The Corpse Clothes of the Green Bag [Complete] - 8

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Ninety-Six:

A man entered the shop, dressed in a black long robe with a black belt around his waist, a blue cloth hat on his head, and straw sandals on his feet. He held a small gong in one hand and a soul-capturing bell in the other.

"Manager Wang, we've finally arrived at Tianmen Inn." The man's voice was sinister and piercing.

Manager Wang chuckled and said, "Master Mo, how many bodies have arrived today?"

"Four, from a car accident, two men and two women," replied the corpse-driver, Master Mo.

Yi Qing carefully examined Master Mo. He was a tall, thin, dark-skinned man around forty years old, with a long, thick frame but short upper limbs. His small hands were the size of an infant's, his fingers withered like twigs, his cheekbones were sharp and crooked, his eyebrows were yellowish and drooping, his ears were close to his head, his eyes showed white, he had a small nose and mouth, and two rows of small, yellow teeth. In short, he was extremely ugly.

Master Mo was also looking Yi Qing up and down, then laughed heartily, "What a coincidence, what a coincidence," he said.

Shopkeeper Wang said, "Let me introduce you. This is Master Mo, from a family of corpse-driving experts in western Hunan. This is Yi Qing, a cremator from Jiangxi. Come and have a drink with us."

"I'll let them settle in first." Master Mo shook the soul-summoning bell. The bell made no sound, but four corpses wrapped in black shrouds, wearing tall felt hats, and with yellow paper pasted on their faces entered. They stood silently behind the two large doors, their appearances and ages unseen, and their genders indistinguishable.

"Huh, why can't we hear the bell?" Yi Qing asked in surprise.

"Only the dead can hear it. The living can't. Scientifically speaking, this soul-summoning bell has a very low frequency, what's it called, infrasound," Shopkeeper Wang laughed.

"Such a heavy corpse aura," Master Mo said, sniffing at Yi Qing.

Yi Qing chuckled awkwardly and said, "I've worked at the crematorium for over ten years, cremating thousands of corpses."

"No," Master Mo sniffed, bringing his nose close to Yi Qing's chest, and continued, "There's a hint of a living corpse, a faint fragrance."

Yi Qing's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Master Mo is indeed remarkable; he can even smell Mingyue's scent." Mingyue was the most beautiful female corpse he'd encountered in all his years of cremating corpses. It was a pity that he and she, though in the same body, could never meet.

"Yi Qing, what's causing your sigh?" Manager Wang asked with concern.

Yi Qing shook his head, stood up, and said, "I'll go to the west room to see if they've finished eating."

Manager Wang said, "No need to go; they're all already passed out."

Yi Qing looked at Manager Wang, not understanding his words.

"They drank my corpse-saliva wine and are already drunk," Manager Wang said with a smile.

"Corpse-saliva wine?" Yi Qing asked, puzzled.

"It's the saliva scraped from the mouths of corpses, colorless and odorless, a top-quality sleeping potion," Master Mo explained.

Yi Qing was startled and asked anxiously, "What did you do to them?"

"Don't worry, the saliva will dissolve on its own once the sun comes out. I just don't want them to see Master Mo and those corpses. Besides, I want to talk to you," Manager Wang said.

"Talk about what?" Yi Qing was relieved to hear that Han Sheng and the others were alright.

"Don't leave. My shop has always needed a helper. Let's work together. When I die, this shop will be yours. What's the point of being a cremator?" Manager Wang said.

"Yes, let's work together. We can do something big in the future..." Master Mo comforted him from the side.

Manager Wang quickly stopped Master Mo from continuing with a look, then turned to Yi Qing to inquire about his attitude.

Just then, a loud "thud" came from the west room. Yi Qing stood up and went to the west room. Everyone was sprawled out on the large communal bed, except for the baby Shen Caihua, who was sitting on the floor. The sound was from him falling off the bed.

Yi Qing picked up Shen Caihua and returned to the table behind the counter.

"He fell to the ground," Yi Qing said.

"Mama," Shen Caihua called softly.

"What?" Yi Qing looked at the baby.

"Mama," Shen Caihua called softly again.

Behind the door panel, a corpse stirred upon hearing this... In the hazy moonlight, outside the entrance to Chicken Cry Valley in Xiangxi Peach Blossom Spring, Shen Caihua breathed into the moon. Through several days of circulation, the overwhelming resentment accumulated within her body gradually diluted. Her eyes, which had been clouded by resentment, could now move slightly within their sockets, and her ears could even receive some external sounds. However, she still lacked thought and could only act on instinct. This was probably due to the prolonged lack of oxygen to her brain after being strangled by the Meng family, which led to the death of brain cells.

She was taking deep breaths when her instincts as a corpse alerted her. She sensed a strong, resentful aura emanating from the nearby corpses.

At that moment, Wu Daoming leaped into the air and rushed towards the woods opposite the stone pool where the nun was bathing naked. The nun was in the pool, and no one noticed Shen Caihua's whereabouts.

The intense resentment drew Shen Caihua towards a distant grove of black pine trees.

Under the moonlight, in a clearing within the pine forest, a corpse-driver was resting. Behind him stood four corpses, wrapped in black shrouds, wearing tall felt hats, and their faces covered with yellow paper bearing talismans. The resentment emanated from these corpses.

The corpse-driver walked to the last corpse, chuckled lewdly, and reached into the corpse's chest, grabbing a few handfuls. He sighed, "What a pity, such a beautiful young woman, just died like that. I, Boss Mo, still can't even find a wife. Hmm, and she's still soft."

Shen Caihua silently watched them, her body instinctively drawing her to the corpses. She slowly moved closer to the standing body through the woods.

"We should go," the corpse-driver said, grabbing a few more handfuls.

He shook his soul-summoning bell and walked ahead, the four corpses mechanically lining up behind him.

Shen Caihua sniffed the air and followed at the back of the group.

As they passed the foot of a mountain, the last corpse tripped over a pebble and almost fell. Shen Caihua rushed forward to support it, while the corpses ahead had already rounded the foot of the mountain.

Shen Caihua peeled the black shroud from the corpse and wrapped it around herself, then took off her tall felt hat and put it on her head. It turned out to be the corpse of a young woman, wounded on the head, with a large hole in her forehead.

Shen Caihua then tore off the yellow paper with a cinnabar talisman drawn on it and stuck it to her forehead. In that instant, her body jolted violently, and she involuntarily began to walk forward with mechanical steps.

The female corpse went limp and collapsed to the ground. The corpse

driver, realizing the last corpse was lagging behind, cursed angrily and shook his soul-summoning bell. Shen Caihua's head jerked, and she quickened her pace, catching up with the group.

Corpse drivers usually traveled by night and hibernated during the day, choosing secluded and deserted paths. They had been traveling from Peach Blossom Spring straight to the Wuling Mountains in western Hunan for four or five days. Strangely, the cinnabar talisman also worked on Shen Caihua; she obediently followed the corpse driver's soul-summoning bell without breaking any rules.

During this time, the corpse-driver, Master Mo, would occasionally come over and touch the items, but he never removed the yellow paper talisman, showing no suspicion that they had been switched.

"Strange, why are these breasts so much bigger?" Master Mo wondered.

Finally, they arrived at the Tianmen Inn late at night.

Hearing Manager Wang's suggestion, Yi Qing's interest was piqued. Yes, his profession was already looked down upon, and his appearance often drew disdain from the families of the deceased. Those contemptuous looks were truly unbearable. Living in this remote mountain inn, away from the harsh realities of the world, wouldn't be a bad thing.

Yi Qing hesitated, then said, "It sounds good, but I still need to say hello to them tomorrow."

"That's wonderful! Come, let's have a drink to celebrate Yi Qing joining us," Manager Wang said happily.

After a few cups of sweet wine, coupled with the long journey of the past few days, Yi Qing's eyelids were drooping, and he yawned several times.

Manager Wang helped him to the east room, which was also a row of large communal beds. Manager Wang took out a new set of bedding, had him lie down fully clothed, covered him with the blankets, and then went out to continue drinking with Boss Mo.

"Is this kid reliable?" Boss Mo asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, look at his face. Coming to Tianmen Inn is like coming home. Besides, he's a cremator, homeless and penniless. Perfect for a partnership," Manager Wang said with a smile.

Boss Mo nodded, downed his cup, and whispered, "The old man of Xiangxi is in seclusion on the fifteenth of September. This is a rare opportunity; we'll strike on that day."

Manager Wang gave a shushing gesture, then stood up and tiptoed into the east room. Such a confidential matter couldn't be revealed to Yi Qing yet.

"Wow..." came Manager Wang's exclamation from the east room.

Boss Mo lightly pressed his hands on the table, leaping nearly a meter tall, and swooped into the east room like an eagle.

"Wow..." he also exclaimed.

A beautiful woman, as pure as white jade, was fast asleep in bed, two rosy cheeks on her smooth, fair face... Manager Wang and Boss Mo were both stunned, and for a long time, only the pounding of their own hearts could be heard.

"No wonder! I smelled a faint meaty aroma as soon as I saw him. It turns out there's a corpse residing inside him," Boss Mo exclaimed with sudden realization.

"So, if that beauty comes out every night in the middle of the night, does that mean I can be ecstatic every night?" Manager Wang's voice trembled.

The two of them simultaneously reached under the covers… "Wait!" Manager Wang suddenly cried out.

"What are you doing?" Boss Mo looked at him, puzzled, his small hand frozen in mid-air.

"Washing your hands," Manager Wang said calmly. The two excitedly ran to the kitchen behind the house, scooped water from the vat, and carefully washed their fingers with soap. Manager Wang even washed his face.

With trepidation, the two returned to the east room, their eager gazes falling on the bed. The beauty was gone… Startled, they looked around but saw no one. They hurriedly ran to the west room, where the people who had drunk the corpse-saliva wine were still fast asleep, sprawled out in disarray.

Behind the counter, the baby sat alone on a stool, playing. The four corpses still stood obediently behind the door.

Where had the beauty gone?

Manager Wang and Boss Mo jumped into the courtyard. The moonlight shone, the autumn breeze was gentle, and all was quiet. The two looked at each other in bewilderment.

Returning to the house, there was still no trace of the beauty. Manager Wang picked up the still-warm and fragrant quilt and leaned down to inhale deeply several times.

In the west room, Han Sheng slowly woke up. Corpse saliva could numb ordinary people, including martial arts masters like Liu Jinmo, but it had no effect on Han Sheng. This was because the white venom from the ancient tomb he had inhaled was the nemesis of corpse poison. His drowsiness was indeed due to his inability to hold his liquor.

Han Sheng sat up groggily and was startled by the appearance of the others. How could the wine be so strong? Liu Jinmo was a heavy drinker with an extraordinary capacity for alcohol, yet he was also drunk. Han Sheng smiled bitterly and shook his head.

At this moment, he noticed that the baby in Liu Jinmo's arms was gone, and it wasn't on the communal bed either. Han Sheng was somewhat surprised and quickly got up and went to the counter.

Manager Wang and Boss Mo were wondering where the beautiful corpse had gone when they suddenly saw Han Sheng come out of the west room, and they were both stunned.

