Paper money filled the sky, scattering and drifting with the wind. The funeral procession moved slowly forward; even the wind itself seemed to carry sorrow. Though Li Yan’s family shared the surname of Li Clan’s Fort, his branch had long declined, with no close elders left.

Fortunately, with Wang Daoxuan presiding and Sha Lifei running errands, along with help from neighbors and villagers, the old man’s funeral was handled with great care.

Selecting the burial site, preparing the coffin, setting up the mourning hall, the burial itself; the entire process was so meticulous that even the well-traveled village chief Li Huairen secretly gave it a thumbs-up. He was even trying to befriend Wang Daoxuan.

As for Li Yan, he buried his grief in constant activity. Only by staying busy could he momentarily forget the pain. With all his loved ones gone, he now stood alone in this world. He had experienced such desolation once before in his previous life. That was why, in this life, even with a simple existence, he had chosen to stay in the village to accompany his grandfather.

On the night of the seventh day after his grandfather’s death, he even activated his spiritual sense and kept vigil, hoping to catch a trace of his grandfather’s scent. However, nothing came.

Thus, in a haze, the funeral passed.

Another month slipped by. The eighth lunar month had arrived, and the weather had begun to cool. Thunder rumbled in the autumn sky as light rain fell steadily.

“The ritual to build the inner temple isn’t cheap,” Wang Daoxuan muttered while writing with brush and ink. “Incense, paper offerings, brushes, and cinnabar; all of these need to be consecrated at major sect altars for years. Since we can’t do that, we’ll have to spend money to buy them.

“These disposable items are one thing. But to succeed, we’ll also need proper artifacts. We can borrow them, but we also need a suitable fengshui node. The more powerful the location like famous mountains or blessed lands where innate astral qi gathers, the higher the chance of success. I know the temple keeper at Xianyang’s City God Temple. We can arrange a ritual at Mount Taibai’s Daoist grounds through him, but it won’t be cheap.”

He revealed a bitter smile. “Even in the orthodox path, where we emphasize accumulating virtue, every step still requires money.”

Li Yan, with the Great Luo Dharma Body, no longer feared losing his spiritual foundation. But Wang Daoxuan didn’t know that, so he was worried.

Li Yan shook his head. “No need to worry, my abilities are stable now. We’ll take it slow. Rushing will only cause problems.”

Shaaa!

Just then, the courtyard door opened. Sha Lifei entered, drenched from the rain and wearing a straw coat and hat.

As soon as he arrived, he yelled, “Good news! It’s over at last!”

His face was full of excitement as he tossed off his raincoat. “I found out that the concubine and Zhao Cheng sold all their land a few days ago. They even cheated several people out of deposits and then disappeared! This matter should be over!”

“Seems so.” Wang Daoxuan nodded thoughtfully. “Selling everything and fleeing means they’ve cut all ties. They’ve likely left the Guanzhong Plains. As long as we’re careful, we’ll be fine.”

Their caution wasn’t unwarranted. Anyone in the jianghu knew that being able to mobilize such forces, with multiple bandit groups at their command, meant the mastermind held immense power.

Killing them would be no harder than crushing ants.

“Good, then it’s settled!” Sha Lifei said excitedly. “Staying in this village is suffocating. With your abilities and my connections, how can we not prosper out there? How about we go straight to Chang’an?”

The three of them had already discussed working together, making a living through the mystic path. With Li Yan’s abilities assisting him, Wang Daoxuan could finally take on serious jobs. Sha Lifei, being thick-skinned and silver-tongued, was perfect for gathering information and securing lucrative opportunities.

Of course, their line of work wasn’t easy. Just like in the jianghu, without a reputation, no one would seek them out.

“Chang’an?” Wang Daoxuan laughed. “Do you know what kind of place Chang’an is? In the Tang Dynasty, it was the center of all traditions, filled with extraordinary figures. Even now, though the capital has moved north, Chang’an remains a stronghold of the mystic path.”

“Orthodox sects, regional lineages, heterodox paths, there are countless powerful figures there. It’s a hidden dragon’s lair. We’re not qualified to operate here.”

“Let’s go to Xianyang,” Li Yan suddenly said, his gaze cold as he looked out the window. “Daoist Wang’s home is there. He knows the area well. Also, I have some matters to investigate.”

***

In Xianyang, near the City God Temple, shops selling incense and funeral goods didn’t shout to attract customers.

“Coffins for sale! Buy one big, get one small!”

Anyone who dared shout like that would have their shop smashed the same day. Even the way they spoke had rules. If someone were to buy a coffin, the seller had to ask, “Who are you arranging this for?”

Even after a coffin was purchased, it could sit in storage for years. Whatever it was, it had to be kept safe. Without notice, it could not be delivered.

There were many such taboos. Thus, business on the street wasn’t lively, especially with the recent rainy weather. Shopkeepers gathered together, playing chess and chatting.

“Hey, heard the news? Wang Daoxuan is back.”

“Didn’t he die?”

“No, he was out arranging a coffin order and just happened to avoid disaster.”

“Lucky bastard.”

“Not just that. I heard he brought two people back and they’re looking to pick up work.”

“Hah, with his skills?”

The shopkeepers mocked Wang Daoxuan openly. They were familiar with his line of business. Some of them even had connections with practitioners. Introducing clients could earn them commissions. They knew Wang Daoxuan was part of the mystic path, but their insults were merciless. It was not out of hatred, but it was merely human nature.

Mocking someone fallen gave them a sense of superiority. Soon, a man passed by under an umbrella. Hearing their words, Li Yan merely cast a cold glance and ignored them.

They had been in Xianyang for about a week. After tidying Wang Daoxuan’s old residence, they had begun gathering information. Unfortunately, business in the field was hard to find. Important figures went directly to the Taixuan Sect. Lesser matters went to well-known practitioners.

Villages often had their own shamans. Outsiders couldn’t touch them at all. Disputes between practitioners could be just as bloody as the jianghu, only hidden from ordinary eyes.

Li Yan wasn’t in a hurry. Each day, he frequented teahouses and inns, listening for opportunities and gathering information on Zhou Pan of the Divine Fist Association. The brothel in Chang’an where his father died had long burned down. The only lead left was Zhou Pan.

But Zhou Pan wasn’t easy to deal with. He had reached the Jin Transformation Realm. He controlled both underworld and official circles in Xianyang, with many disciples and street gangs under his command. Li Yan would need to find the right moment to force answers from him.

Lost in thought, Li Yan returned to the Dao Inquiry Hall.

“Hey, I found something!” Sha Lifei ran in yelling in excitement. Inside the courtyard, facing the two of them, he grinned. “See? You still need me! There’s a shadow puppet troupe from Huayin setting up in Xianyang. I happen to know one of them. They need help from someone in the mystic path.”

Li Yan’s eyes lit up. “A shadow puppet troupe?”

Huayin troupes specialized in the old tunes. It was distinct from Qin opera. He had seen it once in the Lantian County. It was fascinating.

“Exactly!” Sha Lifei nodded eagerly. “The pay may not be much, but these troupes belong to the Liu Clan network. Do a good job, and your reputation spreads far and wide!”

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard. “Sounds promising. What do they want?”

Sha Lifei chuckled, “I heard they want to perform a purification ritual to invite a spirit.”

Wang Daoxuan’s expression immediately changed. “We must not take this job!”