Chapter 799 - 436: Plotting to Enter Chengdu (Part 2)

Li Yan took one look at this person and felt a wave of disgust, too lazy to talk.

Sha Lifei smiled and cupped his hands: "This gentleman, we’ve come from Ezhou and are heading to Qingcheng Mountain."

"Qingcheng Mountain?"

This Hundred Households Liu glanced sideways and said coldly: "There’s been a murder at the pier. I’m ordered to investigate, and until it’s clarified, no one is allowed to leave. Otherwise, it’s fleeing in fear of punishment!"

Having said that, he turned and left.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Sha Lifei was anxious and hurriedly shouted from behind.

They had a Daoist certificate, Ministry of War documents, how could they be treated as suspects, let alone know what’s causing trouble.

However, that Hundred Households turned a deaf ear and left directly.

"That cowardly rascal, this person..."

Sha Lifei cursed first, then rubbed his chin and squinted his eyes, "Brother Yan, this guy is a little strange."

"Indeed."

Li Yan also pondered, "We’ll talk when we get back."

"This person is setting a trap!"

Back in the guest room, Li Yan directly said, "If the Captain Bureau is investigating, they should at least figure out our background, but he didn’t even ask."

Sha Lifei immediately realized, "He knows who we are. Once we show the Daoist certificate and Ministry of War documents, some things can’t be done."

"Also, if he says we’re suspects but doesn’t have anyone watch us, it’s obviously a ruse."

"I’m afraid once we leave, there will be a warrant out by tomorrow!"

Saying this, Sha Lifei was even more suspicious, "We just arrived in Fengdu and got blocked, Brother Yan just came down the mountain and there’s already a murder, it’s too coincidental..."

When it comes to means in the pugilistic world, among everyone, he’s the most knowledgeable.

"Looks like a ’Horse Tie’, just doing it forcibly. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a harsh blade behind it!"

The moment he finished speaking, Li Yan raised his hand, indicating him to stop talking.

Thud, thud, thud!

There was a sound at the window.

Sha Lifei quickly pressed on the firearm, but Li Yan shook his head slightly, stepped forward to open the window, and immediately someone leaped inside.

He was wearing a constable’s uniform, clearly the government official head from the pier earlier.

"Greetings, senior."

Li Yan directly cupped his hands in greeting.

This person was the black-robed man who spoke to him last night.

Who would have thought, the Yellow Springs Organization’s person was actually a government official.

But this identity was just right.

He could move around freely without being too conspicuous.

"My name is Meng Changgui."

This government official head didn’t seem surprised at all.

He was also skilled in martial arts and spells, which is why he stayed in Fengdu City as a liaison for the "Yellow Springs".

Earlier at the pier, he had already noticed Li Yan’s gaze.

After sitting down, he didn’t look at anyone else and just nodded at Li Yan: "Congratulations, Daoist. Although it took some time, you barely passed."

Li Yan’s expression remained unchanged, "Just lucky."

Even Meng Changgui didn’t know that last night Li Yan had triggered Yin Changsheng’s millennia-old relic. He just pondered for a moment and nodded, "Since you’ve passed the test, regardless, you’re now a ’Yellow Springs’ brother, under the protection of the organization."

"Especially those Wushan loose cultivators; someone will go warn them, so there’s no need to worry about that anymore. But for formal joining, you must wait until the twelfth lunar month."

"Thank you."

Li Yan bowed slightly.

The "Yellow Springs" was very mysterious, and this Meng Changgui was considered a master, but only a liaison. Its depth and age had drawn many masters from the Divine State to join secretly.

Even "Wei Zheng" and "Bao Zheng" in the past were members of the organization, which also attracted Li Yan.

No matter what the future holds, it’s at least a genuine living Yin messenger organization, and joining it should reveal many secrets.

While Meng Changgui was speaking, his expression turned serious, "I appeared for another reason. Have you offended the Salt Gang?"

"That’s right."

Li Yan did not hide anything and recounted the events at Wushan.

"Hmph!"

Meng Changgui sneered and said, "No wonder, someone deliberately leaked this matter in Fengdu City, letting us know."

"And Liu Qian, he was already bought by the Salt Gang, arrived in Fengdu yesterday, probably just for you."

"It seems the murder case at the pier is also related to them..."