"You..." Manager Wang was speechless. How did he wake up?

Han Sheng immediately noticed Shen Caihua playing on a chair. When he saw Han Sheng, he grinned strangely.

Han Sheng picked him up.

"Mommy," Shen Caihua called softly.

Han Sheng smiled and said, "Mommy is drunk." Then he picked him up and went back to the west room.

Far from the foot of the mountain, under an old mulberry tree, Mingyue slowly woke up and opened her eyes to see a bright moon in the night sky. Under the moonlight stood a girl in white, with a white horse beside her.

"Nika," Mingyue recognized the Miao girl from Luohua Cave.

Nika smiled and said, "Sister Mingyue, that bastard Yiqing got drunk, and you almost got..."

"Me? I don't know anything about this," Mingyue said in surprise, her face flushed.

"I secretly snatched you away," Nika giggled.

Mingyue asked suspiciously, "You've been secretly following us all this time?"

Nika looked up at the bright moon and sighed softly, "I came with him."

"Who?" Mingyue asked.

"Hansheng," Nika said.

"Oh, you've fallen for him?" Mingyue understood. No wonder Nika lingered outside Madu's stilted house for a long time the night before leaving the Miao village.

Nika's face was slightly red, and she didn't answer.

"Does he know?" Mingyue asked with concern.

Nika shook her head.

The autumn moon was cool as water, and Mingyue couldn't help but shiver. She thought of the scholar, the only man in her life. He didn't know she was dead. If he did, how heartbroken he would be. He might never marry, longing for her day and night, especially at night when the bright moon hung high in the sky, he would become extremely haggard, his clothes growing looser... She dared not think any further, and tears fell, wetting her clothes.

Nika knew that Mingyue was moved by the scene, and that she must be thinking of her scholar, so she gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Mingyue gently took Nika's hand and pressed it to her face... Nika looked up at the bright moon, thinking, "The autumn night is long, and on nights like this, how many people in the world are suffering from lovesickness..." Suddenly, she felt Mingyue's mouth was very rough and large. She quickly looked down and saw that the ugly and lewd man was kissing the back of her hand with a fervent look!

Nika abruptly pulled her hand back, both angry and annoyed. With a sigh, she mounted her horse and disappeared into the darkness.

Yi Qing was a little confused. "How did I end up in the wilderness?" Just

as Manager Wang and Boss Mo were feeling uneasy, they saw Yi Qing walk in from outside.

"Hey, where did you go?" Manager Wang asked in surprise.

Yi Qing yawned, mumbling, "I don't know, maybe I went to relieve myself." He then went back to the east room, took off his clothes, got into bed, and crawled under the covers.

Manager Wang and Boss Mo exchanged a smile, then "poof" blew out the oil lamp on the counter and rushed into the east room. They stripped naked and also crawled into bed, leaving Yi Qing sandwiched in the middle.

A few clouds drifted by, slowly obscuring the moon, shrouding the world in a hazy glow.

Yi Qing fell asleep as soon as she lay down, but the two men beside her stared wide-eyed with excitement, afraid they would also fall asleep and miss the beautiful woman's return.

Every now and then, one of the two would reach out and gently probe Yi Qing's chest, but each time they were disappointed; it was still just withered skin covering bones, feeling like a washboard to the touch. They

waited like this, listlessly, until dawn, their eyes darkening, and Yi Qing remained the same hideous Yi Qing.

Yi Qing woke up, looked around, and stared strangely at the naked Manager Wang and Boss Mo.

Manager Wang blushed, grabbed Yi Qing's hand, and said urgently, "From today onwards, you'll stay in the shop. Whether you work or not, how much or how little, it's up to you. Five hundred yuan a month, okay?"

"Five hundred yuan!" Yi Qing was stunned, speechless for a long time. That was ten times the salary of a cremator!

"One thousand yuan is fine too! I'll pay the other five hundred." Boss Mo stretched out his small hand and tightly gripped Yi Qing's other arm.

Yi Qing was bewildered, nodding repeatedly.

The sun rose in the east, and a new day began.

Those who had passed out in the west room gradually got up, each one groggily surprised. They hadn't drunk much last night, yet they were already drunk; the wine must have been incredibly strong.

Liu Jinmo whispered to Han Sheng, "Something's not right. There must have been something drugged in the wine. There's something fishy about this shop."

Han Sheng said, "No way! I was only half asleep last night before waking up. I even went to bring Shen Caihua back."

"Where did he go?" Liu Jinmo asked anxiously, holding the baby.

"Mama," Shen Caihua called softly again.

"Yes," Liu Jinmo responded gently.

At this moment, Yi Qing, her face flushed, walked up to Han Sheng and said firmly, "Han Sheng, I've decided not to leave."

Chapter Ninety-Seven:

Enveloped in mist, Tianmen Mountain was shrouded in a hazy, ethereal aura, inspiring a sense of escapism.

Ma Du pointed to Tianmen Cave and said, "Luo Fuhai of the Qing Dynasty wrote a poem called 'Guigu Cave,' which reads: 'Peach blossoms drift away on flowing water, laughing as I enter the deep clouds to visit the grotto. Many hermits bury their names, and the art of strategy produces immortals. Taoist scriptures are inscribed on the walls, and alchemical formulas are refined in the furnace. I seem to hear the music of the Junzi, and a waterfall cascades down from ten thousand peaks.' Legend has it that Guiguzi, a famous scholar of the Warring States period, lived in seclusion in the cave to study the I Ching and comprehended the martial arts masterpiece 'Tianmen Thirty-Six Measuring Rulers,' known as the 'Guigu Divine Skill,' but unfortunately it has long been lost."

Han Sheng exclaimed, "No wonder Uncle Shanren said that not only is witchcraft prevalent in western Hunan, but there are also many hermits and masters. It seems that it existed in ancient times."

Recalling that morning at the Tianmen Inn, Yi Qing insisted on staying, and he had no choice but to wait until he met the old man from western Hunan who truly had a way to save Mingyue before making any further plans. This long journey westward was for Mingyue.

Han Sheng secretly instructed Can'er to protect Mingyue without accompanying him up the mountain, and all the horses were left at the inn. Can'er readily accepted the order. "One

should always be wary of others," Uncle Shanren had specifically warned him before their departure, and even the seasoned Liu Jinmo had said this inn was rather suspicious.

Han Sheng, Ma Du, the innkeeper, and the waiters slowly climbed the mountain path, with Liu Jinmo carrying Caihua at the back.

Passing through Tianmen Cave, three hundred meters away on a hundred-zhang cliff, there was an inverted trapezoidal cave. Trees grew at the entrance, and a waterfall cascaded down from within, its wisps of water drifting like smoke.

"This is Guigu Cave," Ma Du said breathlessly.

Han Sheng, seeing this, exclaimed in surprise, "That's strange! Look at that cave entrance, it's located below a cliff, there's no way to climb it. How did the old man from Xiangxi get in and out? There's water there, but food and vegetables can't be transported either. Has the old man stopped eating human food?"

Ma Du said, "It's said that no one has seen Apu Laosi for many years. He's become a beautiful legend in Miao territory, but no one really knows what happened."

Liu Jinmo, carrying the child, leaped up the hillside and stopped a woodcutter chopping wood in the forest to ask him.

After a while, Liu Jinmo returned to Han Sheng's side and said, "Ghost Valley Cave is that cave on the opposite cliff. It's impossible to climb. Decades ago, a nimble woodcutter from the village used a rope to lower himself down the cliff, but the rope ran dry, and he never returned. So, no one has ever entered that cave. As for the old man from Xiangxi or Apu Laosi, the villagers have heard that it's just a superstitious legend; no one in real life has ever seen him."

Han Sheng pondered, how could this be? Wu Daoming clearly stated it in the Taiji Yin Yun section: Guigu Cave in Tianmen Mountain, Xiangxi, the old man from Xiangxi—of course, he was referring to the time decades ago when he and his master came to Tianmen Mountain.

Ah, if only Wu Daoming were here. "I can go into the cave and explore," Liu Jinmo said, surveying the Guigu Cave in the middle of the opposite cliff.

"How can you get down there?" Han Sheng shook his head.

"If Guiguzi could go down there back then, I, Liu Jinmo, can definitely go down there too!" Liu Jinmo's chivalrous spirit surged forth.

"Too dangerous," Han Sheng still shook his head.

Liu Jinmo explained, "I need to be lowered down using a 200-meter rope. Manager Tie, please find a way to get me down; it shouldn't be a problem."

Manager Tie responded, "Don't worry, sir. I'll get two pulleys and make a wooden wheel; a gentle crank will make it very convenient."

Han Sheng thought for a moment; if there were pulleys and a rope, it would be convenient, and he could go down and take a look himself. So he said, "Alright, let's go prepare. We'll go down into the valley tomorrow."

Manager Tie and his assistant volunteered to go down the mountain to prepare, though Manager Tie paid for it.

Ma Du decided to visit the Miao villages in the mountains to see if he could get any clues about Apu Laosi.

Accompanied by Liu Jinmo, Han Sheng wandered around Tianmen Mountain, ostensibly to familiarize himself with the environment, but actually to enjoy the scenery. Han Sheng felt the mountain scenery was extraordinary; perhaps they could find some precious medicinal herbs in the primeval forest.

The two strolled along the mountain path deeper into the clouds.

The Wuling Mountains are located at the junction of Hunan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces, forming the watershed between the Wujiang, Chenshui, and Jinshui rivers, and also a transitional zone from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the plains of Hunan and Hubei. The Wulingyuan area in western Hunan is characterized by its towering peaks, sparse population, and lush primeval forests, presenting a wild and untamed landscape.

Han Sheng and Liu Jinmo entered a vast Huangshan pine forest, the ground covered with thick pine needles. Squirrels leaped among the branches, watching the two unexpected guests with surprise. Shen Caihua peeked out from Liu Jinmo's arms, sniffing and licking his lips from time to time.

Han Sheng noticed matsutake mushrooms growing on the ground, a delicious fungus rarely seen in Jiangxi, and also used in traditional medicine.

Ahead lay a canyon with crystal-clear streams. On both sides of the canyon grew patches of plants over a meter tall, with yellow flowers that resembled lobsters—except lobsters are greenish, turning purplish-red when cooked, while these flowers were golden yellow.

Han Sheng reached out to pluck it, and the moment his fingers touched it, with a "snap," the lobster thrashed open, its fruit exploding and seeds flying into the stream.

"Golden Dragon Seed!" Han Sheng exclaimed, recognizing it as a medicinal herb mentioned in the *Qing Nang Jing*.

"Good eye!" someone exclaimed.

Liu Jinmo was startled; with his skill, no one within a radius of ten feet would go unnoticed. He quickly looked in the direction of the voice and saw a large Eucommia tree, with an old woman with white hair perched on a branch. Han Sheng observed that the old woman was short, with a wrinkled face, her white hair tied in a bun, wearing a black homespun robe, and carrying a small medicine basket on her back, already filled with Eucommia bark. She was an old woman gathering herbs.

"Young man, since you recognize the Golden Dragon Seed, do you know its medicinal properties?" the old woman asked from the branch, her accent thick with local dialect.

