Blade - Unbound

Chapter 9: Yansheng Coins

Charms?

Li Yan frowned as he examined the copper coins in his hand. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

In his previous life, he had dabbled in antiques. He knew exactly what these were.

They were known as Yansheng Coins, or folk ritual coins. They came in many varieties, each with different purposes. Some were for warding off evil and dispelling misfortune, while some were used to pray for blessings. They had no value in circulation, but those in Li Yan’s hands were clearly not ordinary.

The moment he held them, he could smell something intense. The odor was sharp, like icy blades. There was also a faint stench of blood. The calming incense smell that once surrounded the plaque had completely vanished, replaced by a dense killing aura.

It seemed as though the plaque had merely been a sheath. Now that it had broken, the weapon revealed itself.

Just then, the door creaked open. His grandfather, Li Gui, stepped out of his room.

Oh no.

Fighting in the Ice Plains to suppress the northern rebellion was his grandfather’s greatest achievement. Though he had lost a leg, he enjoyed glory in its place.

Li Yan knew how much the plaque meant to his grandfather. He polished it regularly and he would offer it incense every festival. He was afraid his grandfather might not take the news of the broken plaque well.

Sure enough, Li Gui froze when he saw the crack that split the plaque in two. He opened his mouth slightly to speak, but eventually, sighed quietly.

“Grandpa?” Li Yan asked carefully.

“It’s alright.” Li Gui waved his hand once before lighting his smoking pipe. He took a few slow puffs before shaking his head. “It probably just dried out and cracked. I’ll find someone to fix it.”

He leaned on his cane and hummed a tune as he walked out. From the looks of it, he didn’t seem too affected. Li Yan let out a breath of relief, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly confused. Ever since his father’s death, his grandfather had been temperamental. He would have been set off by anything that rubbed him the wrong way.

Why is he so calm today?

Regardless, there were more pressing matters at hand. After tidying up the courtyard, Li Yan headed straight for Widow Wang’s house.

***

“You’re alive! You’re alive!” Widow Wang exclaimed the moment she opened the door and saw Li Yan.

Li Yan frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Come inside and we’ll talk.”

She shut the door behind him. Without wasting time, she explained, “We miscalculated yesterday. When the Cold Altar Soldier appeared again, its cultivation had increased. It likely devoured all the wandering spirits within ten li. It’s much harder to deal with now. I thought you might have died last night! I... I didn’t expect you to survive.”

“Miscalculated?!” Li Yan’s temper flared.

That thing had been far more vicious than they had described. Even if he had not made any mistakes and followed Widow Wang’s instructions, he wouldn’t have caught it.

It had been a matter of life and death, yet they had gotten it wrong?!

Widow Wang looked bitter, but said nothing more. Instead, she picked up the Wen King drum and began chanting again, summoning Third Aunt Hu.

When the spirit possessed the girl again, it chattered rapidly.

Widow Wang interpreted, “The Immortal wants you to recount everything from last night. Also, what are you carrying? The killing intent is too strong; it makes the Immortal uncomfortable. Step back a little. Don’t approach the red circle.”

Li Yan nodded and took a few steps back.

He recounted everything, then took out the three coins. “What are these?”

The girl craned her neck to look. A flicker of surprise appeared in her eyes. She waved the whisk impatiently, signaling him to move farther away, then began chanting rapidly again.

Widow Wang continued to interpret, “The Immortal says that the Cold Altar Soldier is cunning and bloodthirsty. Its origins are not simple. Also, have you offended anyone?!”

Li Yan stared at her in shock. “What do you mean?”

Widow Wang explained, “Yansheng coins are an important type of ritual artifact. Different sects, even the imperial court, invest great effort into refining them. These coins you hold are not ordinary items. Have you heard of Yang Yi?”

Li Yan nodded. “Of course. Yang Yi is the God of Slaughter. Everyone has heard of him.”

During the Great Xing Dynasty, the Golden Horde had invaded and seized half the land. For a century, north and south had stood opposed, with countless deaths. But that time had also seen the rise of many martial masters. Yang Yi was one of them.

With twin blades in hand, he had fought against the heavens and reached the Xiantian Realm, reaching the Grandmaster Realm. Some even said he had transcended the mundane and touched the threshold of a Great Grandmaster. To this day, his Yin Yang Six Harmonies Blade Art was still practiced by many martial artists.

Those might be famous, but what he was most known for, was still his title.

God of Slaughter.

He had led an army deep into the grasslands, leaving rivers of blood in his wake. In his later years, he had suppressed a rebellion in Jizhou, slaughtering the population in three cities.

In folklore, he was no different from a demonic god.

The girl spoke again and Widow Wang continued, “Most folk tales are exaggerated, and only those within the mystic path know the truth. Yang Yi was powerful, but not enough to suppress everything. So he sought treasure hunters to locate a heavenly artifact. With great effort, he forged a pair of demonic blades that were feared by both gods and spirits.

“He later worked with the Orthodox Daoist sect to destroy the shamanic lineage of the Golden Horde. That laid the foundation for unifying the lands. But those blades were too evil. In his later years, Yang Yi became bloodthirsty and cruel under their influence.