"Senior is mistaken."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Li Yan, who explained the encounter with the evil spirit ’Water Tiger’ at Wushan and its inexplicable arrival here.

Of course, there were some key details that had to be concealed.

"Evil spirit?"

After hearing it, Meng Changgui was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Within the organization, some people find your actions too high-profile and too entangled in worldly affairs, thinking it will eventually bring disaster."

"Last night’s test was also insisted by them, otherwise, we’re all brothers of the living Yin messengers, why make things so complicated."

"Now they have more to say..."

"But rest assured, although our Yellow Springs mainly carries out the Heaven’s will, we aren’t pushovers in worldly matters either."

"What the Salt Gang did is nothing but dragging you into conflicts, using the court’s laws to suppress you. As long as you leave, the Captain Bureau will surely chase after you, and if a few die in the conflict, it will be unclear."

"The Salt Gang has tied up with many officials from Shu, and after joining the Shu Prince Mansion, its power expanded rapidly, it’s unwise to confront them directly."

"Leave this matter to us, people from Qingniu Temple have already arrived, we will inform them about the evil spirit, and once it’s resolved, you can leave."

"Moreover, Qingniu Temple might also have issues."

Li Yan then explained the situation with Qingniu Temple.

"Oh!"

Meng Changgui stood up abruptly, his face turning serious, "If this is true, then it’s troublesome."

"We will thoroughly investigate this matter, you should stay in the inn, don’t wander around!"

Saying that, he slightly cupped his hands, then turned and jumped out of the window to leave.

"This Salt Gang just won’t stop..."

After he left, Sha Lifei complained, "With the backing of the King Shu, they act so recklessly, I’m afraid we won’t have a smooth journey."

Saying this, his eyes turned, "Brother Yan, on this trip to Chengdu, we better use another tactic."

"Chongqing Pier is crowded, with the Three Religions and Nine Sects mixing together, it’s all sorts of people, we might as well do a Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell, disguise our identities and head to Chengdu overland."

"Great idea!"

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard in agreement but then immediately frowned, "But it’s still tricky, we’re such a big group, with men and women, it’s quite conspicuous, blending in won’t be easy..."

"I happen to have a way."

At this moment, the old lady Bai Huan spoke up, "The people of Shu place great importance on customs, every year a grand lantern festival is held in Chengdu, a tradition from the Tang Dynasty, with the Flower Festival, Lighting Heavenly Lanterns, Crossing Street Canopies, Dragon Lantern..."

"At this time, as deep autumn sets in, theater troupes from all over Ba Shu start heading to Chengdu, we can get ourselves some outfits and pretend to be such a troupe, leaving overland."

Sha Lifei laughed, "Old senior, that’s a good idea, but none of us know how to perform, if we’re asked to sing a few lines, won’t we be exposed?"

"That’s not difficult."

The old lady Bai Huan smiled and said, "Have you ever heard of ’Yang Opera’?"

Li Yan was also curious, "I have heard of singing Ghost Opera for the dead, but Yang Opera, that’s the first time."

Bai Huan explained, "Yang Opera, also known as ’Yang God Dance Opera’, originated from Nuo Opera and is popular among the Tu Clan people."

"This ’Yang God Dance Opera’ is divided into inner altar and outer altar, doing rituals at the inner altar and performing at the outer altar, but the key is to wear Nuo Masks, and the more mysterious, the better."

"In Ba Shu, where there are many ethnic folk, Yang God Dance Opera is very popular, if we wear it all the time, not only will it not raise suspicion, it will also earn respect, making it perfect to conceal identities."

"To be honest, we even helped perform Yang Opera for people in Great Chang City, with the Daoist doing rituals at the inner altar and my disciples performing at the outer altar, it’s no different from a real Yang Opera troupe."

"That’s excellent!"

Li Yan nodded in agreement, pondered for a moment, then spoke to ’Fast Ship Zhang’ beside him, "Once we reach Chongqing Pier, senior should just sell the ship immediately, disguise and leave, while we go overland."

"No problem."

’Fast Ship Zhang’ laughed and said, "I still have quite a few connections through these waterways, returning to Ezhou would be a piece of cake..."

After a round of discussion, they decided on the plan.

But right now, with the Fengdu issue unresolved, they could only stay at the inn for now.

And after returning to the room, Li Yan finally had the chance to take out the Hook Paper containing the jade accessories for a detailed examination...