Blade - Unbound

Chapter 93: The Ancient Qinling Road

A gentle voice emerged from the darkness.

“What if the target is tough?”

A figure slowly stepped toward the window. Dressed in a blue scholar's robe, with fair skin and a perpetual smile, the man looked like nothing more than a young scholar out on a leisurely excursion. Yet as the bearded man looked at this seemingly harmless youth, a trace of fear flashed through his eyes.

Lowering his head, he muttered, “That's true. Third Brother's wisdom is unmatched. Dealing with people like them will be effortless for you.”

The young man glanced at him before shaking his head with a sigh. “I don't want the trouble either, but there's no helping it, winter is coming soon. The brothers in the stronghold need money to survive the cold season.

“You know the situation up in the mountains. If we don't gather enough silver, the stronghold might not even survive until next year.”

He looked out the window. “We aren’t the only ones eyeing this target in Niubei Ridge. But whether anyone can actually pull it off is another matter. Let's find out who they really are first.”

“Yes, Third Brother!”

“Hmm?”

“Yes, Young Master...”

***

The rain continued falling as the days grew shorter and shorter. By the time Sha Lifei returned from the inn, the sky had already darkened considerably.

Inside the ruined main hall, firelight continued to flicker as the aroma of food drifted through the air.

Sha Lifei sniffed once and his eyes immediately lit up. Picking up his pace, he shouted before even entering. “Damn it, you started eating without waiting for me!”

“What's the hurry?” Li Yan sat on a stone block, wiping down his Guanshan Blade. “Autumn mountain pheasants may be fat, but the meat is still a little tough. The longer it stews, the more tender it’ll become.”

Meat had been the one thing they never lacked since setting out on their journey. Ordinary travelers were usually in a hurry. Even if they occasionally spotted wild game by the roadside, they might not be able to catch it.

For Li Yan, however, it was no problem. His sense of smell was extraordinary. Nothing could approach unnoticed.

He had also acquired a number of throwing knives in Xianyang. Many times, while walking along, he would suddenly flick out a knife and return with fresh game.

The fragrance rising from the large pot made everyone drool, yet no one dared lift the lid. All of them knew Li Yan was unusually particular about food. If the cooking time wasn't sufficient and someone opened the lid early, he would immediately lose his temper and start cursing.

Even Sha Lifei had once endured his rage. After setting down the wine jar and side dishes, he sat beside Li Yan and relayed everything he had learned.

Li Yan frowned. “The bandits are preparing to hide from the winter?”

Sha Lifei nodded. “Most likely.”

One of the younger pallbearers looked puzzled. “Why would they need to spend the winter elsewhere?”

Old Meng, the coachman, could no longer resist the temptation as he sidled up to the wine jar and poured himself a bowl. After taking two satisfying swigs, he narrowed his eyes and spoke. “You work in the jianghu and don't know that? It’s not easy to survive in the mountains in winter, especially in the Qinling Mountain Range.

“Once the heavy snow seals the passes, food becomes scarce and the roads are blocked. The bandits can't rob anything. They would have to be idiots to stay up there all winter. So every year around this time, they pull off one last big score. After dividing the money, everyone heads down the mountain.”

“Some go visit their mothers. Some hide away with their favorite courtesans. Some even set up gambling dens back in their villages. In short, everyone handles their own business. When spring comes, the bandit chief gathers everyone back together. If you're late, you'll be punished with three stabs.

“If someone dies after clashing with outsiders, the entire gang will unite to avenge him. Once that's done, they go right back to robbing travelers.”

The young pallbearer stared blankly at Old Meng and wondered, “They go visit their mothers?”

Sha Lifei snorted. “Bandits don't pop out of rocks. Of course they have mothers. Some even support entire families. Sometimes you'll notice some delinquent from a village suddenly claim that he's gone away to do business. He only comes back during New Year and somehow always has money.

“Most of the time, something's not quite right.”

The young pallbearer finally understood. “I see...”

Then everyone's gaze shifted toward Li Yan. Originally, the pallbearers had assumed that Sha Lifei, with his extensive jianghu experience, or the mature and reliable Wang Daoxuan would be making the decisions. But Li Yan had been making flawless decisions and arrangements over the past several days.

