Knife splashing

Chapter 794 A Nightmare
Night had fallen, and the Jinling Prince's Mansion was brightly lit.

Although due to taboos, the Prince's Mansion was only rebuilt on a corner of the original ruins of the Daxing Dynasty palace, it was still a Prince's Mansion after all. The gilded pillars, glass cups, and silk curtains in the banquet hall all demonstrated the immense wealth of the royal family.

Just as Qiu Mingyuan had predicted, the King of Jinling sat at the head of the table, with the people sitting to his left and right at the lower levels being none other than the third master of the Lu family of Suzhou and the fifth master of the Xie family of Qiantang in Jinling.

The two were dressed in fine clothes and exuded an air of elegance, but a hint of anxiety lingered in their eyes.

As for Li Yan, he pretended to be confused and drank and ate his food.

The banquet dishes at this prince's mansion were indeed exquisite. Although they had Nanjing characteristics, they exuded luxury in terms of knife skills, cooking methods, and plating.

For example, the main dish of "Jinling Auspiciousness" is based on the most famous salted duck in Jinling. It is made from carefully selected "Osmanthus Duck" that has been free-range for 100 days by Taihu Lake. It is marinated in a secret old brine made of aged Shaoxing wine, Huai salt, star anise, cinnamon and other ingredients. Then it is slowly smoked with pine wood, cypress branches and osmanthus until the skin is golden red and shiny and the bones are fragrant.

When slicing duck, the ideal is to make it "as thin as a cicada's wing and shaped like a peony," arranging it into the shape of auspicious beasts like the Qilin or auspicious cloud patterns, and serving it with amber-colored candied osmanthus wine and tender ginger sprouts.

There is also "Jade Belt and Qiongjiang Soup".

The fattest and most tender cuts of knife fish taken before the Qingming Festival, the fat under the scales of shad, and the milt of pufferfish safely prepared by top chefs are added to a broth made with matsutake mushrooms and ham, and simmered over low heat to make a milky white thick soup.

Served in a crystal-clear glass, the soup is topped with a glistening "jade belt" made of sturgeon tendons, which is extremely fresh and luxurious, symbolizing "a jade belt across the river, bringing lasting blessings".

Li Yan ate and praised the food, as if he really was just there to enjoy the feast.

Only the members of the two great families looked anxious and kept glancing at the Prince of Jinling, but the Prince of Jinling also looked troubled and was unwilling to speak for a long time.

Just then, the sound of string and wind instruments arose, and a group of exquisitely dressed performers took to the stage. With flowing sleeves and melodious singing, they performed the Kunqu Opera "The Peony Pavilion," which was currently all the rage in Jiangnan.

Li Yan had exceptional eyesight; with a single glance, he confirmed that everyone on the stage was an ordinary person.

There was no fluctuation of magical power or evil aura around him.

It's understandable that he's cautious; after all, the ghost opera troupe is a major threat right now.

But the scene before him confirmed Qiu Mingyuan's judgment: this banquet, ostensibly the birthday banquet of the Prince of Jinling, was in reality a "reconciliation feast" arranged by the Lu and Xie families, taking advantage of the Prince's prestige.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly subtle.

The King of Jinling finally made up his mind, put down his jade chopsticks, coughed lightly, turned his gaze to Li Yan, and put on a warm smile: "Young hero Li, you have repeatedly performed great feats in Jinling City, which I greatly admire. However, in the Jiangnan region, stability is of paramount importance. Today, the heads of the Lu and Xie families are here, and they also admire your demeanor, and wish to settle past grievances with you over a cup of wine."

He paused, then spoke with a pointed remark, "The Lin family's affairs are far-reaching, and there may be misunderstandings. The case of Huai Shu Village will be handled according to the laws of the imperial court and the regulations of the Xuanmen sect. Young hero, you have been traveling and working hard; perhaps you should take a break for now?"