Han Sheng said, "Golden Dragon Seed has all five flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty. Sweetness is soothing, sourness is astringent, bitterness is firming, pungentness is dispersing, and saltiness is softening."

The old woman paused for a moment, then said with delight, "Oh, so you're a young doctor. Do you know what kind of medicine I've gathered? What are its properties?"

Han Sheng thought that Eucommia ulmoides was just a common Chinese herbal medicine, something his father had mentioned, so he smiled slightly and said, "Grandma, what you've gathered is Eucommia ulmoides. The bark is used medicinally. It tastes sweet and slightly pungent, and is warm in nature. It nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens muscles and bones, and calms the fetus. It's also known as 'Si Xian' and 'Shi Si Xian'."

The old woman laughed heartily, leaped down, and landed silently in front of Han Sheng.

Liu Jinmo was secretly surprised. This old woman's light-footed movements were extremely similar to his own. Her landing posture was very much like his master, the bald-headed monk Mei Yiying.

"Young doctor, what's your name?" the old woman said, her face kind and gentle, giving people an instant sense of intimacy.

"My name is Hansheng, and I come from Wuyuan, Jiangxi," Hansheng answered respectfully.

"How do you know about the herb 'Golden Dragon Seed'?" the old woman continued.

Hansheng would never reveal the name from the *Qingnang Jing*, so he replied, "The Zhu family has been practicing medicine for generations."

"Oh, it's a family heirloom. Well, Golden Dragon Seed only grows in Tianmen Mountain in Wulingyuan; it doesn't grow anywhere else in the Central Plains. Therefore, it's not recorded in any medical books, and doctors everywhere don't know it's a peculiar herb. Locals only know it as 'Lobster Flower'," the old woman said, her eyes fixed on Hansheng.

Hansheng thought to himself, "That's right. Besides seeing it in the *Qingnang Jing*, I've never heard of Golden Dragon Seed, and my father has never mentioned it either. It seems the old woman is suspicious of me.

" "My father has mentioned it, but I've never seen it," Hansheng insisted.

The old woman smiled slightly and said, "My home isn't far from here. Would you two like to come in and have some tea?" As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Shen Caihua in Liu Jinmo's arms.

Shen Caihua licked his lips.

Han Sheng nodded and said, "Then we'll be in your way."

Han Sheng and Liu Jinmo followed behind the old woman, walking deeper into the woods along the stream.

The terrain rose higher and higher, and after about an hour, they arrived at a hilltop. Looking down, the mountains were shrouded in a sea of clouds. Not far away was a small stilted house, surrounded by lush green vegetable fields. Several alpine butterflies fluttered on the fence, and a faint, mellow aroma of wine wafted on the breeze.

"Good wine," Liu Jinmo couldn't help but exclaim.

"Lanling wine, fragrant as tulips, served in jade bowls, shines like amber. If only the host could make the guest drunk, then no place would be a foreign land." The sound of reciting poetry came from the stilted house, its tone ancient and melancholic.

Chapter Ninety-Eight.

Liu Jinmo had lived with his master, the bald-headed monk, in a cave in Yandang Mountain for over ten years since childhood. Mei Yiying was the top martial arts master in the Qing Dynasty palace. Being a eunuch, he was only interested in martial arts and fine wine. He had tasted all the wines treasured in the palace and those sent as tribute from all over the country, thus possessing a deep understanding of wine culture. Every night, while drinking wine bought from the foot of the mountain, he would first grumble, then, while drinking, tell Liu Jinmo about the world's finest wines and the stories of famous poets and writers who drank and composed poems.

Over the past ten years, Liu Jinmo not only mastered superior martial arts but also became thoroughly familiar with the world's finest wines and the anecdotes of famous people drinking and composing poems. Since following the son of the high-ranking official to the capital, he had tasted wines from various provinces and, comparing them with his master's drinking experiences, gained new insights.

Therefore, upon smelling the faint aroma of wine carried on the wind, he immediately recognized it as authentic aged Xiangtan wine and exclaimed it without hesitation.

"Since you speak of fine wine, do you know what kind of wine it is? If you don't know what kind of wine it is, why speak of fine wine?" The ancient, desolate voice rose again from the stilted house.

Liu Jinmo smiled slightly and said loudly, "Songlao can intoxicate guests, but be careful not to grow old in Xiangtan."

"Eh," the person upstairs exclaimed in surprise, then asked, "Since you know the place name, do you know the name of the wine?"

Liu Jinmo said, "As Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty wrote in his poem: 'Drunk on Changsha wine at night, walking on the Xiang River in spring at dawn.'"

"A master has arrived! This old man will quickly welcome our distinguished guest." A short, stout old man with a ruddy complexion ran barefoot down from the stilted house.

It was impossible to tell how old the old man was; he had a head of jet-black hair and his face was covered with wrinkles.

The fat old man grabbed Liu Jinmo, exclaiming, "I told you, this wine existed in the Tang Dynasty! I didn't believe it then. Oh, and there's a little boy too. Does he drink wine?"

Liu Jinmo smiled and said, "He's just a month old."

"Come upstairs with me quickly, let's see how many wines you recognize! Who is he?" the old man pointed at Hansheng.

The old woman beside him spoke up, "He's a young doctor, but his knowledge is extraordinary. He even recognizes the Golden Dragon Seed."

"Oh, that's quite something," the fat old man said, scrutinizing Hansheng.

"Alright, you two go talk about wine, we'll talk about medicine. Let's not disturb each other." The old woman pulled Hansheng upstairs, while the fat old man dragged Liu Jinmo along.

The stilted house was almost divided into two parts: one side had a wine cabinet, the other a medicine cabinet. Each side had a bed, a table, and a chair, indicating the old couple lived separately.

The fat old man pulled Liu Jinmo to sit on a chair. A small jar of wine sat on the table, its lid open, a faint aroma wafting upstairs.

Liu Jinmo sniffed it, and the fat old man hurriedly said, "There's a saying: 'Xiang men are talented, Xiang women are passionate.' I think that's completely wrong. It's true that Xiang women are passionate, but it's false that Xiang men are talented."

"Why?" Liu Jinmo found it intriguing.

"It's true that Xiang men are good at drinking," the fat old man asserted.

Liu Jinmo smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Tell me quickly, where did this jar of wine come from?" The fat old man took a small wine cup from his pocket, wiped it with his lapel, filled it to the brim, then thought for a moment, poured half back in, and handed it to Liu Jinmo, looking at him anxiously.

Liu Jinmo brought the cup to his lips, asked a question, then took a small sip, savoring it slowly on his tongue. After a while, he swallowed it and finally said, "The water from Baisha Well at the foot of Huilong Mountain in Changsha is cold and refreshing. It makes an exceptionally delicious tea, excellent for decocting medicine and making soup, and even more fragrant and mellow for brewing wine. This wine is made with water from Baisha Well."

The fat old man nodded vigorously upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Liu Jinmo decided to show off a bit, saying, "Three years ago, at the banquet celebrating ***'s 81st birthday, Hunan presented a white porcelain gourd-shaped bottle of unnamed wine, inviting the Chairman to taste this fine wine from his hometown. The Chairman took a sip and praised it highly, asking what kind of wine it was. The Hunan representatives said it was a replica made according to ancient methods and asked the Chairman to name it. *** said, 'Since it's brewed with water from the Baisha Ancient Well, let's call it 'Baisha Liquid.' After he opened it, it was called 'Baisha Liquid' from then on. Your jar is 'Baisha Liquid' that has been stored for three years."

The fat old man was speechless upon hearing this, scratching the back of his head.

Across from him, the old woman was discussing pharmacology with Han Sheng, her face flushed. "Jinlongzi has all five flavors: the pungent metal flavor enters the lungs, the sour wood flavor enters the liver, the salty water flavor enters the kidneys, the bitter fire flavor enters the heart, and the sweet earth flavor harmonizes the spleen. It is the only herb among all Chinese medicinal materials that possesses all five elements," Han Sheng explained, referring, of course, to what is recorded in the *Qing Nang Jing*.

"Can you give me a specific example of its medicinal use?" the old woman asked.

Han Sheng replied, "It's made with golden dragon seeds, and mixed with water. On a moonlit night, it's used to wash the eyes to remove fog and blockages, and to cure green cataracts and blue cataracts."

"Really?" the old woman exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, the ancients called it black blindness, black wind, blue wind cataracts, and green wind cataracts. Western medicine calls it glaucoma," Han Sheng explained to the old woman.

“When I was little, I went blind in one eye from excessive grief. My grandmother is now over ninety years old, and the Miao doctor says it’s cataracts. Sometimes I dream of going back to my childhood, catching dragonflies with my brother in the fields. Back then, both my eyes worked perfectly, and I caught more than my brother. Since I lost one eye, I can’t judge distances accurately. I only knew that tea made with golden dragon seeds could prolong life, but I didn’t know it could cure my chronic ailment.”

“If there were Fangzhu water, it should restore your sight,” Han Sheng said.

“What is Fangzhu water? Tell Grandma quickly!” the old woman asked eagerly.

Han Sheng explained, “The Fangzhu is a wild giant clam with cloud-like patterns on its shell. On moonlit nights, you rub it with your palm to heat it up, then draw water from it facing the moon. In one night, you can obtain two or three small cups of water, which tastes sweet, is cold in nature, and is incredibly clear. It's like morning dew. A sundial facing the sun, or a Fangzhu facing the moon, can harmonize water and fire.”

“I think there must be that kind of giant clam in Moon Lake. Moon Lake is below the cliffs of Ghost Ancient Cave. The fish and turtles there are quite spiritual, so there must be that kind of giant clam.” The old woman smiled.

“Ghost Ancient Cave? I heard that someone lives in seclusion there. Is that true?” Han Sheng asked tentatively.

“Who said that?” The old woman looked at Han Sheng with a suspicious gaze.

Seeing this, Han Sheng decided to tell her everything, saying, “I heard that an old man from western Hunan lives in seclusion in the cave. I traveled all the way to Tianmen Mountain just to see him.”

“What do you want to see that old man for?” the old woman asked in surprise.

Han Sheng was secretly delighted. Judging from the tone of her voice, there really was such an old man from western Hunan. "A friend of mine was poisoned and turned into a corpse. I heard that the old man from western Hunan cured one such case many years ago. I would like to ask him to tell me the method of treatment."

The old woman remained silent for a moment, then said, "Would you be willing to accompany me to Moon Lake?"

Han Sheng understood that the old woman was proposing a condition. If Han Sheng cured her eyes, she would tell him about the old man from western Hunan, and perhaps even introduce him.

Han Sheng was naturally helpful, and even without conditions, he would definitely treat the sick and save lives.

"Okay, I'll go with you, old woman," he readily agreed.

"Hey, husband, I'm taking this young doctor Han Sheng to Moon Lake for a visit. You can continue with your drinking," the old woman said loudly to the fat old man.

The fat old man was chatting happily with Liu Jinmo, not even looking up, and simply waved his hand.

Liu Jinmo stood up; he couldn't leave Hansheng.

The fat old man grabbed him and pulled him back down to sit, refusing to let him go.

Hansheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, stay here. Grandma and I will be right back."

