Yes, it was indeed gunpowder!
Li Yan shuddered, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Ever since Chen Fakui used gunpowder packs to threaten him and Zhou Pan perished by a new type of firearm, Li Yan had been particularly wary of gunpowder.
Martial arts required arduous training, and mystical techniques demanded diligent practice, but gunpowder weapons could be wielded by anyone. A single misstep could lead to death and the dissolution of one's path.
Fortunately, his nose was sharp enough.
Soon, Li Yan pinpointed the target.
Near the ritual site, aside from the members of the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, there were some menial soldiers.
These so-called menial soldiers were, in plain terms, logistical grunts. Unskilled in combat, they handled tasks like feeding horses, chopping wood, cooking, and digging trenches.
To set up the ritual site, the surrounding land needed leveling, and some trees had to be felled. The City God Temple lacked sufficient manpower, so these men were hired from the yamen to do the work.
As the ritual began, some menial soldiers stood respectfully, solemn and upright, while others knelt outright, burning incense and kowtowing, seizing the chance to pray for their families' blessings.
Only one man, pushing a wooden cart, slowly approached.
He was burly, with a stubbled face, looking dull and simple. The cart was loaded with dirt and dry grass.
But Li Yan faintly detected the smell of gunpowder emanating from the soil.
Pinching the Yang Tactic to sharpen his senses, the scent became even clearer.
The man was alert. Noticing Li Yan's gaze, he quickened his pace, his eyes turning dark and menacing.
"Someone's causing trouble!"
With a low shout, Li Yan leaped forward.
At the same time, he bent down, picked up a few stones from the ground, and hurled them using the Flying Locust Stone technique.
He had just learned that the Taixuan Orthodox Sect's enfeoffment of the mountain god was a benevolent act. Having received their guidance, he naturally felt compelled to help.
But that was gunpowder!
To prevent disaster, he had no choice but to use the Flying Locust Stones.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Three stones flew toward the man's forehead.
The man was no slouch. Twisting his body and swaying his head left and right, he deftly dodged the stones.
No longer pretending, he struck a flint against the cart, sparking a flame that ignited the dry grass.
The grass was doused with kerosene, and the fire roared to life.
"Go to hell!"
With a bellow, he shoved the cart with both arms, sending the blazing vehicle rolling toward the altar.
At the same time, several Law Enforcement Hall Taoists drew their swords and charged.
"Careful, it's gunpowder!"
Li Yan shouted a warning.
Though shocked, the Taoists didn't falter.
Two of them, surging with hidden strength, shot forward. Their sleeves billowed as they spun midair, simultaneously kicking the cart.
Crash!
The cart flew backward.
But the dirt and debris scattered, revealing several explosive packs.
The fuses on the packs had burned to their ends.
Boom!
A deafening blast filled the air with smoke.
At the same time, a relentless whizzing sound echoed.
Li Yan's face changed. He dove to the ground.
The explosive packs were stuffed with hidden weapons, which now scattered like celestial maidens tossing flowers.
The Law Enforcement Hall Taoists, closest to the blast, bore the brunt.
Skilled as they were, they swung their swords to deflect some projectiles, but the barrage was too dense. One took a hit and grunted in pain.
"Ow, you filthy rat!"
At the same time, Shali Fei let out a pained cry.
Though farther away, Li Yan's warning had prompted Shali Fei to grab Wang Daoxuan and hit the dirt, but he still took a dart to the backside.
The Law Enforcement Hall Taoists began pulling out the embedded weapons.
To them, non-lethal hits were no big deal.
But one, after extracting a dart and sniffing it, paled.
"It's poisoned!"
Meanwhile, the man turned and fled.
The explosive packs contained who-knows-what, creating a thick, pungent smoke that perfectly concealed his escape.
His figure vanished into the haze.
Hearing the word "poison," Li Yan didn't hesitate. He rolled to his feet and gave chase.
Clang!
Drawing his blade, he sprinted a few steps, then surged with hidden strength in his legs. With a whoosh, he leaped, slashing downward.
This move he had learned from the Zhou family.
Red Fist was known for its agile footwork. With the power of hidden strength, he vaulted six meters, wielding his Guanzhong Fast Blade like a soul-reaping specter.
His keen sense of smell made night combat as clear as day.
A bit of smoke was nothing to him.
The man wasn't swift. Seeing the blade coming, he twisted, crossing his arms to shield his head.
Ding!
A crisp sound rang out, and Li Yan frowned slightly.
