Blade - Unbound

Chapter 92: Storm Clouds Over the Road

Rumble...

Thunder rumbled in the overcast sky, foreshadowing the light rain that soon began to fall. Thin and lingering like silk threads, the raindrops pattered endlessly upon the leaves by the roadside.

It was currently the season of Frost's Descent where all things had reached completion. Yang energy descended into the earth; yin began to condense; and the weather steadily turned colder. It was also the time of year with the greatest temperature difference between day and night.

Once the rain started falling, the chill seemed to crawl upward from the soles of one's feet.

“What rotten luck...” Standing beneath the eaves, Sha Lifei shivered before turning back indoors. Giving Wang Daoxuan a thumbs-up, he said, “Daoist, you sure know your stuff. You predicted today's rain and brought us here ahead of time. It’s just a shame we couldn't find a proper place to stay.”

They had taken shelter in a remote estate halfway up a hillside. According to local stories, it had been built years ago by a wealthy merchant who intended to establish his entire clan here. Unexpectedly, bandits had raided the place just after construction was completed. It was abandoned from that day onward.

Most of the buildings had already collapsed and wild grass grew everywhere around it. Fortunately, two large main halls remained intact, which was enough to shelter everyone from the wind and rain.

Inside the hall, Wang Daoxuan burned dried mugwort and waved it through every corner. He paid particular attention to dark and decaying areas to dispel foul influences. The old coachman fed the horses outside as the four pallbearers chopped firewood and built a stove.

As for Li Yan, he disliked other people's cooking, finding it both dirty and unpleasant. As a result, he handled the cooking himself. After several days of traveling together, everyone had settled into a smooth routine. Their cooperation was orderly and efficient.

Feeling bored, Sha Lifei began complaining, “That innkeeper really has no manners. We're fellow jianghu travelers, yet he wouldn't even let us through the door. Otherwise, we would already be drinking and eating hot food right now.”

Their journey had been fairly smooth since leaving Xianyang. Several days had passed and they had already reached the foothills of the Qinling Mountain Range.

After observing the weather, Wang Daoxuan determined that several days of rain were likely ahead. Continuing onward might soak the coffin; and thus, he led everyone here to rest.

The location was not far from the mountain road and an inn stood only a few hundred zhang away. Unfortunately, the inn had refused to admit them. They merely pointed out this abandoned residence as shelter from the rain.

The leader of the pallbearers was called Scarry Yue. When he was young, he had accidentally rolled down a hillside while playing. He survived, but his scalp had been left covered in scars. As an adult, he shaved his head completely. Combined with his fierce-looking face, the scars earned him the nickname “Scarry.”

Over time, no one remembered his real name anymore. Though he looked intimidating, he was honest and dependable. His fierce look also helped him gain authority. Though he had only been working for a few years, he was one of Xianyang's most well-known pallbearers.

Hearing Sha Lifei complain, Scarry Yue scratched his head and chuckled. “Hero Sha, we're escorting a dead man home, but the inn receives the living. Wouldn't we just be causing trouble if we went there? Our trade has a rule. We don't casually enter other people's places, otherwise we might bring them bad luck. In the past, we’ve slept in the wilderness or ruined temples. We're used to this.”

Old Meng from the Taixing Carriage and Horse Company rolled his eyes as he smacked his lips. “Traveling is always like this. Who doesn't endure wind and sun? The only thing this old man regrets is the lack of good liquor!”

Sha Lifei immediately laughed. “You old fox, so that's what you're after. Trying to trick us into buying drinks?”

“Hah! What kind of good liquor could a countryside inn possibly have?” Old Meng blinked. “That just shows how little you know. The Phoenix Descent Inn down the mountain is a famous establishment from Chang'an. They use willow forest old Qin liquor brewed near Fengxiang.

“The aroma is elegant; the taste is mellow and smooth; and the flavors are balanced perfectly. The aftertaste lingers forever... Though I never made a name for myself through martial skill, I've traveled everywhere. When it comes to liquor, nobody knows better than me!”