“After his death, the dynasty melted the blades down and forged one hundred and eight Yansheng Coins. These coins, called the Three Talents Demon Suppressing Coins, were then enshrined at Mount Tai to suppress their demonic nature. On the back are the sun, moon, and stars. On the front is Yang Yi’s image, along with a carved incantation: ‘Heaven clear, earth at peace. Slay ghosts, extinguish spirits. Sever demons, expel evil. By my decree, it shall be done’!” frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Li Yan’s eyes lit up at the explanation. “So... these coins are treasures?”

“Of course.” Widow Wang nodded. “They’re not top-tier treasures, but if you gather all three, sun, moon, and star, they can suppress evil and slay spirits. But hiding them inside a household plaque... That’s a vicious scheme.”

“That plaque was awarded by the court. If coins were to be placed within, they would normally be for blessings, after proper consecration. But these were forged from the demonic blades. The killing aura suppresses evil, but hidden within the plaque and masked by incense, it becomes something else entirely. It’s like hiding needles in cotton.

“They are three deadly blades hanging above your door. It’s a highly sophisticated curse. If I’m not mistaken, your family’s lineage is about to end. From your grandfather, all three generations have been cursed. Each has been destined for an untimely death. All of you will die, until your bloodline ends!”

“What?!” Li Yan stared at her in disbelief.

In the past, he would’ve dismissed mystic talk like that as nonsense. But not anymore. Everything he had experienced proved that there were forces beyond his understanding!

Third Aunt Hu’s words were true. His family’s lineage was as she had said. His grandfather had lost several children and only his father survived. His father had been a bladesman, and a wanderer of the jianghu. Though he had a wife, he had affairs aplenty; yet, he only had one son.

Even his death had been under strange circumstances. Thinking back, even the original Li Yan had died mysteriously as a child. He had been found near a grave.

Isn’t that also an untimely death?

Killing intent stirred within him after he connected the dots. “Senior, do you know who did this?!”

“We don’t, but even if we did, you won’t be able to do anything about it.” Widow Wang shook her head. “These coins would make even ordinary martial artists covet them. Yet someone used them to harm your family and even tampered with an imperial reward. Do you think that’s someone you can provoke? You want to take revenge? You better worry about surviving first.”

She started to listen to the Immortal’s chanting again. A trace of joy appeared in her eyes. “Actually, there may be a way. With these coins, you might be able to get rid of the threat once and for all!

“These past two nights, the Cold Altar Soldier didn’t fall for the trick. But it consumed the peachwood inside the rooster and clashed with your plaque. Its spirit has been injured. Our previous method would only work twice; we won’t be able to do it again. If the Cold Altar Soldier comes tonight, it will come for you directly.

“Tonight, hide near the Earth God Shrine at the village entrance. The incense there is strong, so if the Cold Altar Soldier wants to approach, it has to take a physical body. Once that happens, it will also be suppressed by the Earth God. The Immortal will turn your Yansheng Coins into a blade tassel. When the time comes, strike its host down. One blow, and it's over.”

Third Aunt Hu instructed Widow Wang to bring a red string. She first soaked it in Li Yan’s blood. Then, with visible reluctance, plucked several strands of white hair from the whisk. Following her instructions, Widow Wang wove the strands and string into a strange knot, threading the three coins through it.

As she worked, she explained, “These whisk hairs come from a spirit horse that had gained cultivation. After my family’s misfortune, this is all that remains. This knot is called the Evil Banishing Ruyi Knot. When combined with the coins, it forms a blade tassel. It can channel killing intent into your blade, allowing you to strike the Cold Altar Soldier. Ordinary spirits wouldn’t dare to approach you.

“You’ve gained quite the benefit... Regardless, you’re not a practitioner of the mystic path. You cannot wear this constantly. When it’s not in use, keep it in this red cloth pouch and offer incense on the first and fifteenth of each month. Otherwise, it may harm you instead.”

Widow Wang handed him a pouch after her explanation. Li Yan listened carefully. After everything that happened, he wouldn’t dare be careless.

An hour later, the blade tassel was complete. After tying it to his Guanshan blade, Li Yan’s expression changed.

He could smell it. The bloody and violent aura from the coins were flowing through the hilt and into the blade. As he twisted the blade slightly, he could feel it. It was as cold as ice. That wasn’t all either. The blade had once belonged to his father. It was a work by a famous blacksmith, and it had taken many lives before. Now, that dormant killing intent seemed to awaken.

With a slight movement, the cold gleam of the blade stung his eyes. Li Yan quickly removed the tassel, placing it into the red pouch. After confirming all the precautions, he took his leave.

He didn’t know that, not long after he left, the girl suddenly opened her eyes and spoke. “This Cold Altar Soldier came too suddenly. It may have been sent by an enemy. Once this is over, we must leave immediately.”

Though her voice was sharp, she was no longer chanting. The language of spirits required translation. For a spirit to speak human language, that meant it had deep cultivation.

Widow Wang was startled. “Third Aunt... that boy has awakened his root. Should we take him in?”

The girl shook her head. “He only has an enhanced sense of smell. Moreover, he’s much too old and has already missed the best chance to enter the mystic path. Even if he tries, he won’t amount to much. We’ll let him be. With his roots awakened, spirits will notice him. Not to mention an expert is plotting against his family. Tch, even if he survives this, he won’t live long.”

Her voice faded near the end as her eyelids drooped. Soon, she fell asleep once more.