The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chapter 1599 - 812: Strange Dream (Part 2)

The Qinghe Fang was lined with silk shops, with the splendor of Hangzhou silk and satin.

Sha Lifei and others swaggered into an impressive shop, the shopkeeper’s face full of smiles.

Displaying the Jinyang Chamber of Commerce’s token, Sha Lifei posed as a big merchant, seemingly casually inquiring about the bulk purchase of plain silk...

The gambling house by Zhong’an Bridge, the "Wind Trust Shop" deep in Hai’er Lane...

The group didn’t have time to waste, so they collected intelligence openly, without any concealment.

As for Lv San, he sat cross-legged at the Half Mountain Pavilion on Wu Mountain.

He performed a mantra and recited spells, uttering strange syllables incomprehensible to ordinary people.

The city’s snakes, insects, rats, sparrows under the eaves, and even night herons from Liu Lang Wen Ying became his eyes and ears.

He directed these small creatures to search the city’s secluded corners and abandoned estates, looking for suspicious spots.

The Crown Prince Mansion’s Chief Historian was also in Hangzhou, so even if something happened, there was someone to take responsibility.

Moreover, Zhang Jingxuan had assured that the local Mystical Sect and families in Jiangnan would not cause trouble.

Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t come forward at this time.

Of course, causing such a commotion was also to cover for Li Yan.

The morning light of West Lake was shimmering, Su Di was like a ribbon, and the charred reflection of Leifeng Pagoda was mirrored in the still chilly lake water.

Li Yan, dressed as a rural scholar, fanned himself with a folding fan, strolling beside Xizi Lake.

"Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou," the beauty of West Lake needs no further words.

Walking swiftly along the lake, Li Yan unknowingly approached a luxurious building with flying eaves by the lake.

This was the "Feilai Building," the Hangzhou base of the Golden Swallow Sect.

This Hangzhou branch of the Golden Swallow Sect rose by the water, with three-story eaves and a Xieshan roof like a giant swallow spreading its wings, the grey-tiled roof adorned with twelve bronze ridge beasts.

The door arch hung a black plaque sprinkled with gold, inscribed with the bold "Feilai" characters, seemingly by a renowned master.

Hangzhou had the Flying Peak; to be named after it indicated the strength of the Golden Swallow Sect in this area.

Circumventing the Zitan wood carved "West Lake Palace Painting" screen, the interior world gradually revealed itself:

The first floor was a bustling tea house hall, with waiters carrying Qingci plum wine cups, weaving through the Eight Immortals tables.

A storyteller thumped his waking wood, narrating the new Chapter "White Lady’s Water Floods Mount Jinshan," while tea guests quietly conversed, cracking salted pumpkin seeds.

Unlike other places, the patrons here didn’t come to listen to stories.

"Sir, you..."

As soon as the waiter approached, he saw Li Yan with a flick of his folding fan, revealing the Golden Swallow Token at his waist.

This was a gift from the Golden Swallow Sect Elder during his time in the Capital.

Not daring to have any neglect, the waiter immediately led him to the elegant private room on the second floor, adorned with Xiang Consort Bamboo Curtains.

"I told you, I’ve been waiting for Young Hero Li for a long time..."

Soon, a graceful figure, accompanied by a crisp voice, walked in.

The newcomer seemed about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a rain-blue Hangzhou silk slanting collar shirt, her hair coiled and adorned with a single silver swallow hairpin inlaid with jade, her brows and eyes like a delicately painted lady yet frosted in color, slightly plump but still revealing a hint of her youthful beauty.

"My name is Ruan Zhi, the Squad Leader of the Hangzhou Golden Swallow Sect."

The woman smiled slightly, rose to greet, "Young Hero Li’s visit, please forgive the lack of welcome."

"Senior, you’re too courteous."

Li Yan’s expression was calm, three Copper Coins silently slipped from his sleeve, landing on the table in a triangular shape.

The woman covered her mouth with a smile, "What Young Hero Li said, at last month’s General Leader’s crab feast, Wanfang laughed at me for not being able to drink Shaoxing Flower Carving."

This sudden remark slightly eased Li Yan’s alertness.

This was the authentication phrase directly set by the General Leader of the Golden Swallow Sect, at least proving the person wasn’t an impostor.

"I have a letter that needs to be delivered."

Li Yan got straight to the point, taking out a secret letter he had prepared long ago from his pocket.

The envelope was sealed with wax, inscribed with "To be opened by the Qiankun Academy Dean, Wudang Sect Leader, Qingcheng Sect Leader."

Ruan Zhi didn’t even glance at it, immediately sealing it in a bamboo tube, then took out the whistle hanging from her neck and lightly blew it.

Flap flap~

A large Spiritual Swallow flew to the window, flapping its wings.