Sha Lifei gulped unconsciously. “You'd better not be lying.”

While chopping vegetables, Li Yan's eyes lit up. “Uncle Sha, if it's a famous establishment, they probably hear plenty of jianghu news. We aren't traveling today anyway. You should go buy some liquor for everyone to ward off the cold. While you're at it, ask around and see whether the roads through the Qinling Mountain Range are peaceful.”

“Got it!” With a wide grin on his face, Sha Lifei threw on a bamboo hat and straw raincoat before rushing into the rain.

When it came to actual labor, he loved slacking off. But running errands and gathering information? That was his specialty.

Having finished dispelling the foul influences, Wang Daoxuan lit three sticks of incense and placed them in a small burner beside the coffin. Only then did he smile. “Don't worry, the route we're taking is the ancient Qin-Chu Road. It passes directly through the Zhongnan Mountain.

“Temples and Daoist monasteries fill the Zhongnan Mountain. Many experts of the mystic path live in seclusion in this area. Pilgrimage groups from Chang'an travel through year-round, so it's generally quite safe.

“Though now that it's the season of Frost's Descent, the wolves and other beasts are making winter preparations. They may come down from the mountains looking for...”

Halfway through speaking, he noticed Li Yan staring blankly outside and his brows immediately furrowed. “It appeared again?”

Li Yan nodded silently. The Cold Altar Wandering Master had appeared once more, standing amidst the drizzle outside. The figure remained covered in blood and long hair hung down over its face. Its left hand pointed toward the Qinling Mountain Range.

Although Qing Yangzi had assured him there was nothing wrong, Li Yan still felt uneasy. The reason was simple. The Wandering Master’s appearance was simply too miserable.

What exactly had happened to him...

***

“When phoenixes fly together, they bring joyful news. Guests fill the hall, sharing warm conversations...” Reading the couplet hanging beside the inn entrance, Sha Lifei muttered to himself, “Damn it. A jianghu inn using fancy scholarly phrases! This has to be run by some little lady.”

The Phoenix Descent Inn was surprisingly large. Elegant couplets hung upon the tall wooden gates and gourd-shaped lanterns dangled from both sides. The earthen walls enclosed the inn and the surrounding grounds.

Even before entering, Sha Lifei heard the sounds of mules and horses neighing within. After passing through the courtyard gate, he found large livestock shelters on either side of the spacious yard. Two workers hurried about feeding fodder to the animals.

The moment one of the round-faced workers spotted him, he hurried over and bowed repeatedly. “Oh dear, honored guest, the corpse escort team really can't enter the inn. Please don't make things difficult for us.”

“Look at you trembling, you fool.” Sha Lifei glared at him and scolded, “I'm here to buy liquor. You'll let me in for that, right?”

“Of course!” The worker immediately bowed and gestured toward the entrance. “Please come inside.”

People who worked at inns had seen every type of customer imaginable. There were unreasonable troublemakers, bullies, and people of all kinds. Someone like Sha Lifei couldn't intimidate him.

Too lazy to argue, Sha Lifei jogged across the muddy courtyard, leapt over puddles, and pushed through the cloth curtain.

The inns of the jianghu also came in different classes. The finest establishments were usually located in bustling cities. They often contained more than a dozen courtyards and catered to nobles and wealthy merchants.

High-class inns were similar, though somewhat smaller. They tended to stand near famous pleasure houses or academies. Roadside inns like the Phoenix Descent Inn were much simpler. It consisted of a front hall and a rear courtyard.

The front hall had two stories and the central area was spacious and filled with square tables for eating and drinking. Wooden railings and staircases lined both sides, leading to second-floor rooms. The rear courtyard contained both communal sleeping quarters and private rooms.

The only difference was how much silver one could pay. Perhaps because of the autumn rain, many travelers filled the inn.

