Oars, Lantern Shadows, and Qinhuai's Splendor

Li Yan's brows were tightly furrowed, his mood grave.

Fatty Lin and the other two had been imprisoned, Tian Chiliarch had died a bizarre death, and the matter of the Yangzhou Cauldron remained besides. They weighed on his heart like two great stones.

"Don't worry."

Seeing this, Wang Dao Xuan comforted him. "There's always a way to solve everything. Besides, after such a major incident, the Imperial Court will certainly send someone."

Li Yan nodded, his sharp gaze sweeping across the vast, deserted main hall, where only a few wisps of incense smoke lingered. A thought struck him, and he asked directly, "Senior Zhang, forgive my bluntness. Jinling is a vital city in Jiangnan, and the City God Temple is the hub that connects Yin and Yang and assists with local secular affairs. Now that Japanese pirates are lurking, evil men are causing havoc, and undercurrents are surging through the city, why is this place... so deserted?"

"Your temple seems to be somewhat short-handed?"

Zhang Jingqing's face stiffened slightly, then twisted into a trace of bitterness.

He did not answer at once. Instead, he leisurely lifted the teapot warming on the small stove and refilled Li Yan and the others' tea, which had long since turned lukewarm.

"Young Hero Li truly has eyes like torches..."

The Old Taoist gave a bitter smile. "Speaking of this matter, it is also because my Celestial Master Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain has fallen on hard times, beset on both sides. That has left the City God Temple of the entire Jiangnan capital in the awkward predicament of having no one available for use."

He paused, seeming to organize his words, before continuing, "I won't conceal this from you. First, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are places where Daoist arts flourish. My Dragon Tiger Mountain is