Chapter 14: The Road to the Jianghu Begins

Chapter 14: The Road to the Jianghu Begins

Sha Lifei's heart lurched. "What now?"

He knew better than anyone that this kid wasn't someone to trifle with. Back when they first met years ago, he'd thought - what trouble could a crippled old man and a half-grown boy possibly cause? Just showing up at their doorstep was doing them a favor. Word would get around that he'd been gracious enough to visit.

That time, he'd swaggered in with his usual bravado. Not only had he failed to show proper respect, he'd ordered Li Yan around like a servant, demanding food and wine while flaunting his seniority.

Li Yan, still young but never one to back down, had served a lavish meal. With a careful dose of powdered senna leaves mixed in, he'd waited until Sha Lifei was well on his way before the effects struck. The older man had spent the next day doubled over in agony, cursing his luck.

But with the Wheat Reapers' harvest to collect - a dangerous game of seizing grain from between the dragon's teeth - there'd been no time for revenge. He'd vowed to teach the brat a lesson the following year. Not that he'd wanted to kill him. Oh no, he had more refined methods for dealing with upstarts. A "friendly" sparring match that left the boy black and blue would've sufficed.

He hadn't expected Li Yan to harness the power of the Substitute God Statue, cultivating martial arts with a madman's fervor. By the next year, the boy had already made significant progress - raw, but formidable. Since then, Sha Lifei had kept his distance.

Now, being stopped like this... Could Li Yan be trying to reclaim the Wheat Reapers leadership? Or worse? These young wolves just entering the jianghu were the most ruthless of all, shameless in their ambition. They'd do anything to make a name for themselves.

As he stood there smiling while his mind raced, Li Yan finally spoke. "I heard you have connections with the Mystic Gate. Could you introduce me?"

Sha Lifei exhaled in relief, though his curiosity flared. "What's going on? Did you run into some trouble? Possession? Feng shui issues?"

Li Yan remained evasive. "Nothing serious. Just curious. Do you actually have contacts there?"

"Of course!" Sha Lifei thumped his chest. "Don't I have a reputation? Sha Lifei - friend to all under heaven!"

He launched into a grandiose description of a married Taoist priest he supposedly knew - a master of esoteric arts, fortune-telling, geomancy, and demon hunting. "The nobles of Chang'an fight to invite him to their homes!"

Li Yan listened, increasingly skeptical. While no expert himself, he'd studied folk traditions in his past life. The arcane arts were a vast field - eight characters, six yao lines, Plum Blossom Numerology, Six Ren, Secret Door Dunjia, Great One Divine Numbers, Purple Star Numerology... Each required years of dedicated study. And exorcism? That reeked of charlatanry.

Sha Lifei continued unabated. "His name's Wang Daoxuan. Rumor has it he's connected to the Orthodox Tai Xuan Sect in Chang'an. He even issues death certificates in Xianyang..."

At this, Li Yan's eyes lit up. The Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect was the real deal in the Mystic Gate. Issuing death certificates required special authority - those documents recorded vital details about the deceased, granting permission for burial. Only qualified Yin-Yang masters could issue them, with authority to report suspicious deaths to the authorities.

"So this Wang Daoxuan might actually be legitimate", Li Yan mused. At the very least, he could ask about joining the Tai Xuan Sect.

"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle Sha", Li Yan said with a smile. "I'll reward you handsomely afterward."

Sha Lifei chuckled. "No problem! Though you'll have to accompany me. We're heading to Xianyang tomorrow with the harvest crew."

"Why's that?"

"The Master Wang I know keeps strict hours. Can't expect him to come see you, can we?"

Li Yan agreed. Sha Lifei's boasts were mostly hot air, but this Wang Daoxuan connection was better than nothing. He needed to enter the Mystic Gate as soon as possible. Now that he'd opened the Yang Six Roots, another encounter like with the Horsebound Spirit Master might be fatal without expert help.

Five or six days to Xianyang and back. He could leave his grandfather Li Gui in the neighbors' care.

As Sha Lifei departed with a flourish, Li Yan shook his head and returned inside to pack.

The next morning before dawn, hoofbeats approached.

"Master Yan! Time to go!" Sha Lifei's thunderous voice rang out.

Li Yan emerged ready. With Grain in Ear approaching, summer heat had arrived. He wore a black cotton tunic, straw hat, and carried his travel pack. The Guan Mountain Blade hung at his waist.

He knocked on his grandfather's door. "I'm off, Grandfather."

No response.

He'd already told the old man yesterday. Of course the stubborn old coot wouldn't approve. But this journey concerned life and death.

As he turned to leave, a frail voice called out. "The jianghu is dangerous. Keep your wits about you."

"Will do!" Li Yan grinned, striding away.

Behind him, Li Gui opened his door, watching the young figure disappear. He sighed, remembering his own youth.

"Father, what is the jianghu?"

"Step outside this door... and you're already in it."

Li Yan had thought he'd seen it all - two lifetimes of experiences. The neon-lit nights and towering wonders of his past world made even this realm's grandest cities seem quaint by comparison.

Yet as he left the village, he realized his mistake.

The fortress of Li Village faded behind him. Loess ravines, golden wheat fields, emerald forests, and endless blue skies - the raw majesty of Guanzhong struck him like a physical force. This world, still pure and untainted, made everything feel vividly alive.

He felt like that wide-eyed boy again, filled with wonder at what lay beyond.

"Master Yan, why are you leaving too?" Hei Dan interrupted his thoughts.

The dark-skinned youth was practically vibrating with excitement. Unlike Li Yan, this was his first journey beyond the village - aside from the temple fair in Lantian. He chattered endlessly about distant Xianyang and whether they might catch a glimpse of Chang'an.

The road soon proved harsh. Under a blazing sun, dust swirled along the Imperial Road. Golden wheat fields rippled like ocean waves in the scorching summer wind. The coarse black cotton clothes absorbed the heat like an oven.

Sha Lifei had gathered about fifty reapers from surrounding villages. They marched with packs and scythes, though most had abandoned neatness for comfort - shirts open, some bare-chested, revealing sun-bronzed skin.

Even mounted on horseback, Sha Lifei sweated profusely. He kept glancing at Li Yan, who walked silently, occasionally admiring the scenery.

Hei Dan suffered the most. By noon, he staggered, legs trembling, sweat pouring. Li Yan fared better - years of martial training gave him stamina beyond ordinary men.

"Rest here", Sha Lifei finally called. "Avoid the midday sun. We'll push on later when it's cooler."

The group scrambled toward shade trees ahead. As they munched hardtack and drank water, Li Yan leaned against a tree, calculating. On the return trip, he'd check Xianyang's horse markets. If his funds allowed, a good mount would save days of travel.

Suddenly, hoofbeats thundered in the distance.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes. Twenty riders approached, swords and sabers glinting beneath their straw hats.

His hand flew to his blade.

He smelled blood on them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end