Upon returning to Wendao Hall, Li Yan immediately opened his eyes and sat up.
"Are you... all right?"
Though Sha Lifei knew Li Yan was merely feigning unconsciousness, worry still gnawed at him.
There was no helping it; seeing Li Yan soaked in blood like a crimson gourd was truly ghastly.
"I'm fine. Just surface wounds."
Brushing it off casually, Li Yan tore his shredded clothes with a few sharp rips. The cuts had already stopped bleeding and did not appear severe.
Naturally, this was the result of transferring his injuries.
During those blows he took, Zhou Bai had applied hidden jin to several strikes, twisting and rupturing his fascia and even injuring his internal organs. Without the Daluo Dharma Body, he likely would have been bedridden for nearly half a year.
Dispelling his internal injuries while retaining a few superficial flesh wounds was done purely to guard his secret and keep the other two from growing suspicious.
Wang Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly fetched blade-wound salve to bandage him.
Allowing the Daoist to tend to his cuts, Li Yan said to Sha Lifei in a low voice, "Uncle Sha, head out right now. First, go to the gambling house and collect our winnings. Then spread word that I'm critically injured, and casually buy some medicinal herbs."
"Remember: put on a worried face."
Sha Lifei asked curiously, "Why?"
Winning a duel with ease and grinding out a mutually destructive draw yielded entirely different reputations.
"It's simple..."
Recalling how Zhang Yuanshang and his circle had all stepped forward after the bout to confront the Eight Great Vajras, Li Yan shook his head. "I only intended to light a spark, yet they tried to play me as a pawn. Both sides have likely been preparing to turn on each other for a long time; I merely happened to provide the occasion.
"The Zhou family has never played by the rules and will certainly retaliate afterward. If nothing unexpected happens, the other side is just waiting for them to make a move so they can seize the pretext and strike.
"Yet if word spreads that I'm gravely injured, the Zhous won't be in such a rush. They'll only post lookouts to keep watch and stop us from slipping out of the city.
"And Zhang Yuanshang's people won't be able to wait too long either; they'll seek out other opportunities. Once the waters are muddied, we'll be safe."
"Ah, got it!"
With that explanation, Sha Lifei understood at once. He hurried out the door, assumed an expression laden with distress, and set off toward the Jinbao Gambling House...
...
"Daoist, Zhou Bai pulled a trick..."
As soon as Sha Lifei departed, Li Yan shared his suspicions with Wang Daoxuan.
"The scent of an ape?"
Having heard him out, Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard in thought. "From what you describe, it sounds like a form of puppet sorcery.
"Ancient witchcraft held that all things possessed spirits. Revering ghosts and deities, practitioners often summoned them into their bodies, an act known as 'descending spirits.' Later, this passed to Fangxian Dao, where, together with forbidden arts of immortality, it formed the twin arts of Fangxian.
"With the rise of orthodox Xuanmen, canonical gods were invested, licentious cults were suppressed, and the imperial court eradicated Fangxian Dao. Some secret arts dispersed into the folk realm and branched off in various ways—for example, the scrying mirror and planchette-writing casters of the Gold Branch are evolutions of descending spirits.
"Puppet sorcery operates similarly, using the aura of a living person paired with yin fiendish qi. There are straw figurines, paper scouts, wooden marionettes—a vast variety. Many lineage adepts excel in this craft.
"The Zhou family must have retained a sorcerer from an occult lineage!"
Li Yan frowned slightly. "Not a folk shaman?"
Wang Daoxuan shook his head slightly. "Arts like these are closely guarded family secrets. While folk shamans often borrow the power of ghosts and spirits, they are not adept in such techniques."
Hearing this, Li Yan narrowed his eyes. "Seems I miscalculated after all. If word gets out that I'm gravely wounded, the Zhous won't strike openly out of caution toward Zhang Yuanshang, but they may very well hire a sorcerer to act in the shadows."
"There is no need to worry about that."
Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and sighed. "You underestimate the Xuanmen of Guanzhong.
"Across Guanzhong, Xuanmen has flourished immensely since the Qin and Han dynasties. As the capital of several imperial dynasties, every confluence of geomantic dragon veins holds the tombs of emperors, generals, and ministers, and Daoist abbeys and Buddhist temples are beyond count.
"Major currents and minor formations nest within one another, producing divine astral energy so robust that ordinary malevolent entities dare not approach. Common folk might not see a ghost or demon in their entire lives.
"The greatest peril upon Guanzhong soil lies in certain ancient Qin and Han tombs. Fangxian Dao ran rampant in those times, and to pursue longevity, men often laid out formations and worked sinister arts within their burial chambers.
"In eras of warfare and chaos, aside from grave robbers, whole armies ransacked tombs. With a single misstep, they could unleash roving jiangshi and passing ghost soldiers. Hence, orthodox Xuanmen established altars in Chang'an, Mount Zhongnan, and Mount Hua, maintaining vast hosts of spirit soldiers.
"Every year during festival days for divine birthdays, they either perform rites to distribute offerings and pacify departed souls, or deploy spirit soldiers to patrol, tear down illicit temples, and hunt down evil spirits.
"Xianyang is no different. The City God Temple enshrines General Meng Chong of the Qin era. In life, he was a grandmaster of the School of the Military, and in death, a titan among spirits. Since his enshrinement as City God, his divine might has been unfathomable, backed by legions of spirit soldiers.
"To harm someone with sorcery inside Xianyang City, at most one could contrive curses or freak accidents. Daring to dispatch spirit soldiers here would be no different from slitting one's own throat.
"Just look at the Zhou family: they only dared to play petty tricks. The moment you startled it with your hidden jin and sacred mantra, their puppet sorcery was easily broken.