He had completely earned their trust.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yan spoke. “Let's wait until we reach the Zhongnan Mountain. The matter with the bandits of Niubei Ridge has certainly spread by now. We'll see how others respond first.”

But the next second, he frowned. Looking toward the door, he muttered, “Someone's coming. And quite a few people at that, stay alert.”

Sha Lifei immediately grabbed his blade and headed outside.

After taking a look, he shook his head. “It's those officials. They really did come.”

He then recounted what had happened at the inn. Li Yan remained silent and glanced at Wang Daoxuan.

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. “They're travelers too. Helping others is no trouble, we can spare them a room.”

The group had neatly divided their responsibilities in the group. Li Yan handled the threats; Wang Daoxuan played peacemaker; and Sha Lifei adapted according to the situation. He was hard when necessary, soft when appropriate.

No matter what happened, they always left room to maneuver.

Sure enough, as soon as they finished discussing, the middle-aged man named Fengping appeared at the entrance and clasped his hands to everyone inside. “Everyone, the wind and rain are fierce. Can you do us a favor and lend us one room?”

Having already made their decision, Sha Lifei naturally took the opportunity to play the good guy. “Sure, we aren't unreasonable people.”

He and the pallbearers moved their belongings from the side room. Before leaving, he casually added, “We've got hot food over here, do you want some?”

Fengping maintained his stern expression as he cupped his hands and bowed slightly again. “Thank you, but no.”

Sha Lifei had only been making polite conversation. If they had actually accepted, he probably wouldn't have been happy about it. Shrugging, he returned inside.

After watching them leave, Fengping began directing the others to build fires. Then, he lifted the carriage curtain and carefully helped an elderly man descend.

The old man was tall but somewhat stout. His white brows and long beard gave him an imposing appearance. Though his eyes were gentle, he naturally carried an aura of authority.

Fengping then lifted the curtain of the second carriage. “Madam, Young Lady, we've arrived.”

A dignified woman dressed in white emerged, helping an elderly matron down.

As he entered the side hall, the old man looked at the thick layers of dust coating everything and sighed. “Traveling is difficult, there are always inconveniences.

“Fengping, bring chairs for Madam and Young Lady. Also, send some pastries to our neighbors. We must observe proper etiquette.”

Fengping acknowledged, “Yes, Master.”

He first unloaded two small chairs from the carriage. Then, he took out a lacquered box and headed into Li Yan's hall.

He cupped his fists when he entered. “Thank you, everyone. My master asked me to bring some pastries for you all.”

Sha Lifei's eyes immediately widened and he accepted the box at once. “Pastries from the Four Fragrances Pavilion? Many thanks, please thank your master on our behalf.”

Fengping nodded. “No need for thanks.”

He then took his leave.

Sha Lifei praised them while opening the lacquered box. “Look at those manners. They are definitely a wealthy household.”

The black lacquer decorated with red patterns was an ancient craft passed down since the Han Dynasty. It was elegant and refined. Colorful pastries had been arranged neatly inside, looking too beautiful to eat.

“Four Fragrances Pavilion pastries...” Sha Lifei sighed with nostalgia. “These things aren't cheap. One box costs ten taels of silver. The last time I ate them was while handling funeral arrangements for a wealthy Chang'an merchant.”

Li Yan had eaten far more impressive delicacies in his previous life. Though attractive, these pastries didn't particularly impress him. He distributed them among the group before walking over and lifting the pot lid.

A wave of steam immediately billowed upward and the fragrance became even richer. The meal itself was simple. Chicken chopped into pieces, stir-fried with pickled vegetables they had brought along before simmered in water with a bit of salt.

Li Yan's extraordinary sense of smell allowed him to prepare ordinary ingredients perfectly. His control over the cooking process was exquisite, allowing him to bring out the full natural flavors of the ingredients.

As a result, even simple food tasted delicious. Everyone had already reached their limit. They rushed forward with bowls in hand. Breaking apart their dried flatbread and soaking it in the hot broth, they took a swig of liquor. When they were done, they stuffed the food in their mouth.

Squatting on the ground, they ate noisily until sweat covered their foreheads.