Soon, it carried the bamboo tube into the clouds, disappearing from sight.

Li Yan finally felt at ease after seeing this.

The Spiritual Swallow of the Golden Swallow Sect was specially trained; once it took off, it would not be disturbed.

This letter will be sent to Qiankun Academy in three days, and then forwarded to Wudang.

Once the letter was sent, the heavy atmosphere immediately disappeared.

Ruan Zhi smiled and said, "Young Hero Li, the matter in Yu Hang has already reached the Mystical Sect near Hangzhou. But due to Heavenly Master Zhang’s decree, no one will come to disturb you, and the local government acts as if it cannot see, but they’re paying attention."

"This morning, Hero Sha and his group entered the city, asking around about the Japanese. I guessed that Young Hero Li would come."

"Hmm."

Li Yan nodded, not surprised at all, and asked, "Is there any clue?"

Ruan Zhi covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "The intelligence related to the Japanese in Hangzhou is that recently a group of pirates attempted to come ashore under the cover of darkness, but were surrounded and annihilated by the navy, which was a great victory, and the court sent officials to reward them."

"However, you all have been so flamboyant, and unless the officials of Hangzhou Prefecture are fools, they can guess the Yu Hang incident is related to the pirates. To protect their positions, they are more urgently than you, probably already started a city-wide search."

This was all expected, as people from the Golden Swallow Sect excelled at analyzing intelligence, they naturally could predict.

Li Yan did not waste words, directly said, "That group of Japanese pirates are both overt and covert; merchants and officials have long been entrenched in the Divine State openly, while the remaining experts hide in the dark. The collapse of Leifeng Pagoda is related to them, you can pass on this clue."

"Thank you, Young Hero Li."

Ruan Zhi smiled slightly, immediately waved the wolf brush to write a note like dragons and snakes, handing it to the maid beside her, "Send it to Hangzhou Prefecture Government Office."

After finishing, Li Yan put down his tea cup, planning to get up and bid farewell.

The Japanese are deeply hidden, it’s unknown how long digging out information will take, they can only choose to shake the mountain and intimidate the tiger.

"Young Hero Li, wait."

Ruan Zhi hurriedly stopped him, somewhat embarrassed, "I know you have many important matters, but there is another request, and the reward is generous."

"We don’t have time."

Li Yan looked speechless, shaking his head to refuse.

Ruan Zhi smiled bitterly, "This matter is somewhat strange, you should listen to it."

"Zhu Cong, the son of Hangzhou Salt Transport Envoy, has been suffering from a strange illness for over three months."

"At first, every midnight, he would sleepwalk everywhere. To prevent accidents, he could only be tied with a rope."

"Later, he started to continuously dream, sometimes saying that every night he entered a strange tavern, discussing national affairs with a group of people, arguing endlessly. Other times he dreamed of two countries at war, he was the Great General, dying repeatedly, waking up with serious illness."

Li Yan frowned slightly, "We are not good at medicine, why not find a Mystical Sect Doctor?"

"We did!"

Ruan Zhi shook her head, "Hired several with heavy rewards, and couldn’t find the cause. Just days ago, his sleepwalking problem happened again."

"After awakening, he splashed ink furiously to write the Map of the Japanese Archipelago, and muttered in Japanese, ’Cherry blossoms fall and sealing decree, black ship breaks waves surprising Kuwana’..."

"Oh?"

Li Yan became interested, "Did he ever learn Japanese?"

"No."

Ruan Zhi sighed, "Zhu Cong cherishes his son greatly in old age. Zhu Mingxuan may not be without learning and skills, but he is a playboy, unable to properly recite Confucian classics, how could he learn Japanese?"

"As Young Hero Li knows, the pirate disturbance in Jiangnan is harsh, the people resent them deeply. Under such circumstances, Zhu Cong naturally dares not speak carelessly, fearing someone might leak the news, bringing about great disaster, thus he begged the Golden Swallow Sect."

"Waking up speaking Japanese?"

Li Yan mused, sensing something strange, "Alright, tonight please lead us there, respected elder."

...

The Salt Transport Envoy is a lucrative post, Zhu Cong’s home is naturally luxurious.

"Respected heroes, you’re here at last."

He had evidently heard of Li Yan and his group’s reputation, waiting personally outside, with eyes bloodshot.

Leading the group to the house, he immediately arranged a banquet, served tea and water, showing great hospitality.

Then, he brought in a pale-faced young man, narrating the events.

"These past two nights, every midnight, I dream of that inn, those black-clad people with indistinct faces..."

"Not all speaking Japanese, and sometimes they argue..."

After Li Yan listened carefully, showed a look of incredulity on his face, turned to look at Lv San.

"San’er, check if the Zhu Family has a nest of rats underground?"