“Waiter, bring me a pot of Old Qin liquor and something to eat!” Sha Lifei called out before taking a seat in an empty corner.

From his robes, he pulled out a copy of The Matchmaker of the Monastic Gate.

He appeared to be reading, but in reality, he was examining everyone around him. As an old jianghu veteran, he quickly assessed the people in the inn.

The group on the left wore neat clothing and spoke politely while eating only vegetarian food. They were also accompanied by guards. Clearly, they were a pilgrimage group from Chang'an.

Pilgrimage groups traveled together to famous mountains and sacred sites, partly to demonstrate sincerity and partly to enjoy the scenery. They usually possessed moderate wealth and hired guards for protection. After all, not every road was peaceful.

The people on the right were obviously transport workers, since they were drinking rough liquor and eating pickled vegetables. Growing increasingly excited, they even began singing drinking songs while playing finger-guessing games.

“Oh hey, liquor is just water from the five grains! First it softens the arms, then it softens the legs! Wine ruins gentlemen just as water ruins roads; even immortals can't escape a drinking bout!”

Their loud shouting visibly irritated several members of the Chang'an pilgrimage group. After their guards whispered a few words into their ears, however, they swallowed their anger.

Sha Lifei secretly chuckled. Those transport workers might seem crude, but they were never easy targets. They had carriage gangs backing them, and some even maintained connections with mountain bandits. If a conflict broke out, a beating while blindfolded would be the best outcome. Should someone truly harbor ill intentions, secretly killing and robbing travelers before feeding the bodies to wild beasts wasn't unheard of.

Even if they became wanted by authorities, they could simply flee to another province and continue working. The Chang'an pilgrims truly couldn't afford to provoke them.

As for the remaining customers, most were wandering jianghu performers. Some were muscular martial artists making a living through demonstrations while others carried lutes and storytelling instruments. Their faces were weathered by hardship, and lined with sorrow.

A single jug of cheap wine accompanied endless laments about life's difficulties. This was typical of an inn’s clientele. Ordinary farmers remained occupied with their fields. Those on the roads were usually transport workers or people making a living from the jianghu.

After watching for a while, Sha Lifei saw nothing particularly noteworthy. Just then, the waiter delivered his food and liquor.

Lowering his voice, Sha Lifei asked, “Tell me something, how's the road been lately?”

As he spoke, he casually placed several copper coins on the table.

“Sir, you've come to the right person.”

The waiter set down the dishes and lowered his head slightly. When he lifted the tray again, the copper coins had already disappeared.

Grinning, he replied. “This is near the Zhongnan Mountain. Forget bandits, even the beasts in the mountains supposedly chant Buddhist scriptures and eat vegetarian food. They won't hurt anyone. Dare I ask, are you heading to Shangzhou?”

Sha Lifei nodded. “We are going to Fengyang.”

The waiter glanced around before lowering his voice. “Once you leave the Zhongnan Mountain, you had better be careful. Some transport workers returned yesterday saying wild beasts have attacked people in that area.

“Also, there are many forest bandits in the mountains near Niubei Ridge. They seem short on money lately. In fact, they even clashed with the Dingyuan Escort Agency. I heard it was quite serious. Even though you're escorting a corpse, that doesn't mean they won't make a move.”

“Oh?” Sha Lifei frowned. “Thanks.”

He knew the reputation of Niubei Ridge. The terrain was complex and the forests there were dense. Moreover, it lay directly along the road toward Shangzhou. Bandits had occupied the area for years. The authorities had launched several campaigns against them, yet never completely wiped them out.

Looks like I'd better discuss this with Little Yan.

With that thought, Sha Lifei immediately yelled, “Waiter, pack all this up! Oh, right, give me ten jin of liquor!”

The waiter beamed with delight. “Right away!”

These expensive Willow Forest Old Qin liquors were beyond the means of most customers. The more he sold, the better. Perhaps the innkeeper might even reward him.

