The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 174 - 131 Inviting People to Help - 2

Chapter 174: Chapter 131 Inviting People to Help - 2

"Ha ha ha..."

Luo Mingzi nodded in satisfaction, "You’re right about cultivation, if one cannot even be a decent person, what qualifications do they have to pursue the Dao."

"When it comes to dueling, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand, we in the Law Enforcement Hall usually turn a blind eye."

"But similarly, it’s not a good thing to intervene, nor will we appear. You’re quite clever, having someone discreetly send me a message, now this matter can be handled easily."

"I have two good friends who, although they belong to the side door, are skilled in spells and excel in combat. They are also righteous individuals. I’ll write a letter, you just go directly to them."

While speaking, he nibbled on some meat and pondered, "Though the Mystical Sect is unique, some rules are similar to those of the pugilistic world."

"Dueling is often not about the spells, but about connections, especially this ’Heavenly Element Bureau’..."

"By standing up for others this time, you’re also establishing a reputation on the streets of Chang’an. If the job is well done and your reputation is established, people will naturally come to you for services, enabling you gradually to establish yourself."

"But relying on others is never a bona fide solution."

"You have the Hook Paper, and you’ve successfully completed the task, able to summon Yin Department Army for assistance, that’s the real way to establish yourself..."

Hearing this, Li Yan expressed a bit of dejection, "Stop it, this Hook Paper really isn’t as useful as I imagined."

"Capturing yin criminals in Taibai Mountain, the Hook Paper has three additional Astral Orders, each can summon five hundred ghost soldiers from the five camps once, and they’re gone once used."

"Moreover, the Hook Paper can decree some ghost pawns to run errands, but I can’t control the powerful ones, and the weak ones aren’t very useful."

"Compared to the dangers of the Yin Constable’s tasks, it’s somewhat lackluster..."

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingzi glared and said quite displeased, "What you’re saying would probably infuriate some of the Magic Veins if they heard it."

"Do you truly think that military forces are easy to obtain?"

"Firstly, you must have an Ancestor Master Altar, next, it requires generations of masters accumulating, constant incense offerings, and regular training to ensure they obey."

"Even the poorest of the five camp ghost soldiers are stronger than the ordinary Ancestor soldiers of magic veins. If you qualify in the future, you might even be able to summon regular Underworld soldiers, comparable to our orthodox sect’s Lu Soldiers."

"Also, these ghost pawns ordinarily can control yin souls only if subdued by some items to avoid chaos."

"However, your Hook Paper is the best artifact for subduing them, requiring only occasional incense offerings, which is much more convenient than their methods..."

Li Yan pondered for a moment and then chuckled, "Indeed, you have a point."

With this explanation from Luo Mingzi, he fully understood.

The power of the Hook Paper certainly couldn’t compare to that of the orthodox sects and major Magic Veins, after all, they have centuries of accumulation, numerous personnel, and large-scale rites involving hundreds of people.

But the strength of this artifact lies in its individual usability, summoning armies while saving time and effort.

Plainly speaking, it’s powerful for solo combat.

Moreover, if Astral Orders accumulate over completed missions, they become a crucial ace up the sleeve at pivotal moments...

...

Half an hour later, Li Yan, wearing a bamboo hat, descended the stairs, checked that no one was following, then mingled into the crowd and headed toward the southwest of Chang’an City.

He moved swiftly, and in less than the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, he arrived near Yanping Gate on the west side of Chang’an City.

Looking up at the archway of Fengyi Square, Li Yan strode in.

Just as Wang Daoxuan had said, after dismantling the square’s walls, lifting the curfew, and no longer restricting civil business, all of Chang’an bustled with trade.

But Fengyi Square was somewhat special.

Unlike Xianyang City, all those in Chang’an who made a living from death were almost all concentrated here—coffin shops, stretcher rooms, tomb watchers, funeral banquet providers, mourning sons, bone collectors, river corpse retrievers, paper effigy makers, shoemakers...

In short, all trades related to funerals could be found here.

Ordinary people found this place inauspicious and would only come if necessary, so there weren’t many pedestrians on the streets.

The shop assistants were also too lazy to call out to passersby.

After all, their business truly had no room for soliciting customers.

Since it involved life and death, the place also served as a gathering spot for those from the side door in Chang’an.

Li Yan strode forward and directly turned into a small alley on the left, arriving outside an ancient, quaint courtyard. He gently knocked.

"Who is it~"

A lazy voice came from inside.

