Knife splashing

Chapter 787 Locust Tree Village

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the Qinhuai River flowed gently.

The Jinling Duwei Garrison was located in Dayanggou in the southeast of the city, adjacent to the Imperial City Garden to the west and the Ministry of Revenue's Canal Transport Office and the Ministry of Works' Ordnance Bureau to the east. It was originally the garrison of the former dynasty's "Longxiang Guard".

In fact, Nanjing is different from other places.

During the reign of the previous dynasty, this place was the capital, a gathering place for rare treasures from all over the world. It controlled various regions by relying on the water network of Jiangnan and stood in opposition to the Golden Horde Wolf Kingdom from the north and south.

When the Daxing Dynasty collapsed, the imperial family burned down the palace. Although the Jinling Prince's Mansion was later built on its foundation, being a prince in this place was not an easy task.
Because of its unique geography, the capital city naturally suspected the emperor of Nanjing. As a result, the emperors of Nanjing for generations lived cautiously and never interfered in local affairs, even when they were reprimanded.

Therefore, the aristocratic families and gentry in Nanjing held a higher status.

As Li Yan and his entourage stepped onto the slippery stone steps and onto the bluestone slabs in front of the Jinling Military Commandery, they ran into Zhou, the Commander of the Yangzhou Military Commandery, who was carrying a sword and whose boots, along with his personal guards, were covered in mud.

His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

"Young Master Li!"

Upon seeing Li Yan, his eyes lit up with surprise. He forced himself to be energetic and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "I just submitted the case file on the Yangzhou Japanese pirate raids to the Jinling Garrison. Is there something you need here?"

Because of the Yangzhou incident, he was extremely respectful to Li Yan.

Li Yan was worried about not having anyone to introduce him, so he recounted the story.

"Easy to say."

Without saying a word, Commander Zhou turned around and led Li Yan toward the Commandery Office, while the others waited outside to provide backup.

The Jinling Commandery was one of the headquarters in Jiangnan. It was large in scale and very grand in construction. A "Xiezhi Devouring Evil Stele" stood in front of the gate to suppress evil spirits. All the buildings had special "black scale tiles" on their roofs.

The government office was quite large. After checking the waist token, Commander Zhou led Li Yan along, explaining in a low voice, "The most important task of the Commandery in Jinling, besides supervising and suppressing those Jianghu figures like the anti-religious sects and salt smugglers, is to protect the 'Yellow Register Treasury'..."

"After the seas opened, Japanese pirates roamed the coast, and many foreign pirates also came ashore. As a result, most of our elite troops were sent to provide support, so we were caught off guard by this invasion of the demons. Fortunately, young hero, you killed the thieves, otherwise we would all be in trouble..."

As they spoke, they arrived at a side room in the backyard.

Not long after the announcement was made, a tall, thin commander with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face hurried over.

"Young Master Li, this is Commander Zheng from Jinling."

"Lord Zheng, this is Young Hero Li Yan."

"I've heard so much about you..."

The officer on duty, Commander Zheng, was very hospitable. After having tea served, he smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Young Master Li, your fame resounds throughout the north and south. Your presence is truly an honor to our humble abode..."

But after Li Yan explained his purpose, he stroked his beard and hesitated, "This... I am not in a position to interfere in this matter. Brother Zhou is here and is familiar with military affairs in Jiangnan. He will surely be more at ease. I will not overstep my bounds."

After saying that, he stood up and took his leave, turning around and walking away.

Li Yan frowned, and his face immediately turned gloomy.

Commander Zhou looked embarrassed and said in a low voice, "The Jinling Commandery has a good relationship with those two families, and they probably don't want to cause trouble. But don't worry, young hero, this Zheng guy isn't stupid. He wouldn't dare to offend anyone in the capital either."

Sure enough, not long after, a junior officer in a black uniform quietly ran over and respectfully handed a transcribed military register to Commander Zhou.