"Both families are willing to make some compensation to maintain the dignity of the gentry in Jiangnan and jointly resist the evil atmosphere of Taihu Lake."

Li Yan sat motionless, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the cold wine glass.

He looked at the glass cup, surrounded by clinking glasses and soft, gentle words, but what flashed through his mind were the mountains of "human cocoons" piled up in the tunnel of the Huai Shu Village ancestral hall, the stiff, numb faces of Zhou Dayong's wife and children, and the boatman's lament about the heavy taxes levied on weavers.

The people of Jiangnan were struggling in dire straits, while the instigators or accomplices casually discussed "decency" and "compensation" in this extravagant palace.

A burning anger flared within him; how could he possibly agree?

He slowly raised his eyes, a smile on his face, and glanced at the Prince of Jinling and the two family heads: "I appreciate Your Highness's kindness. But such matters are governed by the laws of the court. I am but a wandering swordsman, and I have no such ability."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

The music stopped sometime earlier, and the performers retreated in a fluster.

Lu Sanye's smile froze, and a fierce glint flashed in Xie Wuye's eyes.

The amiable expression on the King of Jinling's face faded, replaced by a hint of embarrassment and deeper impatience. He waved his hand, "Young hero, you flatter me. Let's not beat around the bush..."

Li Yan interrupted him, looking directly at the seemingly noble prince, his voice low but clear: "I have a question for you, Your Highness, you are of noble status and transcendent, why are you willing to personally step forward to mediate between the two families?"

This is also what puzzled him.

Jinling's location is special and there are many taboos. All the kings of Jinling throughout the ages have lived cautiously, fearing that they would be caught by the court officials. How could this prince dare to get involved in this mess?

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jinling's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately only managing a vague reply: "This prince... this prince is also considering the overall situation and maintaining peace in Jiangnan..."

Li Yan keenly noticed the panic and helplessness in the other person's eyes.

Clearly, they don't want to, or rather, can't, discuss the reasons in detail.

In that suffocating moment, a familiar smell instantly alerted Li Yan—it was a mixture of earthy, desperate sweat and resentment.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on a servant carrying a plate and walking with his head down.

The servant's steps appeared respectful, but his body was taut like a bow, and his eyes, through his lowered bangs, were fixed on Master Xie.

It's Lieutenant Zhou from Huai Shu Village!

Li Yan immediately remembered this person, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

This man's family was destroyed, so why would he stop him from seeking revenge?

The world is full of petty scheming and despicable acts, and equally full of the anger of ordinary people.

Just as he approached the main table and was about to set down the dishes—

"stop!"

One of the guards beside Master Lu also sensed something was wrong and shouted out sharply.

The servant suddenly looked up, revealing a disheveled, haggard face filled with deep-seated hatred. He was none other than the former Yangzhou Commandant, Commandant Si Zhou, who had been "punished and sent back to his hometown."

At this moment, all that remained in his eyes was the madness of burning everything to ashes!

"You scoundrel! Give me back the lives of my wife and children!"

Zhou Dayong roared and suddenly exerted his strength, smashing the silver plate and hot soup in his hand hard at Xie Wuye. At the same time, he rushed towards the area where the leaders of the Lu and Xie families were, like a moth drawn to a flame!

He was merely a captain in the Commandery. Although he had reached the level of internal strength and had rich combat experience, he was clearly no match for the top guards of the two great families.

However, Zhou Dayong's face only showed a manic joy.

His abdomen had become noticeably swollen.

A dangerous red light emanated from beneath the clothes, accompanied by the faint sound of thunder.

"Thunderfire Mechanism! Retreat immediately!"

A guard's exclamation rang out.

Li Yan's pupils contracted, and he immediately retreated.

He had understood Zhou Dayong's resolute plan.

This man had long harbored a death wish. His wife and children had died tragically, and he himself was consumed by curses and despair. Therefore, he sought out someone to hide the Thunderfire Mechanism in his abdomen, intending to perish together with them.

boom--!
The deafening explosion shattered the luxurious and tranquil night of the palace.

