nickname, 'Old Man Boiling Stone with Green Frost'!"

"Zhou Yinyao" was the first piece of information they obtained. He was a legendary immortal, recorded in both "Taiping Guangji" and "Xianzhuan Shiyi". He was skilled in the Taiyin Refining Technique and had faked his death and been reborn several times. Li Yan suspected that he was a terrestrial immortal who had committed a sin.

"It's that old man..."

The man nodded quickly. "The old man initially ignored us, but before he left, the Empress bestowed a letter upon him. After the old man read it, his expression changed immediately. He told us the location and then hurriedly left."

"What was written in the letter?"

"The Empress said she placed a curse on it, and no one dares to look at it."

Did she say what she wanted to do with the Yangzhou tripod?

"Her Majesty said that with this cauldron, the imperial court would not dare to act rashly, otherwise it would trigger a seismic event in Nanjing and even the entire lower reaches of the Yangtze River, causing the river to overflow and countless people to die..."

"Son of a bitch!"

"Outrageous behavior!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically.

Although they knew the Jianmu demons were all ruthless, they never expected Leiyin to be so heartless as to use the lives of millions of people as hostages. For a moment, the atmosphere in the cabin was oppressive and deathly silent.

"Knock them out first!"

Li Yan snorted coldly and turned to go up to the deck.

"Oh dear, this is a difficult situation."

Shalifei also came out, scratching his bald head with a worried look on his face.

"Let's talk about it once we get to Jinling."

Li Yan's expression was solemn as he looked into the distance.

On the canal, a naval warship was seen moving slowly forward...

…………

In this oppressive atmosphere, the treasure ship sped up.

The closer one gets to Nanjing, the more desolate the scene becomes on the canal.

Along the way, one could see the imperial court's urgently mobilized naval warships, their numbers increasing. Police flags fluttered and cannons were arrayed throughout the canal, with roadblocks set up at key waterways.

All ships, whether commercial or passenger, will be subject to strict inspection.

With the tokens of Qiankun Academy, they naturally had free passage.

As the treasure ship passed Longjiang Pass, the river suddenly narrowed.

But in the distance, the shadow of the ancient city stretched across the water, and Li Yan and the others standing at the bow of the boat could already feel the somber atmosphere permeating this ancient capital of six dynasties.

The bowman hurriedly stepped forward, pointed to the stone city to the west, and said, "Gentlemen, this is the outer city of Jinling, Guanyin Gate."

As she spoke, she muttered with some worry, "I wonder how the young master is doing..."

As everyone looked up, they saw that on the hills of Jiangzuo, the rammed earth city walls stretched like a dragon, with beacon towers facing each other, and brocade flags fluttering on them, indicating that many cannons had already been deployed.

Two miles from the water gate, another patrol boat blocked the river.

Two flag officers approached in a fast eight-oared boat, their bows also fitted with muskets, the dark muzzles pointing directly at the treasure ship, forcing them to stop and board for inspection.

After examining the travel permits, the young captain, with eyes as sharp as an eagle, said in a deep voice, "Since you are all sorcerers, you must immediately register at the City God Temple after entering the city. If you conceal anything, you will be punished according to military law!"

Having said that, he ordered his men to write down their names.

Li Yan and the others looked at each other in silence.

It seems that the rules in Jinling City are already very strict.

After entering Guanyin Gate, the cargo boat turned into the moat. There, between the outer city walls and the capital city walls, was a completely different world.

Temporary barracks dotted the riverbanks, with military uniforms drying like clouds, and the air filled with the smells of sweat, rust, and tung oil.

Dozens of craftsmen were applying tung oil to the newly built warships, the smell of which was sweet and pungent.

Li Yan, with his sharp ears, overheard an old craftsman taking a break from work sighing softly to his companion, "Last month, Japanese pirates launched a surprise attack on Zhenjiang, and the firelight turned the sky red! It's only a hundred miles by water from here, who knows if those killers will sneak over along the river?"

"Yes, those damned Japanese pirates, and those bandits..."

"With so many troops, why hasn't the imperial court made a move yet?"

"Military secrets are matters beyond our comprehension..."

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged a glance, already having some guesses in their minds. They estimated that the imperial court was already aware that Leiyin possessed the Yangzhou Cauldron.

Upon reaching Sanshanmen, the river defenses became even more stringent.

Of the thirteen gates of Nanjing, only this gate connects to both land and water.

After gathering intelligence from the nearby canal gangs, the captain returned and whispered a warning to Li Yan and the others: "Gentlemen, things are tense in the city right now. Once inside, remember three things: do not ask about the location of the camps, do not discuss the number of soldiers, and do not look at official documents. Last month, we just beheaded several Japanese spies and hung their heads at Yifeng Gate..."