Li Yan took it and looked at it. He saw that the yellowed pages were the end of the case file for the sudden death of Commander Tian. The beginning was roughly the same as what Fatty Lin had said, and there were vermilion annotations at the end:

"Zhou Dayong, a personal guard (colonel), failed to protect his men properly and was given twenty strokes of the cane and demoted to squad leader. He then returned to his hometown to observe mourning for his parents, fifty li east of Jinling City, at Zhoujia'ao."

"Inadequate support?"

Li Yan sneered, "You're quite adept at shifting the blame."

Where is this Locust Tree Village located?

"Not far, just in the mountains outside Jinling City..."

…………

Shashasha~
Before noon, a light drizzle began to fall again from the gloomy sky.

Two covered boats glided across the water in the rain and mist. The banks were lined with lush vegetation, the leaves half-yellowed, and the peaks and ridges were layered, creating a beautiful scene at every turn.

"What a great place..."

Shalifei couldn't help but sigh, "This place is truly perfect for living in seclusion."

Wang Daoxuan nodded and stroked his beard, saying, "That's natural. This is Zhongshan Mountain, and nearby is Xuanwu Lake, one of the three famous lakes in Jiangnan. It has been a place of superior feng shui since ancient times, and during the Six Dynasties, it was a royal garden lake..."

"Gentlemen, you flatter me."

Before he could finish speaking, the old boatman in the straw raincoat and hat turned around and said, "No matter how beautiful the scenery is, only the nobles are happy to see it. The common people are not so comfortable."

"Oh?"

Wang Daoxuan became interested upon hearing this. "I have heard that this place is a prosperous area in the entire Jiangnan region, where rice is grown and mulberry trees are cultivated, and the people are well-fed and clothed."

The old man sighed, "That was in the past."

"Since the imperial court opened up the sea, silk has been in short supply. The head of the weaving and dyeing bureau issued a notice that each loom should pay three qian of silver and each bolt of silk should pay five fen of silver. What was originally a small business with meager profits has now become a death sentence."

"Countless people toil day and night, neglecting even their fields to cultivate, barely managing to pay taxes. Some have been driven to bankruptcy and homelessness..."

"These are just ordinary weavers. Those weavers with the artisan status are even worse off. Their descendants inherit the status for generations and cannot renounce it at will. They cannot leave the workshop and work from dawn till dusk. Each person only receives three dou of rice per month. Countless people have died from exhaustion."

"this…"

Everyone was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

Originally, it was thought that the country would become rich and prosperous after the opening of the sea, but unexpectedly, the people suffered even more.

"A bunch of parasites!"

Shalifei muttered under his breath, "Those people from the Kaihai faction don't say that in the capital. They're cowards, all rolling in money, yet they still exploit the people and are insatiably greedy!"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Lin Yu, "Fatty, is your house like this too?"

Fatty Lin remained silent for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "I don't usually concern myself with family matters."

He wasn't lying, but some things were obvious to everyone.

If everyone else did this, how could the Lin family, with a clean record, have secured their position as the richest family in Jiangsu and Zhejiang? Perhaps their methods would have been even more ruthless.

Thinking of this, Fatty Lin became even more silent.

Seeing this, the others stopped talking about it.

"Esteemed guests, it's just ahead!"

Soon, the old boatman pointed ahead.

Everyone looked up and saw a mountain hollow near the riverbank. Stone steps made of bluestone were built for the river dock and extended all the way to the water, covered with the marks of time.

The most captivating feature is a giant locust tree nestled on the hillside, its gnarled branches twisting and turning like jagged ghost claws. Its lush foliage is as tall as a two-story building, and inside the hollow of the tree, a shrine to the Earth God has been built with bricks and stones, blackened by incense smoke. The tree is also covered with red ribbons tied for blessings.

"Good heavens, using locust trees?" Shalifei was somewhat surprised upon seeing this.

"This is not surprising."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and said, "Although the locust tree is a yin tree, there are always exceptions to everything in the world. Most of them have been worshipped and sacrificed since ancient times, and can protect the area."

"Master Dao is right."

The old boatman nodded and said, "The old man in Huai Shu Village is very efficacious. In previous years, there would be a temple fair and sacrifices in the village every ten days, and they would even invite opera troupes. It was very lively, but it has stopped in recent years."

"why?"