A blinding flash of light and a violent shockwave suddenly exploded outwards from Zhou Dayong.

Splinters of wood, shards of porcelain, and remains of flesh and blood flew everywhere amidst the scorching air currents.

The area around the main table instantly transformed into a battleground.

Screams, gasps of alarm, and the shattering of cups and plates filled the air.

Xie Wuye, who was the first to be hit, was blown to pieces on the spot along with his guards.

Master Lu was thrown back by the blast wave and crashed heavily into a pillar, spitting out blood. His fate was unknown. The Prince of Jinling, who was closer, was also affected by the blast. Although he was protected by his bodyguards and did not die, he also fell into a coma.

Thick smoke billowed, and the smell of sandalwood mixed with the stench of blood to create a nauseating odor.

The once elegant banquet hall was now a mess, filled with cries and screams.

Li Yan brushed aside the flying debris and looked coldly at this human tragedy.

"Why...why didn't you stop it?!"

The commander of the prince's guards, looking disheveled, glared at him angrily.

Li Yan glanced at him indifferently, "What, you think you can pin the blame on me for your dereliction of duty?" The guard captain roared, "Don't think I don't know! With your abilities, the layout of this palace can't possibly contain your supernatural powers. Why didn't you warn us?!"

Li Yan grew impatient. "Get lost! Instead of wasting your time, you should hurry up and save the Prince, and then think about who brought this disaster to the Prince's mansion!"

Although the Prince's Mansion was low-key, it was the most important place in Jinling. Such a big event immediately attracted a lot of people, and the Duweisi (military command) was the fastest to act.

Squads of men in black uniforms poured into the Prince's mansion.

The leaders were Qiu Mingyuan, the Chief Justice of the Xuanji Division, and Chu Zhenyue, the Assistant Commander of the Northern Garrison Division. Their faces were ashen, and their eyes swept across the entire area like lightning.

Qiu Mingyuan's voice was cold and firm, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Seal off the Prince's mansion! No one is allowed to leave! Thoroughly investigate the origin of the assassins and verify the casualties!"

His gaze finally settled on the pale-faced Prince of Jinling, clutching his shoulder, and the Lu and Xie family heads, whose fates were unknown amidst the ruins. He then gave a final, deep look to Li Yan, who stood silently in the middle, his robes fluttering slightly.

"Young Master Li, look at this..."

He led Li Yan to a secluded spot, and his face immediately fell into a look of helplessness.

Li Yan naturally wouldn't admit that he had let the enemy off the hook, so he shook his head and said, "It happened so suddenly, and they used firearms, I didn't have time to stop them."

Qiu Mingyuan wasn't stupid, and he didn't want to get entangled in this issue. He said, "The attack on the Jinling Prince's Mansion concerns the royal family, so we can't be careless. We also need to give an explanation to the two major families, at least we need to show some respect."

"Until the matter is clarified, we must ask that Young Master Li remain in the manor."

“That’s natural.” Li Yan did not object.

To be honest, he was also very curious about the person who helped Zhou Dayong with his modifications. Such a powerful mechanism could be hidden inside his abdomen without hindering his movements.

This is a method that ordinary people cannot possess...

…………

The moon was high in the sky, and the light shining through the dark clouds was pale and cold.

Because of the explosion at the Prince's Mansion, a large number of people were withdrawn, and the usually solemn and dignified Duweisi Yamen was now deserted.

Bang~ Bang bang~
"Be careful with fire at midnight!"

The guards' eyelids began to droop, and the watchman's shouts grew fainter and fainter, as if a cotton ball had been stuffed into their ears, blocking out all other sounds.

He barely opened his eyes, only to find that the streets outside the government office had been quietly shrouded in a thick, stagnant gray fog, making everything hazy.

"Something's wrong! Something's happened!"

He felt a jolt of fear, but then everything went black and he fainted.