After dinner, everyone retired early. Though the rain had temporarily delayed their journey, they were all experienced travelers. They knew the road ahead would be difficult; thus, any chance to rest had to be seized.

Only Wang Daoxuan and Li Yan remained beside the campfire. The two arranged shifts. One would meditate and focus his spirit while the other stood watch and provided protection.

Li Yan was assigned the second half of the night. Therefore, after everyone fell asleep, he crossed his legs and sat down.

First, he visualized his internal organs. Then he gathered every trace of spiritual light into the space between his brows. As he started his meditation, he began to focus on his spirit. Soon, the white light within his brow expanded and a figure appeared.

After months of cultivation, the outline of his spirit had become increasingly clear. It had started to vaguely resemble the Great Luo Dharma Body. It was clad in Daoist robes and seated upon a lotus platform.

Only the facial features were strange. They actually looked like Li Yan!

That was the deity he had visualized. The Great Luo Dharma Body continued to protect him whenever he meditated. Not a single fragment of spiritual light was wasted. Furthermore, he had not engaged in any spiritual battles, leaving his consciousness unharmed.

As a result, Li Yan's progress was astonishing. By the time he reached Mount Taibai, his cultivation would already be sufficient to support the construction of his inner temple.

To others, such progress would seem miraculous. Before constructing their inner temple, ordinary people lost spiritual light constantly. Even if they cultivated diligently every night, some would always leak away. It was like filling a pool that had holes in its walls. That alone wasted enormous amounts of time.

Li Yan suffered from no such problem. Even more remarkably, if his consciousness was injured, he could simply transfer the damage through the Great Luo Dharma Body. His cultivation would never regress because of a single battle. He lacked all those usual concerns.

Yet at that moment, he felt no joy whatsoever.

Within his dantian, the Summoning Writ imprint upon the Great Luo Dharma Body's left palm had become increasingly distinct. It almost seemed like a natural pattern now.

The thing came from the Underworld. Even the Taisuan Orthodox Sect treated that mysterious place with caution. Once he officially became a living yin emissary, would his secret be exposed?

The closer he came to the Qinling Mountain Range, the more uneasy he felt. Before he realized it, his daily session had ended.

When Li Yan opened his eyes, it was already past midnight. Inside the hall, snores echoed everywhere as the campfire burned brightly. However, it still could not dispel the bitter chill of an autumn rain-soaked night.

Watching Wang Daoxuan meditate, Li Yan added more firewood before taking his place beside the flames.

Of course, he wasn't going to remain idle. He pulled out two books from his pack. The first was the Pigua Fist Manual, while the other was the Qin-Han Drum Rhythms. Both had been gifts from Troupe Leader Zhou of the Spring Breeze Troupe.

The Thundercloud Divine Drum was, after all, a spiritual artifact. He carried it on horseback and practiced with it every day at fixed times. As he practiced, his use of hidden force had clearly improved.

However, randomly beating the drum wasn't enough to unleash its true power. Only by combining his meditation with the techniques described in the Qin-Han Drum Rhythms could its full potential be realized.

Then there was the Pigua Fist Manual. Several life-and-death battles had recently revealed Li Yan's weaknesses. The gap in cultivation was one matter, but flaws in his fist art had also begun to emerge.

Red Fist emphasized agile movement and close combat. Thanks to his father's teachings and his experiences from a previous life, Li Yan had invested heavily in mastering those techniques. Close combat covered everything from hooking and trapping to binding, sticking, and striking.

The results spoke for themselves. During his battle with Zhou Bai, once he got close enough, he never feared his opponent. He could often defeat stronger enemies.

After all, martial combat was heavily dependent on distance. According to his father's original plan, he could rely on his Guanshan blade for long-range combat and the Red Fist for close combat.

That combination had allowed Li Yan to rapidly establish his strength and gain a reputation. Now, however, it was no longer enough.

It wasn't that the Red Fist was lacking. Rather, everyone's physique and personality differed. One needed a foundational style before absorbing other martial arts and developing their own path. Only then could they reach greater heights.