"I heard the village doesn't like outsiders coming..."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.

After the boat docked, they walked up the stone steps to the hillside and immediately saw seven or eight villagers huddled under the huge locust tree, clutching sickles, bamboo rakes and other tools. Upon seeing them, they immediately stood up and said with unfriendly expressions, "Who are you? The village doesn't welcome strangers!"

This kind of situation is not uncommon for Li Yan and his group as they travel all over the country.

Not all villages are hospitable, because many traveling peddlers, monks, and Taoist priests are involved in swindling and cheating, so they are very wary of outsiders.

But these villagers were clearly different.

His face was blank, his knuckles were pale and stiff, like a frozen corpse, and his eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of indelible gray.

The group exchanged glances, and Sha Lifeng immediately stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Is Commandant Zhou Dayong here? We've come from Jinling and would like to ask him to do something for us."

"Wait."

One villager gave a curt reply and turned to walk into the village.

Click click click!

Suddenly, a sound came from Long Yan'er's sleeve. Her expression changed slightly, and she whispered from behind, "Just like the Zhang family in Yangzhou."

The words were spoken in a cryptic manner, but everyone understood immediately.

The Zhang family of Yangzhou had a feud with Leiyin and suffered from a curse called "Silkworm Stun Technique" for generations, which was broken by Long Yan'er using a secret method.

These people in front of us are also under a curse, but it hasn't taken effect yet.

Thinking of this, everyone became vigilant.

Not long after, the villager returned, followed by a lame old man.

"Are you looking for Zhou Dalang? Follow me..."

Having said that, he turned and led the way.

After they left, the young man whispered a few words to the others under the tree before they dispersed and ran to various corners of the village.

"Look, it's the third house from the west end of the ancestral hall!"

The lame old man led the group into the village and pointed ahead in a hoarse voice.

He made a hoarse, bellows-like sound in his throat, as if he had a lump of phlegm stuck in his throat.

And wherever they went, cold, indifferent gazes came from the shadows of the houses.

Li Yan and the others pretended not to see anything and walked towards the house.

Soon, a man emerged from the house. His stubble was messy, and the bloodshot eyes revealed deep fatigue. Upon seeing Fatty Lin, he forced a warm smile and said, "It's Brother Lin! You're out of prison! Congratulations!"

"This must be Young Master Li. We've been waiting for you."

Having said that, he turned and shouted into the house, "Wife! Quick! Heat up some good wine and slice some cured meat! Our honored guest has arrived!"

The group entered the house discreetly, where they found a woman busy cutting cured meat, cooking, and warming wine. Her movements were swift but somewhat stiff.

Behind her followed two children with their hair in buns, staring at the cured meat with drooling eyes.

"Alas, Brother Tian died a tragic death..."

Zhou Dayong took the initiative to start a conversation, recounting the situation at the time, which was the same as what Lin Pangzi and the others had seen. He then complained that Jinling was indiscriminate in distinguishing right from wrong.

Li Yan responded casually, his nose twitching slightly, and he squinted his eyes.

Soon, several plates of farm-style stir-fries were served.

"You've come from afar, please come in!"

Zhou Dayong picked up his wine and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing that no one had touched their chopsticks, he chuckled and said, "Brother Tian and I are friends. Don't you all trust me?"

After saying that, he picked up a few pieces of food with his chopsticks and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing them heartily.

"Don't worry, it's not poisonous!"

"It's definitely not poisonous, but other things might be..."

Long Yan'er smiled coldly, pulled out the silver hairpin from her hair, chanted a spell, blew out a breath, and then gently stirred the dish with the hairpin before picking it up.

A layer of white silk had already wrapped around the tip of the hairpin.

Like silkworm silk, each strand is delicate and intertwined, yet they seem to undulate slightly as if they were alive.

Zhou Dayong's expression suddenly changed, and he turned around and roared, "Run!"

Upon hearing this, his wife immediately grabbed the two children and ran outside.

Zhou Dayong suddenly drew a dagger from his waist and stabbed Li Yan.

His moves were sharp and ruthless, quite like those of the Commandant's Division.