He knew Li Yan and the others' identities, but he was still somewhat worried.

Upon entering the Three Mountains Gate, a stench mingled with the smells of sweat, iron, and tung oil, along with a solemn military atmosphere, assaulted the senses.

The city gate passageway was five zhang deep, and the sound of footsteps echoed and collided on the vaulted ceiling, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

With a loud creak, the heavy iron chain of the gate twisted, and the huge gate began to slowly fall, causing a stir among the people waiting outside.

A soldier nearby shouted, "It's not even late afternoon yet, why are you closing the gate?"

The officer who rushed over responded sternly: "Urgent order from the Privy Council! Starting today, the city gates will be closed one hour earlier! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"

Everyone's hearts sank, and they rushed into the city before the gates were closed.

Turning onto Sanshan Street, the scene was astonishing.

The once bustling silk shops and mounting shops have mostly closed down, but many blacksmith shops have been temporarily requisitioned. Bow makers straighten arrow shafts on the street, wood chips flying everywhere, while the blacksmith shops roar with fire and the sound of hammering never stops.

"The aura of war soared to the heavens, and ominous clouds pressed down on the city..."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and sighed, "This calamity for Jinling is likely to be quite severe."

Rumble!
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves thundered from the east.

Amidst the rising dust, over two hundred elite cavalrymen galloped out from the direction of Dagongfang.

The flag bearer held up a dark black command flag with four striking characters written on it: "Southern Privy Council"!
The iron hooves pounded on the wet cobblestone street, splashing up the rainwater that had accumulated the day before. The cold armor of the cavalrymen was reflected in the water, and the common people and merchants scattered in panic like a tide.

"Let's go, let's go to the City God Temple first."

Not wanting to cause trouble, Li Yan led everyone to the City God Temple in Jinling.

The City God Temple was not far away. After passing through the streets lined with soldiers and armor, they saw the gate of the City God Temple with its blue bricks and gray tiles.

Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, naturally boasts an extraordinary City God Temple.

The stone archway in front of the temple has been newly painted with gold paint and reads "Supervising the Underworld," which is said to be the calligraphy of the founding emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

Two stone lions crouched beneath the archway, their eyes like bronze bells, and they were draped in dozens of new and old brocade robes.

This is a local custom in Nanjing, where people cover the mythical beast with the clothes of sick children, which is believed to cure diseases and ward off evil spirits.

The plaque above the main gate reads "Heroic and Bright," and the couplets further enhance its grandeur:

"He governed the southern region, controlling the Yangtze, Han and Huai rivers to benefit the people."

"To oversee the entire realm, through spring, autumn, winter, and summer, to reveal the truth."

But to their surprise, the City God Temple was rather deserted at this moment.

Not long after the young Taoist boy at the door handed over the invitation, an old Taoist priest in a crane-feather cloak and jade crown hurried over, smiling as he walked: "I am Zhang Jingqing, and I am honored to be the priest of the City God Temple in Jinling. I have long heard of the illustrious reputation of the Twelve Zodiac Gods, and it is an honor to have you here."

The old Taoist was unusually polite. Although Li Yan and the others found it strange, they did not ask any further questions. After registering in the temple, he said, "We already have companions who have come with us. They came to Jinling for trial with Tian Anbang, the commander of the Grand Canal. Do you know their whereabouts, Master?"

He asked casually, but the temple keeper's smile suddenly froze.

He frowned and said in a low voice, "I have heard about this matter, but I did not know that they were also members of the Twelve Yuan Chen. Three days ago, all twenty-seven people, including the master and servants of the Lin Family Trading Company, were imprisoned!"

Seeing Li Yan's pupils shrink suddenly, he sighed and shook his head, saying, "Commander Tian died suddenly on the way to the prison, and when Lin Dongjia arrived in Jinling, he went straight to the Southern Privy Council to appeal for justice, denouncing Vice Minister Zhou for colluding with the Maitreya Sect to intercept and kill government troops. He was then imprisoned."

"That's unreasonable!"

Shalifei's eyes widened. "Fatty Lin is cooperating with the Commandery in investigating the case. What right do they have to put him in jail?"

Li Yan's face was also gloomy; he hadn't expected that Commander Tian would actually be dead.

He had survived his previous struggles against Jianmu in Jiangnan, but this time, sent by the capital, he died on the way.

With a catastrophe looming, what on earth is Nanjing City up to...?

(End of this chapter)