Even through the wooden door, it sounded robust and mild.

Li Yan said gravely, "I was referred by Daoist Luo Mingzi."

"Oh, wait a moment."

Accompanied by some rustling sounds, the wooden door creaked open.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man with abnormally pale skin, as if he never saw the sunlight, quite handsome but with a disheveled beard and unkempt clothes, looking like he had just woken up.

"Come in."

The man said weakly, turned around yawning, and after rummaging around, cursed, "Darn it, who took my tea leaves?"

Li Yan didn’t mind, glancing around the small courtyard.

Under the eaves, various Soul Summoning Banners were displayed, some made of paper, some of cloth, and even some sewn from animal skins.

Soon, the middle-aged man came out scratching his stomach, and said lazily, "There’s nothing much at home to entertain you with, I’m guessing it wouldn’t be of interest to you."

"No matter."

Li Yan shook his head slightly and handed over the letter written by Luo Mingzi, "Senior, this is from Daoist Luo Mingzi for me to pass along."

The man took it and glanced at it, scoffing, "A duel, eh... I’ve heard of Liu Wenchen. He’s a nobody, coveting others’ possessions and making such a big fuss."

"Alright, I’ll be there when the time comes."

Li Yan bowed respectfully and said, "Senior, although there’s the bond with Daoist Luo, the promised reward mustn’t be short, May I ask about the senior’s..."

"Reward?"

The man scratched his head, his eyes slightly narrowed, smiling ambiguously, "Seeing how wealthy you look, I haven’t had indulgence in pleasure for a long while..."

Li Yan could not help but laugh silently, "No problem!"

This was the first person introduced by Luo Mingzi.

Shen Sanyou, advanced Yin Sect expert with the cultivation of three levels, specialized in helping people with funeral rites and summoning souls, known as the "Crier at Night."

After more than half an hour, Li Yan came to Xuanyi Square.

He walked directly into a pawnshop.

The counter at the pawnshop was tall, Li Yan had to look up even while standing, and it only had a small opening from which a cold voice emanated.

"What would you like to pawn, sir?"

Li Yan didn’t waste any words and directly handed over the letter.

After a while, the cold voice spoke up again.

"I will be there when the time comes."

"Compensation? Forget it, what you could offer, I couldn’t accept..."

"Thank you, senior."

Li Yan didn’t waste any words, bowed, and left.

Exiting the store, he turned to look back at the huge "Pawn" signboard, still feeling somewhat incredulous.

These past few months, his understanding of the Mystical Sect’s influence had become clear.

The Taixuan Orthodox Sect and others need not be mentioned; even ordinary dark Magicians, like the kind Old Fourth was, could become honored guests within a faction.

But not every person within the Mystical Sect was accompanied by wealth.

For example, the previous "Crier at Night" Shen Sanyou, who knows what he had been through, living aimlessly, taking one day at a time, satisfied just to have a meal to eat.

The person in this "pawn" shop was even more extreme.

Once an assassin known as "Shadow," skilled in illusion techniques, yet now choosing to live as an ordinary person, overseeing a pawnshop.

Perhaps, as Luo Mingzi had said.

Practicing spells, for some, was not a fortune but rather more of a curse...

"Everything has been settled."

When he returned to the Fenglai Inn, night had already fallen.

Seeing everyone’s gaze, Li Yan laughed silently and said, "Don’t worry, this time I’ve invited two Mystical Sect experts. As for the assistance Liu Wenchen has found, they might shrink back just hearing their names."

"That would be wonderful!"

Feng Feiyan covered her mouth with a laugh, her eyes sparkling, "Brother Yan, you truly are extraordinary. Arriving in Chang’an and already having such connections, you must definitely become a significant figure on the paths of Guanzhong in the future."

"The dealer overpraises me."

Li Yan chuckled and played it off, not engaging further.

Living here, even with the connection to the Crimson Yaksha, he could not fully trust Feng Feiyan.

It was because something felt off about her situation.

The Crimson Yaksha mentioned that Feng Feiyan’s family had fallen on hard times, and she ventured into Chang’an alone, not only thriving in the pugilistic world but also establishing such a business like Fenglai Inn.

He had tasked Sha Lifei with secretly gathering some information.

Everything seemed flawless.

But too perfect to be true!

Appearing to be a very smart person, fortunate enough to make stable, lifesaving steps at every turn.

However, many things couldn’t just be explained by cleverness.

The world never lacks smart people.

The pugilistic world is perilous; it’s always good to be extra cautious...