Bandits raiding a village wasn’t unusual.

“Smashing the kiln” was jianghu slang for attacking the estate of a wealthy household.

The Great Xuan Dynasty had just passed a century, yet land consolidation was already worsening. Combined with the power of clans, powerful gentry and wealthy families were everywhere. They feared neither peasants nor the law, because whenever a new official arrived, their first task was to win them over.

Someone like Li Huairen of Li Clan’s Fort was considered decent. At least he followed some rules. Li Yan had heard stories of tyrannical landlords who oppressed the people, treating human life as worthless. With a single accusation of violating clan rules, they could beat someone to death at will. Even local officials could do nothing.

Those overlords feared only bandits. Thus they built high walls, hired guards, and frequently donated to the Divine Fist Association, seeking protection from jianghu forces. But generally, bandits didn’t massacre entire villages. It wasn’t out of kindness, but because they didn’t want to kill the goose that laid golden eggs.

Peasants were like grass, and the wealthy landlords were like sheep. Where there was grass, there would always be sheep. They could rob once and live comfortably for a while. In some places, bandits even colluded with the landlords, allowing the latter to extort those under them under the guise of suppressing bandits.

But this time was different. A eunuch hiding his identity, Qilu Bandits crossing over to the Guanzhong Plains, a village massacre...

No matter how one looked at it, it wasn’t just about money.

Li Yan frowned and asked, “If you ran into bandits, why not report it in Xianyang? How did things end up like this?”

Sha Lifei sighed bitterly. “Don’t even mention it... Daoist Wang and I went back to Xianyang overnight to report it, but someone had already beaten us to it.”

“Who?”

“The red robed concubine of that Lu fellow, along with the head guard Zhao Cheng. They were dressed in mourning robes and crying, claiming she was pregnant with Master Lu’s child and asking the authorities to uphold justice.”

Li Yan understood. “Damn traitors, they’re clearly inside accomplices working with the bandits!”

Sha Lifei nodded. “I wanted to expose them, but Daoist Wang dragged me away. We didn’t even dare take the main road. We had to cross mountains to get back here.”

It was clear Sha Lifei was still confused and frustrated.

Li Yan sneered. “Daoist Wang did the right thing. If you had shown your face, you wouldn’t have left Xianyang alive.”

Sha Lifei froze. “Why?”

Only then did Wang Daoxuan, having finished eating, let out a loud belch and sigh. “I didn’t dare say it earlier. That Lu fellow is a eunuch.”

“A eunuch?!” Sha Lifei was stunned, then broke out in cold sweat.

He was a cunning man; how could he not see the implications?

The massacre was to silence witnesses. Bandits wouldn’t care about witnesses; if anything, it would boost their reputation. The only reason to kill witnesses was to conceal something bigger. And anything involving a eunuch meant the imperial court had their eyes on it.

Leaving the traitors alive meant the matter wasn’t over.

“T-this... What do we do?!” Sha Lifei felt his head spin.

Li Yan shook his head. “There’s no easy solution. Multiple bandit groups and even outsiders involved, it likely even implicates officials. Getting involved means certain death. We can only lay low for now and wait for things to calm down.

“The village is too exposed, so hide in the mountains. I’ll bring you food. Once things settle, we’ll gather more information. That’s all we can do now.”

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan exchanged glances, both helpless.

“By the way, Daoist Wang, I need your help with something.” Li Yan asked.

***

By the time Li Yan returned to the village, dawn had arrived. He slipped back into his house, then acted as if he had just woken up. He fed the chickens, fetched water, lit the fire, and cooked a pot of coarse grain porridge.

After breakfast, he practiced martial arts in the courtyard. He started with stance work, then moved to combat techniques, then blade practice.

It was as if nothing had happened. But he knew everything had changed.

He had successfully stabilized his spirit; he had stepped into the mystic path; and there were still many matters ahead. He had to uncover his father’s death, and track down the enemy behind his family’s downfall.

Yet he couldn’t leave. His grandfather’s condition was worsening. After the curse was removed, he had improved briefly, but it had not lasted. Recently, he had grown lethargic. He was often sitting outside all day, staring blankly into space. Sometimes, he even forgot Li Yan’s name.

Fortunately, Wang Daoxuan had arrived the night before. Though not exceptional, his medical skills surpassed those of rural healers. Li Yan asked him to appear as a traveling physician.

“Medicine and healing, saving lives...” Soon after breakfast, Wang Daoxuan arrived, calling out from the village entrance.