Li Yan kept his upper body still, but kicked his leg under the table.

Bang!
Zhou Dayong was kicked directly in the abdomen and flew backward.

"Be careful on the roof..."

Shalifei chuckled, didn't even look, and pulled the trigger on the roof.

boom--!
With a loud crash, dust and tiles rained down.

Two young men wielding knives also fell to the ground at the same time.

These were just ordinary villagers, so Li Yan and his men held back. But the two who had fallen still had ferocious expressions on their faces and charged at them with knives in hand.

"court death!"

A fierce glint flashed in Shalifei's eyes. He no longer held back and drew his sword, slashing left and right.

He was too lazy to waste ammunition dealing with these ordinary people.

A strong young man rushed forward, his chest was cleaved open, but what splattered out was not hot blood, but a large clump of messy, wet, grayish-white silk, and he still did not move with satisfaction.

Bang!
Wu Ba stepped forward and threw a punch.

Bajiquan's hammer technique, combined with Wu Ba's astonishing strength, is like a cannonball.

With a loud bang, the young man was smashed to pieces, his organs falling off with a clatter. His flesh and blood, mixed with a large amount of silk, were still writhing like a living creature.

Seeing this, Long Yan'er shook her head and sighed, "His internal organs have been eroded; there's no hope for him."

The deathly silence of the mountain valley was completely shattered by the sound of gunfire from the sand.

As the group stepped out of the house, they saw that the villagers, who had previously appeared as if they were made of clay or wood, were now shrunk to the size of pinpoints under the trees, behind the eaves, and beside the woodpile. They were also making low, guttural growls like wild beasts.

Hoes, machetes, sickles—they grabbed anything they could get their hands on, their faces contorted with madness, and rained blows down on the people in the yard!
The roof tiles rattled, and more villagers, their faces ashen and thick white saliva dripping from their mouths, like awakened zombies, clumsily crawled out of the shadows of the attic and jumped down.

We can't let a single one escape!

From the direction of the ancestral hall, the shrill, maniacal scream of the lame old man, like that of a night owl, echoed: "The goddess wants blood offerings! Cut out their tongues and feed them to the divine silkworms—!"

If an ordinary person encountered such a thing, they would probably be terrified. But Li Yan and his group had come all the way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, so why would they care?

Everyone else remained motionless, except for Lü San, who patted the demon gourd at his waist.

hum!
Dark clouds suddenly gathered, and countless tiny, venomous bees swarmed out of the gourd, their flapping wings creating a chilling buzzing sound as they attacked the approaching villagers.

With Long Yan'er's help in training and feeding these poisonous bees, Lü San and his group became even more ferocious.

Those who were stung all let out inhuman screams.

Although these people were all under a curse, not all of them were like the previous few, whose internal organs were eroded and who lost their sense of pain.

The intense pain filled them with fear, and they ran around screaming and crying.

Of course, there were also more than a dozen people who had been completely corrupted and turned into puppets. They were not afraid of the stings of the poisonous bees at all, their pupils were grayish-white, and their faces were ferocious as they charged towards them.

At the same time, the skin on my body began to become swollen and transparent.

The group was experienced and could tell at a glance what tricks they were up to.

"Humph!"

Shalifei let out a cold snort and pulled the trigger repeatedly.

Boom boom boom!
With each roar of fire, those who rushed forward were reduced to dust, their silken threads bursting open like clouds and slowly wriggling on the ground.

When the smoke cleared, no one was left standing around.

Apart from those who were completely parasitized, the rest of them screamed and rolled around in agony.

In the distance, in the ancestral hall, the old man with the sloping leg hurriedly shrank back.

"I'm going to catch those old bastards!"

Kuai Dayou gave a shout and then ran off with Fatty Lin and Kong Shangzhao.

As for Li Yan, he turned to look at Captain Zhou, who had been dragged out, and said coldly:

"Tell me, how did Commander Tian die?"

"Just kill me!"

Lieutenant Zhou was furious. "You lackeys of the imperial court, you shall die a horrible death!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned somewhat strange.

That makes it sound like they're the bad guys...

(End of this chapter)