Just as I was about to fall, I heard a whooshing sound beside me and someone grabbed my collar.

The visitor was none other than Lü San.

He frowned slightly, placed the unconscious soldier beside him, and whistled continuously.

However, the alarm rats did not respond at all.

"what's the situation?"

Shalifei and the others also rushed out.

Even without Lü San's reminder, they all noticed the abnormality.

The guards along the way stared blankly, pacing around in the familiar courtyard, and could not be woken up no matter what they did. The patrol teams also mysteriously fell asleep.

"It's a powerful illusion array."

Wang Daoxuan looked at the compass in his hand and said with a solemn expression, "All eight gates are activated. Someone outside has set up an array, and they are coming for us."

Shalifei frowned. "Or should we take this opportunity to break out?"

Wang Daoxuan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The situation is unclear; we must not act rashly..."

Wow!
Before he could finish speaking, countless pale white paper figures, each the size of a palm and with jagged edges, flew out from the depths of the thick fog in the street. They drifted in the wind, making strange creaking noises.

"What kind of evil spirit is this?!"

Wang Daoxuan glared and threw out several yellow talismans.

But something surprising happened.

Puff puff!
The yellow talisman collided with the paper figure and turned into a ball of fire that burned.

Like a chain reaction, all the paper figures turned into balls of fire, flying up and down, hurtling towards them like a meteor shower.

"They added phosphorus powder! Retreat immediately!"

Shalifei sniffed and his expression changed instantly.

This stuff is something the physical body can't resist; once you get it, it's like a maggot clinging to your bone.

The group quickly dragged the unconscious soldier back and closed the gate at the same time.

Bang bang bang!
The ball of fire struck the door, instantly setting it ablaze.

At the same time, a murmur seemed to come from the thick fog, followed by a strong wind that swept the fireballs into the air and rushed towards the front yard.

But in the front courtyard, Wu Ba had already unfolded the folding altar designed by Kuai Dayou. Wang Daoxuan spat out water, stepped in the Gangbu style, and pointed forward with his magic sword.

The five Luo Feng flags rustled and shook.

Call ~
An even stronger gale howled up.

The fiery balls were blown away again.

The crisis has been temporarily averted; at least we won't perish in the flames.

But before they could catch their breath, the strange sound rang out again.

“Ah—ah—”

A mournful, long, and drawn-out operatic melody, seemingly rising from the depths of the underworld, pierced through the thick fog without warning. The sound did not originate from one place, but rather surged in from all directions simultaneously.

Immediately afterwards, strange sounds of gongs and drums, along with music, began to play.

"The vibrant colors of spring have faded, leaving only broken wells and crumbling walls..."

Accompanied by a mournful singing voice, two figures appeared on the wall.

This is a performance of "The Peony Pavilion: A Dream in the Garden," which tells the story of Du Liniang, the daughter of an official, who falls in love with Liu Mengmei, a scholar in her dream. Heartbroken, she dies and becomes a spirit searching for her lover in the real world. They fall in love as a human and as a ghost, and finally, she is resurrected and reunites with Liu Mengmei forever.

The two figures were a woman in white and a scholar.

But the woman in white had none of the grace of a famous actress. Instead, two lines of bloody tears streamed down her heavy theatrical costume, and her skin was deathly pale, making her look no different from a female ghost.

As for the scholar, his face was relatively normal, but his hands were covered in blood.

The two sang sweet nothings to each other, completely oblivious to the others.

"Hey, who do we have here? It's just some scum from the ghost opera troupe!"

Shalifei spat and immediately raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

boom!
With a deafening roar, smoke and debris scattered.

But those two figures vanished into the thick fog like smoke and dust.

"careful!"

Fatty Lin's expression suddenly changed as if he had just thought of something. "They are not ordinary demons, but core members of the Ghost Opera Troupe: Ghost-Faced Rakshasa and Blood-Handed Scholar!"

(End of this chapter)