Still dressed in ragged robes, he carried a cloth banner in one hand and a bell in the other, instantly attracting the village children. In a small village, any outsider arriving was an event.

Even his attire had meaning. The banner was newly made, from one of Sha Lifei’s old clothes. The bell, known as a tiger rattle, had its own legend of a healer saving a tiger and gaining it as a mount. It was a symbol of an itinerant doctor’s trade.

Wang Daoxuan had often posed as such when traveling the jianghu. Li Yan, already prepared, quickly welcomed him inside.

The old man grumbled, “I’m perfectly fine, why see a doctor?”

Li Yan coaxed him patiently, and with Wang Daoxuan’s gentle demeanor, the old man reluctantly agreed.

After an examination, Wang Daoxuan smiled. “There’s nothing serious. It’s just old age and low vitality. Brew some jujube seed, poria, and licorice and drink it daily.”

“I told you I wasn’t sick,” Li Gui muttered, though clearly relieved. After a few words, he drifted back into sleep.

But Li Yan sensed something was wrong.

Outside, he pulled Wang Daoxuan aside. “What’s really going on?”

Wang Daoxuan’s expression turned grave. “Physically, nothing’s wrong. But his vitality is exhausted. His time is coming. When I checked, I used my divine ability. His soul is weak. That’s the real issue.”

Li Yan hesitated, then explained the curse. Finally, he asked, “But it’s been broken, why is this happening?”

“That explains it,” Wang Daoxuan sighed. “Such curses can either kill quickly or slowly ruin a family. The culprit likely wanted to avoid attention. It drains fortune, weakens descendants by killing them off, and attracts misfortune. Though your grandfather couldn’t perceive it, he resisted it instinctively.

“You may have survived this long because he shielded you. But he’s just human. It’s like drawing a bow and never releasing. He’s been burning his vitality to hold it back. Now that the curse is broken, there may have been relief, but the damage is done. With his age, his time left is short.”

Li Yan’s voice trembled. “I-is there any way to save him?”

“This is difficult.” Wang Daoxuan shook his head. “This isn’t an illness, it’s the end of his lifespan. You can only spend more time with him. Remember, if he suddenly craves cold food, prepare for the end to come.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s the fading light before death comes. A final burst of yang will cause him to crave cold food.”

***

After Wang Daoxuan left Li Yan’s courtyard, he was immediately surrounded by villagers seeking treatment. Medical care was scarce, and most endured illness with folk remedies. Now that a traveling doctor had arrived, they flocked to him.

Li Yan ignored everything happening outside. Inside, he watched his sleeping grandfather in silence. After some time, he turned and left.

At the stables, he handed the horse he had been gifted to a carter.

“Uncle Du, sell this horse for me, and do me a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Hire a traveling opera troupe. Let them perform in the village... But use another excuse to make them come.”

***

Two days later, an opera troupe arrived.

Their leader claimed he had once nearly starved, saved by someone’s kindness in Li Clan’s Fort, now returning the favor with five days of performances.

No one cared about the story. Free opera was all that mattered. People came from neighboring villages, traveling miles to watch. Each night, the village was filled with light and noise.

Li Gui was overjoyed. He had always loved opera. In his younger days, he would travel to watch performances. But in recent years, his failing body had kept him home. He often spoke of wanting to see opera in Chang’an.

Li Yan couldn’t bring performers from Chang’an, but this was enough.

Investiture of the Gods, Shooting the Nine Suns, Tales of Loyalty...

For days, the bold Qin opera echoed through the village.

The old man sang along loudly, even after returning home, “The command rings across mountains and rivers. Armor donned, horses saddled, warriors shout in unison, charging forward into battle...”

His voice was off-key, but filled with rugged pride, like memories of his youth. After each song, he would stare into the distance.

***

“Yan’er... I feel so hot... I want something cold...”

Tears streamed down Li Yan’s face as he forced a smile. “Grandpa, that’s easy, I’ll get you some.”

He made ice using saltpeter, and mixed in malt sugar. Having prepared the sweet treat, he handed it to the old man.

The old man ate happily, then looked at him, revealing a reluctant smile. “Kid, after I’m gone, you’ll walk your father’s path. It’s fate. I can’t stop it. But remember this...”

“Grandpa, please tell me,” Li Yan knelt and he could no longer stop his tears from falling.

The old man gazed into the distance, voice hoarse as he spoke. “From now on, you’re alone. Remember, it’s better to be hated than pitied, and better to be feared than bullied.”