"When you sleep, hang the Three Powers Demon-Suppressing Coins at the foot of your bed. Ordinary malevolent puppetry won't be able to get near you."
"Good."
Li Yan gave a slight nod. "During this period, we'll keep to our quarters and watch the show unfold."
Wang Daoxuan naturally understood what he intended, though he voiced his concern: "Being in Xianyang with the Three Powers Demon-Suppressing Coins to protect you means there is no need to worry about Xuanmen methods. But Zhou Pan has already attained transformative jin. He isn't someone you can handle."
Li Yan looked out the window, his expression tranquil.
"I'm not foolish enough to fight him head-on. I only need an opportunity to force him to speak the truth of what happened back then..."
...
Meanwhile, Sha Lifei noticed something amiss as soon as he stepped outside.
Dusk was approaching, cooking smoke rising from household after household along the old lane. Yet across from Wendao Hall, the front gate of a residence was bolted shut.
Above the wall, half a head peeked out, only to jerk back the instant their eyes met.
"Cowardly bastard!"
Sha Lifei spat a curse under his breath and picked up his pace.
He was a seasoned drifter of the Jianghu, full of smooth talk and quick with schemes. After Li Yan's explanation, he understood their current situation inside and out.
It was nothing more than playing sick and putting on a show.
Concealing their edge, watching the fire from across the river, and keeping from being lit like a firecracker.
With his mind made up, he paid no further heed to the watchers tailing him along the way. Instead, he affected a panicked, flustered demeanor, intentionally taking the crowded main thoroughfares.
Before long, he arrived at Jinbao Gambling House.
"Well now, isn't this Hero Sha?"
"You made quite a splash today!"
"If only I'd placed my bet along with you..."
The moment he entered the gambling den, a crowd swarmed him.
It was not out of genuine warmth; most did not even know Sha Lifei. They simply wanted to join the excitement, strike up a conversation, and make an acquaintance.
Later, when discussing the match with others, they could boast that Sha Lifei was an old friend of theirs and that Li Yan, who fought on the arena stage, would have to address them as uncle upon meeting.
It was just like people Li Yan had known in his past life, who elbowed their way next to wealthy figures at events, took a photo, exchanged a word, and then went around claiming they were sworn brothers to scam money.
Sha Lifei naturally saw right through the game. Cupping his hands with a worried expression, he said, "Gentlemen, I have urgent matters today. We'll chat another day—please pardon me."
"Of course, of course. Tend to your business first, Hero Sha."
Seeing his state, the crowd drew their own conclusions.
While they wouldn't say it to his face, they would certainly gossip behind his back. Word of Li Yan's severe injuries would likely blanket all of Xianyang City by nightfall.
Paying them no further mind, Sha Lifei took his betting slip to the wooden counter at the back. Just as he was about to cash it in, an attendant from the gambling house bowed respectfully. "Hero Sha, please come this way. Our shopkeeper wishes to see you."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Sha Lifei's heart skipped a beat.
He had anticipated trouble from the Iron Saber Gang or the White Ape Gang along the road, but he had never expected Shopkeeper Wu of the Jinbao Gambling House to seek him out first.
The forces backing the Jinbao Gambling House were formidable.
Yet they had no dealings with each other—what did Wu want with him?
Uneasy, Sha Lifei followed the attendant up to a private room on the second floor.
Inside sat a genial Shopkeeper Wu. A grand round table was spread with wine and a lavish banquet featuring chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
"Hahaha..."
Seeing Sha Lifei enter, Shopkeeper Wu rose at once and said with a laugh, "I guessed Hero Sha would arrive about now, so I prepared some food and wine especially for you."
Sha Lifei asked, puzzled, "Shopkeeper Wu, what is the meaning of this...?"
"There is no need for worry, Hero Sha."
Shopkeeper Wu shook his head. "You saw it that day as well: I have friction with Yuan Qu, but circumstances forced my hand, so I couldn't openly fall out with him.
"Today, you made quite a display on the stage. Seeing the look on that Yuan fellow's face did my heart good, so I wanted to invite Hero Sha for a few drinks..."
As if Sha Lifei would believe such nonsense.
Those who ran gambling dens had hearts blacker than pitch; unprompted courtesy was always a trap.
Though he didn't know the true motive, Sha Lifei shook his head and said, "This... I thank Shopkeeper Wu for his generosity, but I have urgent business. Once I collect the money, I must rush to an apothecary."
"Oh?"
Shopkeeper Wu furrowed his brows. "Young Master Li is badly hurt?"
Sha Lifei replied with a bitter grimace, "I fear he'll need several months to recuperate."
Shopkeeper Wu nodded slightly and sighed. "If that is the case, I will not insist. Wang Cheng, bring out another hundred taels of silver as a small token of my regard."
"This... how could I possibly accept?"
Sha Lifei acted thoroughly embarrassed, yet his hands did not hesitate in the slightest when taking the silver.
Just as he was about to take his leave, he turned back, eyed the dishes on the table, and scratched his head. "Well, I still need to order food for them. Since Shopkeeper Wu offered, why don't I pack some of this to take back so I don't waste time on the road?"
Shopkeeper Wu: "..."
...
Before long, Sha Lifei emerged from the gambling house clutching several parcels and packages.
The moment his front foot left, Shopkeeper Wu quickly shut the door behind him.
Clack-clack-clack...
With the sound of internal gears turning, the bookshelf in the room slid slowly aside.
Hidden within this gambling room were a partition and a secret passageway.
A woman in white stepped out slowly, her features delicate and refined.
Had Sha Lifei been present, he would have recognized this woman as none other than the white-clad concubine at Squire Lu's side!
Chapter 49