The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 152 - 119: New Policies of the Court

Chapter 152: Chapter 119: New Policies of the Court

"Daoist, has it always been this crowded in past years?"

Sha Lifei silently felt a surge of shock and quickly asked in a low voice.

"Of course not."

Wang Daoxuan looked serious, shook his head and said, "Taibai stands tall and majestic, with storms and rain at any time. Only in the scorching heat of June do travelers start passing through, which is called ’opening the mountain.’ Apart from that, other seasons are blocked by fog and snow, with few human traces, commonly known as ’closing the mountain.’"

"Now that winter has arrived, the mountain roads are even more difficult to traverse. Devout pilgrims might go to the old temple halfway up the mountain, but those from the Mystical Sect will definitely need to reach the summit. The journey is perilous, so there can’t be this many people."

Li Yan nodded and said, "Then something must have happened. Be careful once we go in and find out what’s going on."

With that, the three of them flipped off their horses and walked towards the fort.

The fort’s main gate was obviously refurbished later, made simply of charred logs. Currently, it was wide open and unguarded.

Upon entering, Li Yan discovered a different world inside.

The whole fort was like a small village, with a temple and the Three Official Temple in the center and six large houses around it, along with various large buildings on the outskirts, presumably storerooms and stables.

Of course, the buildings inside were even more severely damaged, many old houses had completely collapsed and had been simply rebuilt by merchants.

Shop flags fluttered all around; there was a Bai Family Inn, as well as teahouses, taverns, hat shops, and incense shops, even a blacksmith shop.

Though the sparrow is small, it has all its vital organs.

It was nearing dusk at the moment, the walls inside the fort blocked the light making it dim, lanterns were being lit, with noisy voices, braying mules and horses, steaming food stores, and the occasional passing witches and wizards, creating a bizarre and fantastic atmosphere.

"Sir, are you looking for a place to stay?"

Before they could come back to their senses, a servant came scurrying over, eagerly asking with a nod and a bow.

Wang Daoxuan puzzledly asked, "In previous years, wasn’t it called the Gao Family Inn? How come it changed owners?"

"How strange indeed..."

The servant scoffed with a laugh, "Business has its ups and downs. If you can’t keep it up, you leave, sir. The inn has been taken over by our master."

With a raise of his eyebrows, he said, "Honestly, our master is a descendant of the divine general from the Qin era, Bai Qi. There’s a legend that this fort was built by the Bai Family. In a way, it’s all our master’s property..."

"Cut it out."

A blacksmith happened to pass by and, hearing this, mocked, "Back in the Qin era, it’s doubtful there even was a fort, and even if there was, it would be long gone by now. As for your master, we all know what’s really going on."

"You dare to boast about being a descendant of the Divine General Bai!"

The servant’s face turned bright red, but clearly intimidated by the blacksmith, he didn’t dare to retort and said bitterly to Li Yan and his companions, "Let’s make it clear, twenty silvers for one night, meals not included, extra charge for boiling water. Are you staying or not?"

Sha Lifei glared and said, "Twenty silvers, you’re practically robbing us!"

The servant, unafraid, stuck out his neck and called out, "That’s the market price, take it or leave it!"

After that, he turned and walked towards another new arrival.

Sha Lifei was quite annoyed, but seeing how brazen the servant was, he must have something to rely on. Additionally, being new and unfamiliar with the area, he had no choice but to hold it in for the moment.

The new arrival was a middle-aged woman dressed in black robes, with a Seven Stars Sword and a Peach Wood Sword on her back, donned in bamboo armor, with a Soul Suppressing Bell hanging on her belt, her face spirited and weathered, clearly someone from the Mystical Sect.

Against their expectations, upon hearing the servant’s quote, the woman nodded without hesitation and said, "Hmm, lead the way, one room. And help feed my horse on the way."

"Yes, yes, this way please!"

The servant’s face lit up with enthusiasm as he bowed and led the woman away.

Before leaving, he turned and shouted, "Rooms are all taken, those who want to stay, wait until tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned and swiftly left.

Sha Lifei was dumbfounded, "Is business really this booming?"

Li Yan, looking at the woman’s departing figure, whispered, "Daoist, that woman is no ordinary person. Can you make out anything interesting about her?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the woman suddenly turned her head and looked at them coldly for a moment, then continued to follow the servant.

She has ear divine power!

Li Yan’s expression remained the same, but inside he became more vigilant.

This place gathered many people from the Mystical Sect, each with their own divine skills. It seemed they needed to be careful with what they said and did.

"Let’s find a place to stay first."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head slightly, his eyes full of confusion.

However, trouble came again.

Wang Daoxuan remembered, aside from the Bai Family Inn, there were other ramshackle places in the fort where one could take shelter for the night, as they were only planning to stay one night before heading up the mountain.

But after making a round through the fort, all the places that could provide shelter from the wind and cold were occupied, with people gathered around bonfires, looking at them with wary eyes.

"Buddy, I want to ask about something..."

"Don’t know."

"The path of water and the way of mountains, where do you hail from, brother?"

"Get lost!"

Sha Lifei attempted to gather information but was met with rejection whether he approached with a smile or through the worldly customs of the pugilistic world.

It subtly became clear that everyone was on guard against each other.

"Damn it, this is so strange..." Sha Lifei cursed silently to himself. The atmosphere here made him increasingly uneasy.

A thought struck Li Yan, reminded of the blacksmith who had spoken sarcastically earlier; he took his two companions towards the blacksmith shop.

Inside the blacksmith shop, no furnaces were fired up.

The blacksmith was a large man with a full beard and well-muscled, instructing two apprentices as they offered incense and worship.

Li Yan and his companions didn’t interrupt, waiting outside.

The Lower Yuan Festival was a time when some craftsmen worshipped the Furnace God, who in this case was the Alchemy Lord.

It was a great taboo to be interrupted during worship.

After waiting for the time it would take an incense stick to burn, the blacksmith finally finished, wiped his hands, and turned around to say, "Thanks for waiting. Where have you traveled from?"