Hansheng and the old woman went downstairs and headed straight for Ghost Valley Cave and Moon Lake. The fat old man smiled as he looked at the table, on which sat a small earthenware jar of wine. The jar was crudely made, but it looked very old, and the mouth of the jar was sealed with yellow wax.

Liu Jinmo put his nose close to the mouth of the jar and smelled it; the wax seal was extremely tight, and he couldn't smell a trace of wine. He picked up the wine jar, weighed it in his hand, and then put it down, saying, "This is a jar of yellow wine."

The fat old man, still smiling, said with no small amount of pride, "Of course it's yellow wine. It weighs differently from baijiu (white liquor), but you have to tell me what kind of wine it is and how many years it's been aged."

Liu Jinmo chuckled and said, "You're so stingy, yet you still have some fine aged wine hidden away. It's unbelievable."

"You call me stingy?" The fat old man's face flushed red, looking quite aggrieved.

Liu Jinmo said, "You make people guess the wine, but you're reluctant to open it. How can anyone tell you its origin without observing its color, smelling its aroma, and recognizing its taste? Isn't that stingy?"

The fat old man blushed, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the earthen jar, but he hesitated to open it, his eyes secretly glancing at Liu Jinmo.

Liu Jinmo remained unmoved, his face still stern.

The fat old man sighed deeply, slamming his hand on the earthen jar. With a "pop," the wax seal shattered, the lid flew off to one side, but the jar itself remained unmoved. Inside, the aged, yellowish-brown wine was perfectly still, like a mirror.

A rich aroma wafted over, and Liu Jinmo couldn't help but take several deep breaths, afraid that the fragrance would be wasted and dissipate into the air.

"Good, good Kangxi Dongpu Daughter's Red," Liu Jinmo said, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice trembling.

"What? You said it's Kangxi, Kangxi's Daughter's Red..." The fat old man's eyes widened, his disappointment evident.

“This is Shaoxing Huadiao Nu'er Hong from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. During the Kangxi era, ‘Yue wine was famous throughout the world.’ Several years ago, I tasted a Huadiao from the Qianlong era in Beijing. Its aroma was very similar to this jar, but slightly frivolous, unlike the restrained and simple aroma of this wine. Yuan Mei of the Qing Dynasty once praised Shaoxing wine, saying, ‘Shaoxing wine is like an honest and upright official, without a trace of falsehood, and its taste is truly genuine. It is also like a renowned scholar or elder, remaining in the world for a long time, its quality becoming richer after experiencing the world’s vicissitudes.’ I’ll taste it to confirm this,” Liu Jinmo said.

The fat old man reluctantly took out the small wine cup again, habitually wiping it with his lapel.

“No, Huadiao should be drunk from a large bowl to truly appreciate the joy of parents when a Yue daughter gets married.” Liu Jinmo refused the small wine cup offered to him.

Helpless, the fat old man reluctantly took out a large, rough porcelain bowl and slammed it on the table with a “bang.”

Liu Jinmo chuckled inwardly, then remained silent, grabbing the wine jar and pouring out more than half a bowl.

The fat old man glanced furtively at the remaining wine in the earthen jar.

"Drinking Shaoxing wine is different from drinking baijiu; you can't sip it, you have to drink it all in one gulp." Before Liu Jinmo finished speaking, with a "glug," more than half a bowl of Shaoxing wine was gone.

"Ah!" the fat old man quickly covered his mouth; he'd already drunk it, so he didn't want to be accused of being stingy.

"The ancients said, 'Many wines in the world are gray, making one thirsty, but Shaoxing wine is uniquely so; most wines in the world are sweet, making one feel full and stuffy, but Shaoxing wine is fragrant, mellow, and potent, flowing without lingering, thus those who appreciate it consider it a superior choice.' This wine is not only sweet and of good color, but its aroma is also ancient and restrained, and its effect on the throat is mellow, unlike the light and frivolous Qianlong wine, so it is definitely from the Kangxi era," Liu Jinmo affirmed.

Chapter Ninety-Nine.

Liu Jinmo thought to himself, the way the fat old man had just opened the jar seal was strikingly similar to the infamous "Shadowless Palm" of the martial arts world. It shattered the wax seal, sent the jar lid flying, and yet the wine inside remained perfectly still. His subtle, internal force had reached a state of perfection; he could never achieve that. Recalling his sparring session with the white-haired nun at the nameless temple half a month ago, the nun's palm technique was exactly the same as this fat old man's. He had to be careful; after all, he had a grudge against that nun, and who knew what their connection was?

Liu Jinmo stood up and walked to the wine cabinet. The shelves were filled with nothing more than aged Moutai, Xinghuacun Fenjiu, Zhuyeqing, and some well-known brands from various provinces. He had already tasted all these wines in Beijing, so they were nothing special.

Liu Jinmo shook his head slightly after looking at them.

The fat old man saw this and scratched his head, his face turning red and white several times, seemingly making a decision but then giving up.

Finally, the fat old man made up his mind, grabbed Liu Jinmo's hand, and said sincerely, "There's still a jar of wine. If you can tell me its vintage, I'll open it and we'll drink together. How about it?"

Liu Jinmo smiled and followed the fat old man down the stilted house.

Below the stilted house was a cellar. After descending the wooden stairs, the fat old man struck a match and lit an oil lamp on the wall.

It was a small cellar, with some miscellaneous items scattered around.

The fat old man stepped forward and lifted a pile of dry thatch in the corner, revealing a large wine jar, about two feet tall, also a dark brown earthen jar.

There were faint ink marks on the earthen jar. The light was dim, and at first, Liu Jinmo didn't pay much attention. But later, a casual glance

revealed the words "Ye Fu" (野拂)... The fat old man, oblivious to Liu Jinmo's astonishment, lightly tapped the jar's side with his finger, producing an unusually muffled sound.

"The night is cool, the flute plays under the Wuling moon; the road is dark, the loach flowers are alluring. Ye Fu is unaware of the changing world; the wine is finished, the guest is helpless, longing for home. So be it..." The fat old man reluctantly stroked the jar, his expression seemingly filled with pain.

"If you, sir, are reluctant to open the jar, then there's no need to unseal it. This wine is at least three hundred years old anyway," Liu Jinmo tentatively suggested. The Qing army entered the pass in 1644, Li Zicheng was defeated, and Ye Fu became a monk at Tianmen Mountain Temple a few years later, more than three hundred years ago.

"Ah... Sir, you recognized this fine Ming Dynasty wine at a glance! I'm fortunate to have met such a master today. Come, let's open the jar and drink to our hearts' content." The fat old man slapped down with his palm, the wind from which shattered the wax seal. Even before the lid was opened, the aroma of wine wafted out.

"It's distilled liquor!" Liu Jinmo exclaimed in surprise.

The fat old man sniffed and said, "Indeed, it's baijiu, and it's incredibly mellow and fragrant." He then clasped his hands together, gently picked up the jar, and led Liu Jinmo out of the cellar, back to the stilted house. Distilled liquor originated in the Yuan Dynasty. Li Shizhen wrote in the "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Distilled liquor is not an ancient method; it originated in the Yuan Dynasty. The method involves mixing strong wine with lees, distilling it to produce steam, and collecting the droplets in a vessel, which is distilled liquor."

Two large, rough porcelain bowls were placed on the table. The fat old man gently lifted the jar and filled it, instantly releasing a rich aroma. Under the sunlight, wisps of alcohol rising in the air could be seen, like golden threads.

Liu Jinmo looked down closely. The wine in the bowl was golden in color, and its aroma, when inhaled, seemed to penetrate his very being, making every pore on his body tingle.

Liu Jinmo took a few deep breaths and slowly explained, “The ‘Records of Diverse Things’ states, ‘Once upon a time, three people walked in the morning fog. One drank wine, one ate a full meal, and one was hungry. The one who was hungry died, the one who ate a full meal became ill, and the one who drank wine remained healthy. This wine has the power to ward off evil, surpassing all other things.’ No wonder the ancients said: ‘Wine is the best of all medicines.’”

The fat old man looked at Liu Jinmo eagerly and asked, “Sir, what kind of wine is this?”

Liu Jinmo pondered for a moment, and finally said, “The aroma of this wine is ancient and simple, as if it comes from a mud cellar in the southwest. There is no such yeast in any other place in the world.” He took a small sip of the wine. He savored the taste for a long time before slowly swallowing, saying, "The flavor of this wine is not from the fermentation of a single grain. It is a blend of sorghum, rice, glutinous rice, wheat, and corn, combining their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses, resulting in a mellow and pure wine. It truly embodies the 'middle way' of wine. 'Non-biasedness is called the middle way, and constancy is called the constant way. The middle way is the way that the world contends for, and the constant way is the way that the world establishes.' It is sweet and mellow on the palate, leaving a lingering fragrance and an endless aftertaste. It must be the 'mixed grain wine' of the Ming Dynasty."

The fat old man suddenly realized, "So it's Wuliangye from Sichuan!"

Liu Jinmo smiled and said, "Exactly."

"Come, let's drink this mixed grain imperial wine from three hundred years ago." The fat old man was overjoyed, finally having resolved his long-standing doubts, and inadvertently let slip his secret.

Liu Jinmo accompanied him and finished his drink in one gulp, now understanding that the wine hidden by Ye Fu was actually imperial wine left for Li Zicheng. It seemed that this fat old man and Ye Fu's treasure must have a great connection.

The fat old man refilled the wine cup, admiringly saying, "Sir, you have such a profound knowledge of wine. Where did you acquire such extensive expertise?"

Liu Jinmo replied, "My master was originally a palace guard in the Qing Dynasty, accompanying Emperor Guangxu on Yingtai Island

. He tasted wines from all over the country and would tell me about them in his spare time, so I know a little about them." "Oh, I see. How should I address you, sir? What was your master's name?" the fat old man asked respectfully.

"I am Liu Jinmo from Qingtian, and my master was Mei Yiying," Liu Jinmo answered.

"Mei Yiying!" The fat old man's expression changed drastically.

Liu Jinmo's heart skipped a beat upon seeing this, but he calmly said, "That's right. You know my master?"

The fat old man asked urgently, "Where is your master now?" Then he muttered to himself, "He can't be. If he were alive, he would be over 120 years old."

Liu Jinmo silently watched him, secretly raising one hand to protect Shen Caihua in his arms.

The fat old man's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He sighed deeply and said softly, "He is my brother-in-law, and I am his brother-in-law."

Liu Jinmo was taken aback. Recalling the way the old woman had leaped from the Eucommia tree earlier that day, he felt a sense of familiarity. It was indeed the same as his master's—the Mei family's unique lightness skill.

"The old woman's surname is Mei?" Liu Jinmo asked.

"Her name is Mei Xiaoying. She comes from the prestigious Mei family of Phoenix City. In the late Qing Dynasty, the family fell into decline, and the brother and sister depended on each other for survival. Later, to escape their enemies, Mei Yiying went north to the capital. I heard she became a palace guard, but then we lost contact with her. Her sister, Mei Xiaoying, sought refuge at Tianmen Mountain but perished. After many twists and turns, she became my wife

," the fat old man recounted. "So you and my master are family. May I ask your honorable name?" Liu Jinmo felt relieved.