For example, when fighting the Iron Wire Fist practitioner, Li Yan had been almost helpless. He could only rely on his tricks and psychological weaknesses. Moreover, over the past few months, Li Yan had grown noticeably taller. His martial arts needed to evolve accordingly.

Zhou Pan possessed unusually long arms, and thus chose to train in the Tongbei Monkey Fist. Li Yan's choice was the Pigua Fist. It primarily used the palms, and contained a technique known as the Pigua Palm.

It specialized in controlling opponents at medium and long range. Its principles emphasized extending attacks further. At long range, one struck from afar and at close range, one whipped and lashed.

It could contract and expand as well as lengthen and shorten. Above all, it excelled at controlling distance. That alone could compensate for Li Yan's weaknesses. Combined with Red Fist's Cannon Fist, its power would increase even further.

There was another reason behind his choice. The hidden force he originally cultivated was the Red Fist's Silk-Piercing Force. Now, however, he cultivated the Thundercloud Resonance.

It was domineering and violent, carrying a thunderous might that suppressed all directions. His boxing needed to match it. Only then could he eventually form true Martial Intent.

As he sat beside the campfire on a rainy night, Li Yan studied the manual. From time to time, he fell into deep thought. Of course, this was only the beginning. Changing one's martial path was like climbing to the heavens.

He wasn't completely abandoning Red Fist, but developing his unique style would still take time. He would need guidance from true masters. Chang'an gathered experts from all walks of life. After finishing his journey through the Qinling Mountain Range, he could head there and find a seasoned Pigua Fist master to study under.

Before he knew it, the night had passed. Just as Wang Daoxuan had predicted, the autumn rain still hadn't stopped by morning. A fine drizzle continued to fall.

When transporting a coffin home, one taboo had to be avoided above all else. The coffin could not touch the ground. In terrible weather like this, even covered with oilcloth, the coffin would inevitably become damp.

If the cart slipped and overturned, that would be disastrous.

Everyone split firewood, boiled water, and cooked porridge. A bowl of steaming rice porridge paired with yesterday's leftovers quickly drove away the chill. Even within an abandoned residence, warmth spread through their bodies.

Around noon, the autumn rain finally stopped. At that time, Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan stepped outside to examine the weather. Similarly, the neighboring group emerged from their own courtyard.

The old man stroked his beard and gazed into the distance. As he took in the lush greenery and rolling white mist, his mood visibly improved.

He asked, “Fengping, do you know what road we're traveling?”

Fengping replied, “The Ancient Qin-Chu Road.”

“And do you know its history?”

“... This subordinate does not.”

The old man sighed while looking into the distance. “The Qinling Mountain Range divides north from south. It forms the central dragon vein among the three great dragon veins. The road was first constructed during the pre-Qin era. It began in Xianyang and ended at the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountain Range.

“That is why this region came to be known as Zhongnan Mountain. Then, later generations continued expanding it until it connected Qin and Chu.”

Fengping nodded in realization. “So that's the origin.”

The old man continued, “Our ancestors carved roads through wilderness and hardship since ancient times. They crossed natural barriers and connected the world.

“There is the Ziwu Road, running from Chang'an to Hanzhong, Ankang, and Bashu. Then, there is Luogu Road, passing south through Western Luogu toward Hanzhong. There is also Baoxie Road, said to have been opened by Emperor Yu himself. Finally, there are the Chencang, Lanwu, Yigu, and Xigu Roads as well.”

Fengping interjected, “I've heard of one of those. It created the phrase: ‘Cross Chencang in secret.’”

The old man nodded. “Exactly. Our ancestors accomplished such feats and I have merely suffered a temporary setback. What do I have to fear? When I return to Fengyang, I'll endure hardship, nurture the younger generations of my clan, and wait patiently.

He sighed. Thirty years from now, who is to say things won't be entirely different?”

Wang Daoxuan couldn't help developing a favorable impression from the old man's cultured words. He couldn’t help but speak up. “This elder has remarkable knowledge. We're also heading to Fengyang. May I ask your name?”

The old man thought briefly before replying. “Since we're traveling the same road and escorting a dead man home, there's no need for secrecy. This old man is Lu Kang.”

The moment Li Yan and Sha Lifei heard the name, their expressions turned strange.