His inner strength was lacking. Using hidden strength in his legs for the leap had sapped the power from his arms.
But the Guanzhong Fast Blade didn't rely on brute force.
Even a master of inner strength was flesh and blood—a single cut would draw blood.
Yet, the man's wrists bore metal.
The Guanshan Blade had torn his sleeves, revealing a series of bronze rings.
Li Yan's eyes narrowed. "Iron Thread Fist?"
The explosion's echo brought the sound of hooves from afar.
The Law Enforcement Hall Taoists had been caught off guard by the poisoned darts, but the Bailiff Division still had nearly a hundred men guarding the perimeter.
The man eyed Li Yan, blade in hand, knowing he had to defeat him to escape. With a cold grunt, he swung his fist.
Iron Thread Fist, part of the Hung Gar system, was popular in the south. It emphasized sturdy stances and "hard bridge, hard horse," using the twelve bridge hands as its framework, blending yin and yang with breath-driven force. Its power was formidable.
The man was robust, his nine-linked bronze rings gleaming. A master of hidden strength, though not at its peak, he far surpassed Li Yan.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
His punches were fierce, chaining together with whistling force. Combined with the Iron Thread Fist's unique seven-emotion breathing, the power was staggering.
Li Yan felt as if facing a military general. The fists came like hammers, relentless, forcing him to retreat.
The man's attacks weren't fast and even had flaws.
Yet, Li Yan only dodged, holding back his blade.
His father had once said that, despite its ferocity, Iron Thread Fist was stronger in defense than offense, excelling at turning weakness into strength.
Those moves were all bridge hands—"cross the bridge if there is one; if not, seek one." The flaws were traps, the man's pace deliberate yet unyielding.
Moreover, with Iron Thread Fist, a skilled user could lock a weapon in the gaps of the rings with a flick of the wrist.
If Li Yan struck, he'd be caught, and a brutal counter would follow.
He only needed to stall. Why risk his life?
"Sly little brat!"
Seeing Li Yan refuse the bait, the man spat and turned to flee.
"Ha, such a tough fist, and you're running?"
Li Yan sneered, stepping forward with another slash.
His footwork was sharp, and the Guanzhong Fast Blade was known for speed. In a breath, the blade aimed for the man's nape.
But the man was ready. Twisting, he raised both fists in a Tiger's Hidden Track move, the bronze rings clinking as they locked onto Li Yan's blade.
He had feigned escape to lure Li Yan in.
With the weapon locked, he could close in for the kill.
But he underestimated Li Yan.
Li Yan's inner strength might be weaker, but his cunning was unmatched.
Anticipating the move, he released the blade, sidestepped, and delivered a side kick.
Thud!
The kick, powered by hidden strength, sent the man flying.
He crashed to the ground, groaning, blood seeping from his mouth.
Such was a martial artist's duel—life or death hung on a thread.
Li Yan's strength was lesser, but his sharp mind and ruthless moves, coupled with the man's haste to flee, tipped the scales.
Whoosh!
The Guanshan Blade, flung free, spun and fell.
Without looking, Li Yan caught it and sheathed it.
That kick had ravaged the man's organs. He wouldn't get far, and his chance was gone.
Sure enough, hoofbeats thundered closer.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two wolf-tooth arrows whistled through the air.
Thud, thud!
Blood sprayed as they pierced the man's legs.
Li Yan frowned but said nothing.
The Bailiff Division had arrived. This was their style—cripple the legs to prevent escape, heedless of permanent injury.
The man was tough. Though he cried out, he clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and awaited death.
Neigh!
Horses whinnied as several men dismounted and approached.
Leading them was Chang Xuan, a Bailiff Division centurion. He glanced at the man impassively and said, "Drag him off for interrogation. Take him far—don't disturb the Taoist masters."
"Wait!"
A Law Enforcement Hall Taoist rushed over, his face grim. "The darts are poisoned—highly toxic."
Without another word, he crouched and searched the man.
"No use. I don't have the antidote."
Sweating and pale, the man sneered, "If you've got the skill, cure it. If not, talk nicely to me!"
The Taoist's eyes sharpened. "Ignorant fool. It's just corpse poison. Once the ritual ends, someone will cure it."
The man laughed. "I'm afraid you won't last that long!"
Suddenly, Guan Wanche spoke coldly, "No surprise from a Maitreya Cult fanatic. Let's see if your mouth is tougher than the Bailiff Division's methods."
"Maitreya Cult?"