"I am Liu Jinmo, a native of the Black Miao ethnic group, and have lived in Tianmen Mountain for generations. I am known as the Ancestor of Tianmen. I have a lifelong passion for collecting fine wines from the Central Plains and consider myself a wine fanatic. But seeing you today, Brother Jinmo, I feel utterly ashamed," the Ancestor of Tianmen said with a smile.

Liu Jinmo then recounted the story of his master, Mei Yiying. After Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army forced Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty out of the Forbidden City, Mei Yiying wandered the world. Feeling ashamed of being a eunuch, he only secretly returned to Phoenix City once, where he murdered his entire family that night. After that, he wandered the Jiangnan region for many years before finally settling in seclusion in Yandang Mountain in eastern Zhejiang. He took Liu Jinmo as his disciple and taught him everything he knew. He passed away ten years later, more than thirty years ago.

"I see. No wonder Xiaoying has been unable to find out where her brother has been all these years. Alas, poor Xiaoying," the Ancestor said sadly.

Liu Jinmo pondered to himself that the ancestor would certainly not tell outsiders about the Wild Blessed Treasure, and besides, it had nothing to do with him. Han Sheng had come for the Old Man of Xiangxi, and this Tianmen Mountain ancestor, who had lived in this area for generations, would surely know about the Old Man of Xiangxi in Ghost Valley Cave.

"Ancestor, do you know the Old Man of Xiangxi in Ghost Valley Cave?" Liu Jinmo asked.

"You know the Old Man of Tianmen Mountain?" The ancestor looked puzzled.

Liu Jinmo, sensing an opportunity, quickly asked, "Brother Han Sheng has matters to discuss with the Old Man of Xiangxi. How can we meet him?"

The ancestor shook his head and said, "The Old Man of Xiangxi hasn't seen any outsiders for decades."

"Then who has the Old Man of Xiangxi been for decades?" Liu Jinmo asked in surprise.

"This..." The ancestor hesitated, seemingly having something difficult to say.

"Who exactly is the Old Man of Xiangxi?" Liu Jinmo pressed.

"A black wizard from Miao territory," the ancestor said.

The fat old man hurriedly put the lid back on the jar. Seeing a few drops of wine still remaining in the bowl, he quickly tilted it and poured them into his mouth, smacking his lips in satisfaction.

Chapter 100

Moon Lake, like a crescent moon, lay quietly beneath the cliffs of Ghost Valley Cave, shrouded in mist all day long, rarely visited by humans.

Han Sheng stood on the bank, noticing the extremely clear water, which was icy cold to the bone. Looking up, he saw that the water source was Ghost Valley Cave atop the towering cliffs, cascading down like a waterfall, dispersing into mist before even reaching the surface.

"Look, there are fragments of clam shells in the mud on the bank. There must be large clams in the lake. Let Grandma go into the water and catch a few," the old woman said enthusiastically.

Han Sheng quickly stopped her, saying, "Grandma is too old. Let me go in." With that, he removed his clothes, leaving only shorts, and walked into the water.

The old woman nodded to herself; this young man was of good character.

As soon as he stepped into the water, a chill swept over him, instantly raising goosebumps all over his body and making his teeth chatter.

Han Sheng often bathed in ponds when he was young; in the Jiangnan region, where water is plentiful, few people didn't know how to swim.

Han Sheng took a deep breath and submerged into the water. Opening his eyes, he saw the clear bottom overgrown with water plants. Pushing aside the plants, he was startled to find a thick layer of skulls at the bottom. Han Sheng choked on his water, feeling dizzy.

Looking closer, he realized the skulls weren't human, especially the teeth, which resembled those of a rodent. It was extremely strange; how could such things be down there? Han Sheng couldn't hold his breath any longer and prepared to surface.

With a "splash," water seemed to splash, and then a white object wobbled and sank. Upon closer inspection, it was another skull.

Han Sheng leaped onto the surface with a "whoosh," gasping for breath. Looking around, all he saw was a white mist; he couldn't see anyone, nor could he see his grandmother anywhere in the white mist. He gently waded through the water, listening intently, but there was nothing unusual. Moon Lake was indeed somewhat eerie and strange.

Han Sheng took a deep breath and dived back to the bottom. This time, he made a discovery: a giant clam was embedded in the mud, its long, narrow back protruding from the mud. Han Sheng swam over, grabbed the sharp back of the clam with both hands, and swayed it from side to side. Then, he inserted his hands along the sides of the clam's shell and slowly pulled the giant clam out of the mud.

The giant clam was about the size of a washbasin and had lived for at least a hundred years. Han Sheng hugged the clam tightly with both hands, then kicked hard against the water, his body swaying until he finally floated to the surface.

"Grandma, where are you?" Han Sheng called out.

"I'm over here..." came his grandmother's voice from the right.

Han Sheng struggled to swim to the right, still holding the giant clam, and finally climbed ashore. He threw down the clam, his whole body shivering from the cold, unable to speak.

His grandmother quickly handed Han Sheng his clothes and hurriedly helped him put them on, muttering to herself with concern.

After recovering, Han Sheng's first words were, "Grandma, there are so many skulls at the bottom of the water..."

The old woman nodded and said, "These were all gnawed on by this old thing."

"What old thing?" Han Sheng asked in surprise.

"The Xiangxi Old Man," the old woman replied.

"Ah... the Xiangxi Old Man... he's not human?" Han Sheng was extremely shocked.

"Let's go back," the old woman said with a gloomy face, gently picking up the giant clam and throwing it into the basket on her back.

Seeing this, Han Sheng didn't dare to ask any more questions and could only follow the old woman back the way they came, disappearing into the white fog.

A short while later, two people emerged from the misty shore of Moon Lake, supporting each other. One of them said, "Junior Sister, I really can't walk anymore. This is Moon Lake. It was on the shore of this very lake that Master and I came to see the old man from Xiangxi."

The other voice said, "Brother, this place is shrouded in thick fog, and there's hardly anyone around. Where can we find Hansheng and the others?"

These two people were Wu Daoming and the nameless nun.

Since leaving Peach Blossom Spring, they had been traveling westward, enduring wind and rain, enjoying the pristine scenery of Xiangxi along the way. After crossing the Snow Peak Mountains, Wu Daoming felt the poison taking effect. It started with numbness in his coccyx, gradually spreading to his lumbar spine, and eventually, he lost all feeling in his lower back and hips.

The nun's symptoms were milder, but they seemed to be the same as Wu Daoming's, indicating that they had both been poisoned by the same kind of poison. As for why the nun was gentler, they both understood. Firstly, the nun's martial arts skills were far superior to Wu Daoming's. Secondly, although both had lost their virginity, men always have to pay a higher price—a principle well understood by the common people. Therefore, there were countless examples of old men not outliving their wives.

Relying on their years of martial arts training, they managed to reach Tianmen Mountain. Because they came from Xuefeng Mountain, they took a different route and ended up directly at Moon Lake, at the foot of the cliff of Ghost Valley Cave.

Things in this world often don't go as planned. If they had arrived a little earlier, they would have met Han Sheng.

At this moment, Wu Daoming sat weakly on the shore. The nun, forcing herself to sit down next to her brother, took Wu Daoming's hand and gently stroked it, her eyes brimming with tears.

With a guilty expression, Wu Daoming said, "Junior Sister, it's my fault. I led you down this dead end. I'm so sorry."

The nun smiled gently and said softly, "Brother Dao, I did it willingly. You gave me the opportunity to experience another kind of life. This calamity we've suffered is Heaven's punishment. If we die here, I will have no regrets." She then gently rested her head on Wu Daoming's shoulder.

Wu Daoming felt a surge of warmth in his heart, a thousand tender emotions welling up within him. He thought of his decades of wandering the martial world, experiencing countless trials and tribulations, wasting most of his life. Now, having finally met his other half, he was to go to the underworld with her. He was truly unwilling to accept this fate.

“Junior sister, you can still walk, don’t worry about me. We’re doomed if we stay here. You continue searching for Hansheng. That way, you’ll have a chance to live. If you survive, please come back to Moon Lake and cremate me. Send my ashes to Hong Kong, to villa at 911 Mid-Levels Road, Hong Kong Island. As my wife, you will own that house. Also, I have some savings, about HK$20 million, in Standard Chartered Bank. The password is…” Wu Daoming said, his heart breaking as tears streamed down his face, and he sobbed uncontrollably.

The nun interrupted him, saying softly, “Brother Dao, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll just sit with you by Moon Lake, enduring each day as it comes, each night as it comes. The world is bright, the sun and moon cycle, what is there to fear about life and death?”

Wu Daoming was deeply moved, speechless with emotion. The two of them stayed together like that until the moon rose over the eastern mountains and the mist dissipated.

Han Sheng and the old woman returned to the stilted house on the hillside, where they could smell the rich aroma of wine from afar.

Upstairs, Liu Jinmo and the old ancestor were still enjoying their wine, while Shen Caihua had long since fallen asleep in Liu Jinmo's arms.

Han Sheng helped the old woman unload her basket and took out the giant clam, placing it on the floor.

The giant clam's light green shell was tightly closed, and besides the rings of its growth, faint cloud-like patterns were visible on it.

"We need to break the shell; we can boil it in water or pry it open with a sharp blade," Han Sheng told the old woman.

The old ancestor walked over with a smile and said, "Xiao Ying, I'll help you open it." With that, he lightly struck the clam shell with his palm.

After a short while, the giant clam's tightly closed shell slowly opened on its own, revealing a layer of frost on the surface of the clam meat inside.

Liu Jinmo secretly cheered, "The 'Shadowless Palm' is indeed a martial arts masterpiece; the giant clam was instantly frozen to death by the cold air from the palm, and the shell remained completely undamaged."

“Xiaoying, do you know who he is?” the old woman asked, pointing at Liu Jinmo. Before Xiaoying could answer, she eagerly continued, “His master is your brother, Mei Yiying.”

The old woman was startled, swayed, and widened her eyes, saying, “You know my brother? Where is he?”

Liu Jinmo nodded, “Mei Yiying was my master. He was from Phoenix City in Xiangxi and passed away more than thirty years ago.”

The old woman paused, then suddenly burst into tears.

The old woman quickly helped her up, gently wiping away her tears, and helped her sit on the bed. Then she beckoned Liu Jinmo over.

Sitting in the chair, Liu Jinmo recounted in detail the latter half of his master Mei Yiying's life, from how he entered and left the palace, wandered the world, took him as his disciple, lived in seclusion in Yandang Mountain in eastern Zhejiang, and finally died and was buried in Yandang Mountain. He also mentioned the incident of sneaking into Phoenix City at night to kill his enemies.

Mei Xiaoying learned her brother's whereabouts for the first time. Whether he was alive or dead, the worry that had weighed on her heart for so many years was finally over. She stopped sobbing and said to Liu Jinmo, "You are my brother's disciple, so we are family now. Hey, Ancestor, did you hear that?"

The old man quickly agreed, winking at Liu Jinmo with a smile. Since they weren't outsiders, drinking together would be much easier.

Han Sheng had been preoccupied with the old man's questions about Xiangxi, but dared not speak rashly, waiting for an opportunity.

