"Constable, theyâre all just porcelain."
"What strangers? We are honest and straightforward business people; how dare we harbor pugilistic world bandits."
"You see, could you grant us a favor..."
On the deck, "Fast Ship Zhang," disguised as a traveling merchant, bowed and stuffed some money, looking no different from merchants on the Yangtze River.
You have a Zhang Liangji, I have a ladder against the wall.
The Salt Gang has great influence, they can even bribe the Wushan Government.
But this old hand, "Fast Ship Zhang," has his own means to handle things.
After stuffing several taels of silver, the constables pretended to inspect and then, impatiently, waved their hands, "Hurry up and leave!"
"Ah, thank you, constable!"
"Fast Ship Zhang" repeatedly bowed, saw the people off, turned around, and shouted, "Set sail!" Instantly, the cargo ship hoisted its sails and departed.
This ship was specially modified; it appeared to be piled high with cargo at the rear, but it was actually concealing a hidden compartment in the middle, custom-made elsewhere by the Bai Family.
Inside the secret chamber, the candlelight flickered softly.
Even though Li Yanâs group and the women of the Bai Family packed the room, making it quite cramped despite its size.
This was arranged by the elder Bai Huan, and Li Yan did not object.
They could indeed reveal their identitiesâCaptain Bureau, Law Enforcement Hall, Ministry of Industryânone of which Wushan County would dare provoke.
However, the mission this time was to escort people, prioritizing safety above all.
The real concern lay within Wushan County, guarding against those loose cultivators of Wushan. Even Bai Huan, at the fifth level of Dao, could endure grievances; why should he care?
Indeed, Bai Huan at the fifth level of Dao.
Although her spells certainly couldnât compare to Yu Longzi of the Five Dragons Palace, her Dao was in no way inferior and she was considered a master anywhere.
But what good is high Dao?
The elderly woman was already advanced in age, her vitality dwindling, and she had to protect a bunch of disciples and two granddaughters in the sect, unwilling to stir up trouble.
Under the candlelight, Wang Daoxuan was performing divination.
He held the mugwort, wrapping it around the fingers of two young girls, muttering incantations, forming a mantra, and then removing it to place among a pile of mugwort, chanting a spell, scattering, and stirring with a stick.
This is called the mugwort divination method.
Though the method is ancient, it is extremely practical and, combined with the "Seven Arrows Secret Spell," can even deduce whether someone has placed a spell.
After several calculations, a smile appeared on Wang Daoxuanâs face, "Indeed, the traces of the spell have been eliminated; henceforth, you can rest easy without worry."
Bai Huan breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Daoist."
"Youâre welcome."
Wang Daoxuan shook his head, "The elderâs method of divination far surpasses mine, but worrying about loved ones, your mind was disturbed."
"Thank you, Daoist."
Chao Yun, Xing Yu also voiced their thanks crisply.
Shortly after leaving Wushan, the two young girls felt feverish and vomited some dirty water, feeling much better when they woke up.
Bai Huan cast a divination herself, which showed decline transitioning to prosperity.
In her surprise, she found it hard to believe, so she asked Wang Daoxuan to perform a divination as well.
"Itâs fine now..."
Long Yanâer breathed a sigh of relief, laughingly saying, "Could it be that those old spinsters felt guilty and destroyed the Life Plate?"
"Impossible."
The old lady Bai Huan shook her head, "The Bai Family has served many years; if they had even a shred of sentiment, how could they do such a thing?"
"Something must have happened again up in Wushan..."
"Itâs okay as long as itâs fine."
Li Yan smiled, standing up to speak to Wang Daoxuan, "Daoist, we have passed Wushan; accompany me to look at the scenery."
"Hmm."
Wang Daoxuan didnât waste words, leaving directly with him.
Sha Lifei and Lv San stayed in the cabin, tacitly understanding.
The mode of operation of the current team was pretty much fixed.
Li Yan, as the leader, was mainly in charge of making decisions.
If in the forest wilderness, he primarily discussed with Lv San.
If it concerned affairs of the pugilistic world, Sha Lifei was adept.
If it pertained to the Mystical Sect, it was definitively Wang Daoxuan to consult.
In the cave just now, both Lv San and Sha Lifei noticed something; Wang Daoxuan, always a nice person, concealing things even from the Bai Family members, indicated something serious was up.
Theyâre here, perfectly suited to surveillance duties.
The elder Bai Huan, as head of her family, naturally saw things clearly but chose to feign ignorance, not wanting trouble.
However, Long Yanâer, with a flick of her eyes, inquired, "Hey, big beard, running around like this, where do you plan to go in the future?"
"Hah!"
Sha Lifei casually fibbed, "Pugilistic people, lives adrift like duckweed at the mercy of fate, wherever we drift to, it will decide..."
...
"Young Hero Li."
Upon exiting the secret compartment, "Fast Ship Zhang" approached, speaking in a deep voice, "Weâve passed Wushan and are about to enter Kui Gate. If the Salt Gang plans an ambush, itâs likely to be here."
"Iâve already sent my disciples ahead in small boats, and theyâll send word if something seems off. But Kui Gate is perilous; ambushes on the mountains on both sides canât be spotted. Weâll need Young Hero Lvâs help."
"Hmm, thank you, Senior Zhang."
Li Yan nodded and went back to call out Lv San.
Soon, the hawk "Start of Winter" rose on wings, soaring into the distance.
And Li Yan, together with Wang Daoxuan, went to the rear pavilion of the ship.
"Fast Ship Zhang" was shrewd, sensing they had urgent matters to discuss, he sent away the nearby disciples and also turned away himself.
Even so, once inside the pavilion, Wang Daoxuan still motioned with a gesture, suggesting that Li Yan should speak no further.
Li Yanâs heart tightened, quickly taking out the Three Talents Demon Suppressing Coin Blade Tassel, forming a mantra, letting evil qi spread, blocking divine skill probes.
After completing this, he then inquired, "Is it serious?"
Wang Daoxuan nodded slightly, his gaze complex;
"Itâs about the Nine Tripods!"
"Nine Tripods?!"
Upon hearing this, Li Yanâs scalp tingled.
The Nine Tripodsâ function is indisputable, representing all of Jiuzhou, symbolizing royal power, and being national sacrificial implements, enjoying Divine Stateâs qi fortune.
Being involved with national sacrifices, theyâre called National Guardian Divine Artifacts.
Such as when he was in the Earth Immortal Cave, he obtained the "Yingluo Pearl" from Tongtian San Niang, it was Liao Countryâs national sacrificial artifact.