FVN Chapter 14: Stepping Out onto the Road of the Pugilistic World
Chapter 14: Stepping Out onto the Road of the Pugilistic World
Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Stepping Out onto the Road of the Pugilistic World
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Sha Lifei's heart skipped a beat, "What's the matter?"
He was more than clear that this young man in front of him was no pushover.
The first time he came years ago, he thought what trouble could an old crippled man and a half-grown child possibly cause?
Just coming to greet them was already showing them respect.
No one would have anything to say if word got out.
So that time, he swaggered in, acting all high and mighty.
Not only was he discourteous, but he also barked orders, relying on his senior status to have Li Yan prepare food and wine to mooch a meal.
Li Yan was young then, but he wasn't one to suffer losses.
He prepared the food and wine, quite a sumptuous spread, but added a bit of croton powder, controlling the dosage so that Sha Lifei suffered relentless diarrhea only after leaving the village.
It infuriated Sha Lifei at the time.
But as he still had to escort the grain, looting from the dragon's mouth was not a joke, he could only press on, planning to teach the young lad a lesson when he visited the following year.
He had no murderous intent, though.
He had many ways to deal with a young brat.
Like claiming a spar under the guise of martial arts practice and giving him a solid beating.
He hadn't anticipated that Li Yan, leveraging the power of the Substitute Divine Statue, would become a martial arts fanatic, achieving Minor Success by the next year.
Though still lacking experience, he was not so easily dealt with.
From then on, Sha Lifei became much more polite.
Now suddenly halted by him, could it be trouble, or was he trying to reclaim the leader of the grain escort?
Thinking of this, Sha Lifei wore a smile but stayed vigilant inside.
These young wolves new to the pugilistic world were the most ruthless, reckless in their actions, and willing to do anything to make a name for themselves.
He better not trip over himself today...
While he was anxious, Li Yan asked, "I've heard Uncle Sha has connections with the Mystical Sect, could you perhaps introduce me?"
Sha Lifei was taken aback, simultaneously relieved, his gossiping nature aroused, he curiously asked, "What, have you encountered trouble?"
"Was it a collision with customers or is the Fengshui unfavorable?"
Li Yan didn't answer directly, "Nothing much, just curious. Uncle Sha, be honest, do you really have this connection?"
"Of course I do!"
Sha Lifei thumped his chest and laughed heartily, "Aren't you going to inquire, I am Sha Lifei, with friends all over the world."
"There's nothing I can't handle on this Guanzhong road!"
Seeing Li Yan remain expressionless, he widened his eyes, "What, you don't believe me? I do know someone from the Mystical Sect."
"This person is a Fire Living Daoist, skilled in Qimen Dunjia, fortune-telling, examining Yin houses, Yang houses, Fengshui, and exorcising ghosts and subduing demons. He's proficient in everything and is sought after by the wealthy families in Chang'an City..."
While Sha Lifei boasted, Li Yan found it increasingly unreliable.
Though he was an amateur, in his previous life, he had some understanding of folklore.
Just the divination alone included Four Pillars of Destiny, Six Divination, Mei Hua Divination, Six Ren, Qimen Dunjia, Taiyi Divination, Purple Star Astrology...many schools.
Learning one required a considerable expenditure of effort.
Without enough talent, one wouldn't even be able to get started.
Not to mention the ghost-catching and demon-subduing; it sounded like a big scam.
Unaware, Sha Lifei continued boasting, "His name is Wang Daoxuan, rumored to have ties with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect in Chang'an City, and he even handled grievance charts in Xianyang..."
Hearing this, Li Yan's eyes lit up.
The Taixuan Orthodox Sect was the true legitimate sect of the Mystical Sect.
Handling grievance charts wasn't something just anyone could do.
Grievance charts were documents during funerals, recording the deceased's birth and death dates, cremation, and burial specifics.
Li Yan once thought that having lived two lives, nothing would excite him.
Having seen the previous life's colorful nightlife and magnificent landscapes, even the most bustling capital of this world seemed only quaint to him.
Yet, the moment he left the mountain village, he found himself mistaken.
The shadow of Li Family Castle gradually vanished; loess valleys, golden wheat fields, verdant mountains, blue sky, and white clouds... the vastness of the Guanzhong land enveloped him swiftly.
It was an unpolluted world.
Everything seemed remarkably clear.
Coupled with the unknown Mystical Sect, Li Yan felt as if he turned back into that once-young lad, filled with curiosity and yearning for the world beyond.
"Brother Yan, why must you leave too?"
Hei Dan came over, interrupting his thoughts.
The exuberant mood was also shared by this dark-skinned boy.
Unlike Li Yan, apart from attending festivals in Lantian County, this was his first journey so far, casting aside usual calmness, chattering endlessly along the way.
"Xianyang, I heard it's very far..."
"I wonder if we can see Chang'an City along the way..."
Soon, he felt the difficulty of traveling.
They trekked the official road under the blazing sun. The dusty dirt road seemed to churn, with golden wheat fields on both sides, billowing like waves in the scorching summer wind.
Moreover, the thick black cloth absorbed heat, scorching under the blazing sun, soon turning his face flush red, sweat dripping profusely.
Sha Lifei gathered grain harvesters from villages surrounding Li Family Castle, about fifty people, all carrying backpacks, scythes, and whetstones on their waist.
Upon setting out, their attire was fairly tidy.
But now, most had undone their shirts, and some even stripped to their torsos, revealing bronze skin in the sunlight.
Sha Lifei, although riding a horse, was equally sweltering.
He occasionally took down the canteen from his waist, sneaking glances at Li Yan.
However, Li Yan marched silently, occasionally admiring the surrounding scenery.
They set off in the early morning and walked continuously until noon.
By now, Hei Dan was drenched in sweat, eyes blacking out, soles aching, ankles weak, each step felt like treading on cotton.
Li Yan, also sweating all over, remained calm.
After all, with regular martial practice, his footwork far exceeded ordinary people.
Finally, Sha Lifei checked the sky, saw the sun was at its zenith, then announced, "Find a place to rest, move again after the fierce sun subsides."
They needed to travel continuously for two more days.
Traveling at noon consumed more energy, especially with many elderly in the team, better to preserve strength and cover more ground in the cool evening.
As for staying in an inn, Sha Lifei didn't even consider it.
Even if he was willing, these poor folks wouldn't spare the money.
A resting spot was easy to find, a few big locust trees ahead along the official road offered ample shade for people to lie on.
With Sha Lifei's order, they hurried forward, found a place to settle, taking out hard grain rolls to chew with cold water.
Li Yan also sat, leaning against a tree, eating dry rations.
With a tenacious mind, this journey was merely training footwork for him.
Upon return, he could visit the mule market in Xianyang to see if he could afford a good horse with the money he carried.
Dadada...
While contemplating, a string of hoofbeats sounded from afar.
Li Yan squinted, looking up, and immediately heightened his alertness.
More than twenty men were approaching, all mounted on fast horses, wearing bamboo hats, some with long knives, others carrying short swords, evidently people from the pugilistic world.
Suddenly, Li Yan's expression changed subtly; he gripped the knife handle.
He smelled a scent of blood emanating from these people...
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