He explained in detail the procedure for obtaining Fangzhu water and the use of the Golden Dragon Seed.

"The key is obtaining Fangzhu water. Since ancient times, fire has been obtained using a concave bronze mirror, and water using a Fangzhu. A concave bronze mirror focuses sunlight into a single point; flammable material is called 'Yangsui fire,' used for worshipping gods and healing. On a moonlit night, rub a large clam shell with your hands to heat it, then cool it against the moon. The essence of the moonlight condenses inside the shell as dew, called Fangzhu water. Washing your eyes with this dew is most effective for improving eyesight. The Golden Dragon Seed should be immersed in Fangzhu water from Yin hour (3-5 AM) to Mao hour (5-7 AM), and washed with this water before dawn. Glaucoma can be cured in one treatment," Han Sheng said.

"Alright, I'll try tonight. If my eyesight is restored by dawn tomorrow, I'll take you to see that old man," the old woman said decisively.

Han Sheng, of course, knew who that old man was referring to.

Chapter 101

On the way back to Tianmen Inn, Liu Jinmo told Han Sheng that the Xiangxi Old Man was a black sorcerer from Miao territory who hadn't seen outsiders for decades.

Han Sheng was filled with doubts. What kind of strange person was the Xiangxi Old Man? He had actually eaten so many skulls. When he was underwater, he saw another skull fall into Moon Lake, which meant that the Xiangxi Old Man had thrown it from a high place in Moon Lake, and that high place was... Ghost Valley Cave.

"We'll explore Ghost Valley Cave tonight," Han Sheng said. If they didn't find the Xiangxi Old Man soon, Mingyue's time would be running out. Besides, Yi Qing had decided to stay at Tianmen Inn. That Manager Wang and that shifty-eyed fellow were definitely not good people, and Mingyue would be in danger.

As dusk fell, they returned to the inn.

Can'er winked and followed Hansheng into the room.

"Hansheng, I think this 'Corpse Inn' is a bit strange. They must have ulterior motives for recruiting Yiqing; they're probably after Mingyue. They haven't let Yiqing do anything all day, and they've given him special treatment, good food. I saw Manager Wang and that corpse-driver, Boss Mo, exchanging lewd glances. The corpse-driver was supposed to set off tonight, but Boss Mo said he's not going. It seems Mingyue is in danger tonight," Can'er whispered. Manager

Tie walked in with a smile and said, "Brother Hansheng, everything is ready. 200 meters of rope, all top-quality ramie rope, can easily lift 1,800 or 1,000 jin. Two pulleys and a wooden winch."

"Good, thank you for your hard work. Tonight we'll go to Ghost Valley Cave," Hansheng said.

"Tonight? You plan to explore the cave at night? Luckily, I've prepared flashlights, no problem," Manager Tie said confidently.

Han Sheng walked up to Liu Jinmo and whispered a few words. Liu Jinmo nodded and went to the counter.

Manager Wang was talking quietly with Boss Mo behind the counter. Seeing Liu Jinmo approach, he quickly stood up and said, "What is it?"

Liu Jinmo had a sinister smile on his face, as if he had returned to the era of bloodshed in the martial arts world. He snorted and said in a shrill voice, "I don't like the corner of your counter." Before he finished speaking, he swung his hand and with a "crack," he actually cut off a corner of the thick wooden board of the counter with his bare hand. Then he sneered and turned to go back into the house.

Shopkeeper Wang and Boss Mo were dumbfounded when they stepped forward. The broken corner of the counter was as clean as if it had been cut with a knife… The two looked at each other, speechless for a long time. Such palm force was unheard of. Could there really

be such a master in the world? If their heads were hit by that, wouldn't it be as easy as cutting tofu? They were also people of the martial arts world, so they naturally understood that this was a warning. What was the warning? They thought for a moment and realized that the corpse saliva wine from last night must have been detected as having a problem, so they were warning them that they would never dare to use any more drugs tonight.

As for the beautiful corpse inside Yi Qing's body, there shouldn't be any problem, and Yi Qing was willing to stay. If they had objected to this, they wouldn't have agreed to let Yi Qing stay. After all, the beautiful woman came out every night, while they would leave this place in a day or two.

Shopkeeper Wang and Boss Mo smiled at each other, relieved. They wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and began to imagine the wonderful scene of embracing the soft and fragrant beauty tonight.

After dinner, Can'er stayed behind to keep an eye on Manager Wang and Boss Mo, while the rest of the group, carrying their supplies and tools, headed towards Guigu Cave on Tianmen Mountain.

The moon rose atop the towering cliffs of Guigu Cave.

Han Sheng and his group stood on a large, protruding blue rock. At the bottom of the cliff, the crescent-shaped lake, about the size of a washbasin, was visible. The daytime mist had dissipated, and a cool breeze whistled across the cliff face—the chill rising from the valley floor.

Manager Tie and his men cut down several pine trunks as thick as bowls, carefully positioned them at the entrance to Guigu Cave, and extended and secured them to the cliff top. Two pulleys were also carefully nailed to the trunks, and ropes were threaded through them.

"It's ready," Manager Tie said to Han Sheng.

Liu Jinmo gently handed Shen Caihua, whom he was carrying, to Han Sheng and said, "Han Sheng, after I go down, I'll pull the rope three times when I reach Guigu Cave. In half an hour at most, I'll figure out the situation inside. When I come back up, I'll pull it three more times, and then you can turn the windlass to pull me up."

Manager Tie said, "My assistant and I will handle the windlass, so don't worry."

Liu Jinmo put on a flashlight, tied the rope around his waist, nodded to Han Sheng, and then said, "Manager Tie, you can lower me now."

Manager Tie and his assistant gripped the windlass handle and slowly lowered the rope, Liu Jinmo's figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.

The fall from the cliff top to the entrance of Guigu Cave would be no less than 150 meters; at a rate of 15 meters per minute, it would take ten minutes. Time passed second by second, and the rope winding around the windlass dwindled. Han Sheng's heart slowly tightened.

The infant Shen Caihua also seemed unusually nervous, constantly sniffing the air below the cliff and licking his lips as if there were delicious treats down there.

When only about ten turns of rope remained on the windlass, the iron shopkeeper felt a loosening in his grip, then saw the rope move three times in quick succession. He breathed a sigh of relief and said to Han Sheng, "Alright, Mr. Liu has reached Ghost Valley Cave."

Han Sheng said, "Please keep a close eye on the rope, Iron Shopkeeper. If the situation inside the cave changes, pull him up quickly."

The iron shopkeeper said, "Don't worry, Brother Han Sheng. Mr. Liu is a top-notch martial artist, and with his extensive experience, there will be absolutely no problem."

Han Sheng nodded. With Liu Jinmo's martial arts skills and knowledge, he was indeed hard to beat in the martial arts world. However, the old man from Xiangxi who could devour so many skulls was no ordinary martial arts master. A trace of worry appeared on Han Sheng's face. The

wind was cool at the top of the cliff. Han Sheng unbuttoned his clothes and tucked Shen Caihua inside, pressing him close to his chest.

In his anxiety, half an hour passed, and Liu Jinmo still hadn't sent a signal. Had something happened? Han Sheng was frantic.

Another half hour passed, and Han Sheng knew something was wrong. The old man from Xiangxi might have gone berserk, and what if he was currently gnawing on Liu Jinmo's head…? "Let me down," Han Sheng said calmly.

"What?" Manager Tie wondered if he'd misheard.

"Let me down," Han Sheng repeated. Looking at the people on the cliff, none of them were as skilled as Liu Jinmo; the others would surely be in grave danger. He himself knew no martial arts; perhaps the old man from Xiangxi wouldn't be so ruthless. Besides, Manager Tie, the shopkeeper, and Ma Du were all outsiders; there was no need to risk their lives.

"Are you serious?" Manager Tie asked, his tone becoming more serious. Liu Jinmo had failed to send the signal on time, and he was probably doomed. If Han Sheng went down, there would be no hope at all. Besides, he had contributed money and effort to come to Tianmen Mountain, all for the sake of the Wild Blessed Treasure that Han Sheng might know about. If he died, wouldn't everything be for naught?

"No, it's too dangerous down there. You have no martial arts skills; you definitely won't come back if you go." Manager Tie tried his best to stop him.

Han Sheng took the baby out of his arms and handed it to Ma Du. Looking into his eyes, he solemnly said, "If I don't come back either, please and the chieftain adopt this baby."

Ma Du was a famous sorcerer in Miao territory; he would definitely be able to dispel the ghostly aura of the infant in the future.

"This whole thing started because of me, Han Sheng. I can't let innocent people sacrifice themselves again. Manager Tie, please put Han Sheng down." Han Sheng said loudly.

Although the Iron Shopkeeper harbored selfish motives, he was, after all, a man of the martial world. At this moment, he was completely captivated by Han Sheng's chivalrous spirit, and couldn't help but sigh, saying, "The heroes and heroines of the martial world are nothing more than this."

He quickly cranked the windlass, bringing the rope up, and carefully examined the end of the rope. There were no marks of cutting or abrasion from sharp blades, proving that Liu Jinmo had untied it himself.

He tied the rope end securely around Han Sheng's waist, nodded, and said, "Brother Han Sheng, be careful. If things look wrong, just pull the rope, and I'll pull you up immediately."

Han Sheng nodded, took the flashlight, and turned to Ma Du, saying, "I'm counting on you."

The windlass slowly turned, Han Sheng switched on the flashlight, carefully illuminating the cliff face, and gradually disappeared into the darkness.

On the shore of Moon Lake, the two leaned against each other, utterly exhausted.

"Look, what's that?" The nun shook Wu Daoming awake, who had fallen into a coma, pointing to the black dot slowly descending from the top of the cliff and the beam of flashlight...

Chapter 102

Inside the Tianmen Inn.

As usual, several dishes and drinks were laid out on the small table behind the counter. Manager Wang and Boss Mo frequently raised their glasses, while Yi Qing was already quite tipsy.

Can'er sat alone in the west room, sulking. He had gone out to persuade Yi Qing to stop drinking, but Yi Qing had completely ignored him.

Ever since that night when Can'er first saw Mingyue, he was utterly captivated. From then on, he suffered from insomnia every night, lying on his bed enduring the torment of longing. Whether Mingyue was human or ghost, he would never leave her. He hoped that Han Sheng would find the old man from Xiangxi as soon as possible to cure Mingyue. Of course, he also knew that once Mingyue returned to normal, she would vanish without a trace, not even glancing at him. Therefore, Can'er was extremely distressed and couldn't sleep all night.

Behind the counter, Yi Qing drank another cup of "crooked melon and cracked date" wine, two blushes appearing on his ugly face. "You're all so... good to me," he stammered, already incoherent.

Manager Wang and Boss Mo exchanged a smile, thinking, "That's enough.

" "Yi Qing, I see you're already dozing off. Shall we get some rest?" Manager Wang said kindly.

"Okay, okay, I'm going to sleep," Yi Qing said, swaying as he stood up.

Manager Wang and Boss Mo quickly helped Yi Qing up, escorting him towards the east room. It was almost the end of Hai hour (9-11 PM).