The man froze, shaking his head. "Don't frame me. I was just hired. I've got nothing to do with the Maitreya Cult."
Guan Wanche and Chang Xuan exchanged a glance.
Chang Xuan said calmly, "Maitreya Cult or not, using gunpowder is a death sentence. Talk straight, and you might die quickly."
The man took a deep breath and grinned. "Don't try to scare me. In your hands, kill or torture me as you like—I won't beg."
"But someone asked me to pass a message. He has no quarrel with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, but the treasure in the mountains must be taken."
"Either stop the ritual to save your people, and the antidote will be provided."
"Or let a few die with me!"
At that moment, Luo Mingzi returned. Seeing the situation, he said gravely, "More than one group is at work, creating diversions. Someone used the explosion and the gap in our defenses to slip into the mountains."
Guan Wanche nodded. "Sounds like a seasoned thief!"
From their words, Li Yan pieced together the plot.
The enemy's plan was cunning. They hadn't intended a direct assault but used the explosion to sow chaos and poisoned darts to threaten.
Once the mountain god enfeoffment ritual began, it couldn't be stopped.
If the Taixuan Orthodox Sect halted to save their people, the thieves could take the treasure unhindered. If not, the sect would lose much of its strength in pursuit, giving the thieves a chance to escape.
And, from Guan Wanche's words, the Maitreya Cult was involved?
Luo Mingzi said grimly, "The ritual won't stop. If I'm right, one compromise will only lead to more demands."
The man, seeing no deal, fell silent.
Chang Xuan said coldly, "You know this is a clan-exterminating crime!"
The man smirked. "I've got no ties. Doesn't matter."
Chang Xuan pressed, "The martial world is just a living. Is it worth it?"
The man's face was calm. "A life-saving debt is repaid with life."
He closed his eyes.
Chang Xuan nodded. "Pity."
Thud!
A soldier stepped forward and pierced the man's heart.
With his resolve to die, further questioning was pointless.
Back at the ritual site, the enfeoffment continued. Qingyangzi and several senior Taoists remained on the altar, solemn and methodical in their rites.
Nearby, the wounded had been moved to tents.
Their faces were ashen, eyes shut, breathing faint. In mere moments, their bodies reeked of decay.
Among them was Shali Fei.
Each was surrounded by a lotus lamp, with talismans on their chests. A strange incense burned in the tent.
Li Yan could smell it countering the stench of decay.
"This is corpse poison," Luo Mingzi said gravely. "Only sinister sorcerers who deal with corpses use such methods. The antidote varies with the burial site's conditions."
"Only Elder Qingyangzi can forcibly expel the poison, but only one at a time. With our techniques, we should hold out until tomorrow…"
"Rest assured, Taoist masters," Chang Xuan interjected. "Since they've entered the mountains, we'll trap them like turtles in a jar. Once we catch them, we'll get the antidote."
Li Yan glanced at the unconscious Shali Fei and said firmly, "I'm going too."
Time was pressing, and Luo Mingzi didn't demur. "Good. With your keen nose and our poisoned brother, you'll help us catch them."
Just then, a Bailiff Division flagbearer hurried in, saluting. "Sir, we caught three alive!"
Outside the tent, three men lay on the ground, arrows in their legs, bleeding and terrified.
Unlike the first man, they weren't tough. Without prompting, they stammered, "Spare us, sirs! We were coerced!"
"I was poisoned by Mo Laowai…"
"Who's that?"
"A notorious tomb raider."
"I was forced by Mountain Lord, the beggar chief…"
These men were also decoys.
Poisoned, they were sent from all directions to distract the Bailiff Division.
They revealed two main groups: a famed tomb raider from Guanzhong and Mountain Lord, a fugitive beggar chief.
The two had initially clashed but, seeing the graveyard's tight defenses, teamed up to enter the mountains and seize the treasure, each relying on their own luck.
The poison came from Mo Laowai, the tomb raider.
Hearing their names, a flicker of disappointment crossed Chang Xuan's eyes.
Li Yan suddenly recalled the black-clad elder he'd met when seeking Zhao Donkey. "That man's from the Treasure-Seeking Lineage. I have a friend, a recluse in the Shangyi Village Mountain God Temple, also a treasure seeker. He might know an antidote."
"The Treasure-Seeking Lineage, no wonder…" Luo Mingzi nodded to a Taoist boy, who galloped off.
After preparations, the group headed toward the graveyard…
*(End of Chapter)*