Sha Lifei was strong. Lifting a ten-jin wine jar felt like carrying a toy. Just as he prepared to leave, another customer entered through the door.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man. He wore a blue robe, leather belt, wrist guards, and a longsword at his waist. His face was stern and carried an aura of hostility. Most importantly, his boots were official footwear. Though splattered with mud, they were unmistakably black boots with thick white soles. Only officials or the children of officials were permitted to wear such boots.

After surveying the room, he frowned. “Waiter, are there any private courtyards still available?”

The waiter smiled apologetically. “Sir, all the courtyards have already been rented.”

The man casually tossed over a string of coins. “Who rented them?”

The waiter hurriedly caught the money and bowed. “Now you're making things difficult for me. How can I possibly reveal their identities?"

As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the Chang'an pilgrimage group. Without hesitation, the middle-aged man approached them and clasped his hands respectfully.

“Everyone, my apologies. My master cannot tolerate noise so we would like a private courtyard. I am willing to compensate you at three times the lodging cost.”

The pilgrims had already been annoyed by the noisy transport workers. Hearing the request only worsened their mood.

“Isn't that rather overbearing?”

“Exactly.”

“Do you think we can't afford it?”

There was a young gentleman among the group. Though initially cranky, after noticing the man’s boots, his expression changed slightly.

He quickly stopped the others and smiled politely. “My father is Zhang Xianqi. He serves under Minister Li, the newly appointed Provincial Administration Minister. May I ask who you are?”

That was both a probe and a test. If the man possessed a powerful background, they could surrender the courtyard and build a useful connection. If he was merely a minor official, he would naturally back down.

Either way, nobody would be offended. The moment the middle-aged man heard that the man was connected to Minister Li, his expression changed. “Forget it. I won't trouble you further.”

A trace of contempt flashed through the young pilgrim's eyes. Glancing at the transport workers, he felt that merely sharing the same inn with such crude people tarnished his status.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man turned back toward the waiter. “Is there anywhere nearby that's quiet and sheltered from the rain?”

The waiter swallowed nervously. Once again, his eyes drifted elsewhere.

Sha Lifei immediately cursed him, “You little bastard. Keep staring like that and I'll gouge your eyes out.”

Turning to the middle-aged man, Sha Lifei grinned. “People traveling the jianghu always run into inconveniences. There's another building nearby, and we can spare one room.

“However, we're escorting a corpse. If you don't mind that, come along.”

With that, he donned his rain hat and straw cape before leaving.

Outside the inn, he immediately spotted two carriages beneath a roadside tree. The carriages were elegant and spacious, with curtains that remained tightly shut. Six mounted guards wearing blue robes and official boots stood nearby.

Not wanting trouble, Sha Lifei simply carried his wine and walked away.

The middle-aged man followed him outside.

Stopping beside the first carriage, he respectfully reported, “Master, there are no private courtyards available. A group of pilgrims from Chang'an have rented them.”

After hearing the explanation, an elderly voice emerged from within the carriage. “Fengping, you've been deceived. Though the court repeatedly forbids it, the children of officials often obtain travel permits. They stay at official relay stations while traveling. Haven't you met enough people in Chang'an who boast like that?

“Still, you handled it correctly. We don't need trouble.”

Fengping nodded. “Master, there is an abandoned residence nearby suitable for shelter, though a corpse escort team is staying there.”

The elderly voice came again. “They are merely returning the dead to their homeland. And am I not also returning to my roots? There is nothing taboo about it; let's go.”

“Yes, Master.”

Fengping waved his hand and the entire convoy immediately disappeared into the rain.

At that very moment, a second-floor window of the inn opened slightly. A bearded man stroked his chin while watching the departing convoy.

His voice was low and serious. “A sea-winger (high-ranking official), a fire-point (wealthy target), and seven sharp hooks (skilled fighters). There’s no mistake; this is the real target.”

Then he turned back into the room. “Third Brother, this mark has got some sharp edges to him...”