Can'er rushed out and stopped him, saying, "Yi Qing can't sleep yet. I have something to discuss with him."

Manager Wang pushed Can'er away, saying, "We can talk about it tomorrow. Can't you see Yi Qing is sleepy?"

Can'er spread his arms, saying, "No, he can't sleep until after midnight."

Manager Wang immediately understood. Oh, so the beauty only comes out at midnight. It's already the end of Hai hour, and the beauty is about to come out. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold!

Shopkeeper Wang shoved Can'er aside with his shoulder, rushing to drag him into the east room.

Can'er, enraged, gripped Shopkeeper Wang's arm tightly, and the two were locked in a stalemate.

Seeing this, Boss Mo suddenly punched Can'er in the right ribs, a cracking sound heard as two or three of Can'er's ribs broke.

Can'er felt a sharp pain in his side chest, but he still clung to them desperately.

With a thud, Boss Mo kicked Can'er in the waist.

Although Boss Mo's martial arts were far inferior to Liu Jinmo's, his punches and kicks were still decent. Can'er, who knew no martial arts, relied on his devotion to Mingyue and his youthful strength, and despite his broken ribs, he gritted his teeth and persevered. However, Boss Mo's powerful kick was too much for him; he flew backward, his head hitting the wall, and he immediately lost consciousness.

Old Master Mo stepped forward and tested the water with his hand, saying, "He won't wake up for two or three hours."

Manager Wang and Old Master Mo, forgetting everything else, went into the east room and placed Yi Qing on the bed. They exchanged a knowing smile and, as if on cue, quickly stripped Yi Qing naked. Manager Wang ripped off Yi Qing's underwear, staring at his genitals with a lewd grin.

"Only one hour, midnight," Manager Wang said. The two understood, quickly removing their own clothes and sitting naked beside the naked Yi Qing, quietly waiting… Can'er remained unconscious.

Meanwhile, Nika was riding her white horse far away on the hillside opposite the Ghost Valley Cave at Tianmen Mountain.

The broken ribs of Can'er irritated his intercostal nerves, sending waves of excruciating pain to his brain… Mingyue… Mingyue, he woke up, opened his eyes, but couldn't stand. A salty taste rose in his throat, blood welling up in his mouth and slowly trickling down his chin.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain as he crawled towards the gate… Can'er had followed his father as a corpse-driver since childhood. He knew that some corpses carried extremely heavy resentment, especially those that had recently died. Therefore, they always carried a packet of yellow paper Chenzhou talismans on their bodies, in case strong winds or tree branches blew off the talismans pasted on the corpses' faces, so they could replace them promptly.

Now, Can'er placed his hopes on the corpses behind the gate, hoping one that had recently died and possessed immense resentment. He could remove the Chenzhou talisman, release the corpse's restraints, and then spray his own blood into the corpse's mouth and nose to awaken it with his own blood. However, this wouldn't last long, and Boss Mo, being a Taoist practitioner, understood the situation. He would reapply the Chenzhou talisman, stalling for time as long as possible, hoping Liu Jinmo and the others could return in time.

Can'er laboriously crawled to the side of the gate, to the outermost corpse wrapped in black shrouds. He leaned forward and reached out, but couldn't reach the corpse's face.

Inside the east room, the naked Manager Wang and Boss Mo stared intently at Yi Qing's body, their saliva dripping down their throats like wild beasts drooling over their prey.

Suddenly, Yi Qing's body began to change. First, his facial skin became smooth and white, then his rough, withered chest gradually swelled up... Manager Wang and Boss Mo cheered with delight at the same time.

Hearing the cheers from the east room, Can'er's blood boiled, and she was consumed by rage. She grabbed the corpse's leg and pulled hard, causing the corpse to fall to the ground. Taking advantage of the moment, Can'er ripped off the Chenzhou talisman from the corpse's face. It was a disfigured male corpse with several long wounds on its face, covered in purplish-black scabs. One eye was blind, and the remaining eye stared blankly at a point in front of it. Can'er pounced on the man's face, pried open the corpse's lips, and a stench rose up. At this moment, Can'er didn't care about anything else. She quickly pressed her lips to the corpse's mouth and forcefully sprayed the blood from her internal organs into the corpse's mouth... The young male corpse had died in a car accident, its face completely disfigured. It had only recently died, so its resentment was extremely strong. Once it inhaled the blood and qi from the internal organs of a living person, its limbs immediately began to move. It sat up with a "whoosh," and then stood up according to the will of the owner of the fresh blood and qi, walking mechanically towards the east room.

Can'er had never used this most mysterious "corpse-driving technique" in the Xiangxi corpse-driving industry before. His father had told him about it before his death. Firstly, he had never had the opportunity to use it, and secondly, it required the use of blood and qi from the internal organs. One had to swallow sharp objects like steel nails or blades to puncture the stomach and intestines in order to draw out the blood from the internal organs . The person performing the ritual would lose half their life, so very few people would use this self-mutilation method.

Can'er knew that this male corpse wouldn't last long and was no match for Boss Mo, so he crawled towards the corpse inside.

Chapter 103

With a "thump," the corpse inside was also pulled down by Can'er, and he tore off the Chenzhou talisman. This was a female corpse. Her chin was gone, and her teeth had been blown out in the instant of the car accident. Her two wide-open eyes were full of red bruises. Can'er put his mouth into the female corpse's mouth and spat out blood from her internal organs. The female corpse also ran towards the east room.

The disabled child, having lost a lot of blood, became dizzy and disoriented. "No, I can't let Mingyue get hurt!" he thought, struggling to crawl behind the other half of the door.

Although Mingyue was already fast asleep from being drunk, her body was still gradually changing. Manager Wang, watching her gradually rising, white and delicate breasts, excitedly rubbed his hands together. Boss Mo, meanwhile, kept a close watch on her lower body, watching as her clear penis shrank little by little until it disappeared completely. Then… Boss Mo smacked his lips, sticky saliva spurting out… Just then, a pair of strong hands grabbed Boss Mo's ankles and dragged him to the ground.

Boss Mo was caught off guard and fell flat on his face. He turned his head and saw that it was one of the corpses he had been herding. He was immediately startled. "Corpse Driving Technique!" He immediately realized. Without delay, he raised himself to strike with a straight punch, but the male corpse was extremely strong, constantly dragging and pulling, and his fists couldn't reach the corpse's body at all.

In desperation, he came up with a wicked plan, a closely guarded secret technique of the corpse-driver, and conveniently performed while naked.

With a "whoosh," a stream of hot, foul-smelling urine shot from his genitals, spraying onto the male corpse's body and face… The corpse collapsed with a thud, white smoke hissing from the urine-soaked areas, and the hand gripping his ankle loosened. Boss

Mo was overjoyed and hurriedly climbed onto the bed, but before he could even step onto it, his leg was grabbed again. Looking closely, he saw another terrifying female corpse. Boss Mo

tried the same method, but having already emptied his bladder, he couldn't squeeze out a single drop no matter how hard he tried.

The Chenzhou Talisman—he had to find the Chenzhou Talisman quickly! Boss Mo desperately reached for his clothes on the bed.

The corpse-drivers of Xiangxi always carried a packet of Chenzhou talismans at their waists for emergencies. He had just hastily stripped off his clothes and thrown them onto the bed, and luckily, one was right beside it, which he grabbed.

The female corpse only desperately clung to one of his feet, giving Boss Mo an opportunity. He pulled a yellow Chenzhou talisman from his packet and pressed it against the female corpse's face… With his last ounce of strength, Can'er pulled down the corpse near the door, his hands trembling as he peeled off the talisman from its face. But he no longer had the strength to vomit blood.

The corpse was actually a beautiful woman, her face completely unharmed, and she opened her eyes, smiled slightly at Can'er, and then suddenly stood up! The female corpse reached out and gently picked up Can'er, carrying him into the east room. This

female corpse happened to be the Yin Corpse, Shen Caihua.

Over the past few days, Shen Caihua's mind had been gradually recovering. She not only heard Shen Caihua calling her "Mama," but also felt deep disgust for Mo Laoda's groping and molesting of her breasts along the way. Unfortunately, the Chenzhou talisman on her face restricted her movements; otherwise, she would have bitten his neck long ago.

Now that the Chenzhou talisman had been removed by Can'er, the restriction was broken, and the nature of the Yin Corpse was finally released.

Shen Caihua instinctively felt a sense of goodwill towards Can'er, who was lying on the ground and had helped her break the restriction. It seemed as if she should repay him. Behind the door, she heard Can'er fighting with the villain Mo Laoda to save people. Although she was not fully conscious, she still instinctively picked up Can'er and carried him into the east room.

The scene in the east room shocked Can'er. On the ground lay the male corpse, hissing and emitting white smoke. The female corpse, which had just been afflicted with the Chenzhou talisman by Mo Laoda, stood upright on the ground, and Mo Laoda was about to jump onto the bed.

Even more astonishing was the sight of a fair-skinned, smooth-as-a-lab-like, beautifully curved body lying quietly on the communal bed… Can'er's gaze was fixed on it, and with a "pfft," he coughed up blood from his internal organs.

Manager Wang stared, trembling, oblivious to everything around him. His trembling hands slowly reached towards Mingyue's towering breasts.

Shen Caihua then made her move.

As she put Can'er down, she leaped onto the bed. Manager Wang, grinning foolishly, turned his head, but Shen Caihua bit his neck, severing the carotid artery with her sharp teeth. Blood shot into the air like an arrow… Boss Mo was stunned, staring at Shen Caihua wrapped in a black corpse shroud. He thought to himself, "This female corpse looks unfamiliar." Boss

Mo, true to his old-timer nature, even in his shock, swiftly drew a Chenzhou talisman and pressed it against Shen Caihua's face.

Unexpectedly, this female corpse was quite different. Just as the talisman was about to be pasted onto her face, the corpse snatched the Chenzhou talisman and tore it to shreds.

In shock, Boss Mo felt a chill on his neck, and his vision was filled with a red mist of blood… Can'er remained fixed on the bed, where his dream goddess lay… Shen Caihua smiled slightly, picked up Can'er, and gently placed him beside Mingyue. Then she leaped down, went to the gate, sniffed the air twice, and headed straight for Tianmen Mountain.

A gust of autumn wind rustled the thatched roof.

With his last bit of strength, Can'er pulled the quilt and gently covered Mingyue's naked body… The valley wind below the cliff was chilly, descending meter by meter. Because of the perennial fog in the valley, the stone walls were covered with moss, slippery and emitting a mossy smell.

Ten minutes later, the sound of flowing water came from beneath his feet. Under the moonlight, a large stone cave appeared on the cliff face, with a small stream of water flowing out, reflecting the cool moonlight. The cave was dark and its depth was unknown.

Han Sheng stepped onto the stone ground at the cave entrance and breathed a slight sigh of relief. He first shone his flashlight around. The cave was quite spacious, and the stone walls were covered with moss. Shining the light deeper into the cave, he saw only a hazy mist ahead, unable to see how far it stretched.

Han Sheng untied the rope around his waist and then walked into the cave. With a "crash," he kicked something. Shining his flashlight, he saw a skull, the same kind as the one at the bottom of Moon Lake, the skull of a rodent, only unusually large.

The cave was warm as spring, with a small stream of mountain spring flowing along the edge. Han Sheng felt that, apart from the dampness, the old man from western Hunan living in this cave was quite warm.

Han Sheng continued walking deeper into the cave, but Liu Jinmo was nowhere to be seen.

On his journey from the Miao village to Tianmen Mountain, Han Sheng had inquired in detail about Guigu Cave from Ma Du.

Guiguzi was a figure from the Warring States period, whose real name was Wang Xu, and who was popularly known as Wang Shan Laozu. He was the founder of the School of Diplomacy in Chinese history, and Su Qin, Zhang Yi, Sun Bin, and Pang Juan were all his disciples. Guiguzi was skilled in the art of diplomacy, possessed the ancestral teachings of the Yin-Yang School, and was a master of prophecy, thus earning him the reputation of a prodigy. He authored the book *Guiguzi*, also known as *Baihe Ce*. This master Guiguzi once lived and cultivated in seclusion in Guigu Cave on Tianmen Mountain.

According to the "Yongding County Gazetteer" from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, this cave is a deep stone chamber with a clear spring flowing below. Guiguzi once lived here to study the "I Ching," and the stone walls still preserve Jiazi seal script. The "Yongding County Local History" further describes it as follows: "Guigu Cave is located on the cliff of Tianmen Mountain. A woodcutter once accidentally entered the cave and saw the characters on the walls that resembled seal script, strange and unrecognizable. He wanted to go deeper, but the cave was filled with thick clouds, making it impossible to proceed. The woodcutter went down the mountain and told this story. Some curious people wanted to go into Guigu Cave to explore, but they never returned. Since then, no one has dared to go there again."

Han Sheng shone his flashlight on the stone wall, but apart from moss, he didn't see any seal script or similar characters. The records of the ancients are not necessarily reliable. For example, the Miao legend that there are butterflies the size of washbasins and bats the size of millstones in Guigu Cave is nowhere to be seen. However, rodents are certainly present, which are food for the old men of western Hunan.

A figure flickered on the stone wall ahead, then seemed to vanish again. Han Sheng's heart tightened. He mustered his courage and walked to the stone wall, carefully shining his flashlight on it.

A head resembling an ancient old man appeared on the stone wall, with a clear and serene face, high-piled hair, a slightly upturned chin, and distinct features. Han Sheng reached out and touched it; it was naturally formed, truly a masterpiece of nature.

More exciting books can be found at --- Zhulang Original Literature ( ) Chapter 103 (Part 2) Han Sheng silently examined the old man's head on the stone wall. Could this be the legendary Guiguzi? A sense of awe arose in Han Sheng's heart. He took a few steps back, bumping into a stalagmite at his waist. Shining his flashlight on it, he noticed something strange: the tip of this stalagmite was smooth, unlike the stalagmites in the Linggu Cave of Nanshan. It seemed to have been rubbed smooth by human hands over a long period of time.

Han Sheng shone his flashlight on the top of the stone wall. There were no drooping stalactites there, so how did this solitary stalagmite form? He pushed it with his hand; the stalagmite seemed to have gaps and could move. Han Sheng put the flashlight aside, then held the stalagmite in both hands and forcefully turned it left and right. With a "creak," the stalagmite actually rotated half a circle. The "creak,

creak, creak" sound continued, and a crack appeared in the stone wall next to the old man's head, large enough for one person to pass through sideways. It turned out that there was a mechanism hidden inside.

Could Liu Jinmo have also discovered this mechanism? He was an old hand; if he had discovered it, Liu Jinmo would not have overlooked it. In that case, he must have also entered the crack.

Han Sheng picked up the flashlight, pressed himself against the crack, and shone the beam into the dark crack. He discovered that it was a spacious natural passageway leading into the darkness in the distance.

Han Sheng didn't have time to think further; he squeezed sideways through the crack and down into the passageway.

With a "creak, creak, creak," the stone crevice closed. The mechanism even had a time limit; this must have been designed by Guiguzi, a genius in these strange and unusual arts.

Since he was already there, he decided to make the best of it and walked straight ahead, his flashlight shining on him.

In the passageway appeared a dead, white-furred animal, about the size of a small pig, baring its teeth and with blood-red eyes. Han Sheng crouched down and carefully examined it with his flashlight. It turned out to be a giant rat, entirely white-furred, with bulging eyes the size of eggs, lacking eyelids and whites, its pupils entirely red.

Han Sheng thought for a moment and understood. This was a rat that had become albino due to living in darkness for a long time. Lacking sunlight, it lacked melanin, hence its white fur. Its huge, bulging pupils were an evolutionary adaptation to absorb as much weak light as possible—this was Darwin's theory of evolution, something he had learned in middle school.

Black blood seeped from the rat's ears, nose, eyes, and mouth, indicating it hadn't been dead long. It was limp and weak, as if its bones were broken. From a doctor's perspective, this rat hadn't died of natural causes, nor from animal fighting; it had been struck with a heavy palm, shattering its bones and internal organs.

Han Sheng smiled; it was Liu Jinmo.

Continuing forward, they encountered several more albino giant rat carcasses along the passageway. Han Sheng examined them one by one; all the dead rats had been killed using the same method, except for the first few.

These albino giant rats all had holes in their foreheads, piercing their skulls—the result of a hidden weapon. Han Sheng searched the area with his flashlight and indeed found several steel fingernails on the ground.

This was bad; Liu Jinmo was in danger. He wouldn't use fingernails against these beasts unless absolutely necessary, meaning he was facing a life-or-death situation.

If these giant rats attacked now, Liu Jinmo would surely be devoured to the bone by these rodents.

Rodents…aren't those skulls just rodent skulls?

There was a rustling sound behind him. Han Sheng turned around and saw several large red eyes watching him furtively in the darkness… Han Sheng's heart skipped a beat. He swept his flashlight across the area and, sure enough, there were several giant albino rats looking at him, seemingly hesitant to attack.

Cold sweat broke out on Han Sheng's back. He had no martial arts skills whatsoever. If these beasts pounced, he would be no match for them. They were probably terrified of Liu Jinmo, hence their hesitation. He mustn't panic; the more panicked he was, the faster he'd be finished.

Han Sheng stood up and slowly retreated.

The giant rats cautiously approached step by step.

Han Sheng was truly terrified. His mind drifted to Nanshan Village. Was Lan'er lying in bed, unable to sleep, thinking of him? He wondered if his father had returned from the capital yet. And Benben, Uncle Shanren, and Hexiang—he knew he'd never see them again… It was all because of you stinking rats that he died with regrets! Han Sheng roared, stomping his feet repeatedly at the giant rats, flicking out his steel fingernails. A series of clanging sounds, combined with Han Sheng's shouts and stomping, sent the albino giant rats fleeing in terror.

Han Sheng seized the opportunity and turned to run wildly down the tunnel, his heart pounding.

The path ahead seemed to widen, and a rumbling sound came from behind, like a stampede of horses.

Panting heavily, Han Sheng turned his head and saw something terrible. Behind him, the passageway was a sea of white—giant albino rats with bulging red eyes were charging towards him… Han Sheng didn't care about anything else at that moment and took off running.

The sound of the giant rats running grew closer and closer; he could almost hear their excited panting.

Han Sheng was too exhausted to run anymore. Just as the rat swarm was about to catch up, countless blood-red eyes appeared in the darkness ahead, rushing straight at him. The leader's red eyes were as big as copper bells… Han Sheng was utterly desperate. He stopped and silently watched the rapidly approaching, blood-red eyes.

He shone his flashlight in the direction of the eyes, his heart sinking.

In the beam of light, leading the charge was a giant bat with white fur under its chin and a riding cloth around its neck… Han Sheng recognized it; the giant bat in the lead was the leader of the Shadow Bats, and close behind was the mother Shadow Bat he had given birth to.

The leader, imposing and majestic, stood before Han Sheng. Instantly, the albino giant rats all stopped in their tracks, and the passageway fell silent.

When Han Sheng was little, his father would buy several New Year's pictures to hang on the wall every year. One of them showed a little boy in a red cloth bib and a topknot, lifting a steamer basket, from which several bats flew out. Han Sheng asked his father why rats could fly. His father told him that the rats had sneaked into the basket to steal salt, and after being steamed by the heat, they turned into flying bats.

From then on, little Han Sheng always believed that bats were rats in disguise.

At this moment, the leader of the Shadow Bats stood majestically before the albino rats, appearing like a rat king who had ascended to heaven. The leader squeaked several times, then stared intently at the rat horde.

The albino rats turned away dejectedly and returned the way they came. Soon, not a single one could be seen.

Han Sheng was overjoyed and excitedly hugged the leader's neck, murmuring, "Oh, how did you get here? Oh, I know, this is your old home. You and your husband have returned with your children. The legendary bats as big as millstones were you all..."

The leader and his wife of the Yin Bats were also extremely happy, constantly rubbing their heads against Han Sheng's cheeks and chirping incessantly. The dozen or so baby Yin Bats swarmed around Han Sheng's trouser legs, jumping and hopping.

"Hahaha, who has such ability to tame the old man's Heavenly Rat so well?" A voice laughed loudly in the darkness, the voice not in Mandarin, but like a local Hunan dialect.

With a few "pop" sounds, several oil lamps suddenly lit up in the cave, instantly illuminating the cave.

Han Sheng rubbed his eyes and looked in the direction of the voice.

This was a large stone hall, with numerous rock paintings on the surrounding walls, all in white, depicting nude figures in various poses. Each painting was over two meters tall, and the figures were life-size.

Strange, where was the person who had spoken earlier?

Han Sheng scanned the stone hall but saw no one.

"Young brother, it seems you have no martial arts skills whatsoever, and your eyesight is terrible. Alright, the old man is coming down." The voice came from one of the rock paintings directly in front of him.

This time, Han Sheng saw clearly: the white nude figure mimicking a flying figure in the rock painting was actually a real person!

The white nude figure landed lightly in front of Han Sheng.

It was an elderly man with a wrinkled face, a full head of white hair over two feet long, white eyebrows and beard, bright eyes, a high nose, a large mouth, a slightly upturned jaw, and exceptionally large jaw muscles, giving him a powerful appearance. He was completely naked, his skin pure white, like a sheet of paper, even the blue veins were clearly visible. Han Sheng glanced down; even the man's pubic hair was white.

Another mutation caused by lack of sunlight, Han Sheng thought.

"Young man, who are you? How do you know the Heavenly Rat-Headed Man? Why have you come to Ghost Valley Cave?" the white-haired old man asked in quick succession.

Han Sheng solemnly replied, "I am Han Sheng, from Wuyuan, Jiangxi. My family has a

long tradition of practicing medicine. I have a case I wish to discuss with the old man from Xiangxi." "Oh, you study medicine. Since you've come to see me, your medical skills must be quite advanced. I am Apu Laosi, or 'Old Man from Xiangxi' by the Han people," the old man said.

Upon hearing this, Han Sheng quickly bowed respectfully.

"Tell me how you came to know my Heavenly Rat-Headed Man," the old man from Xiangxi said.

Han Sheng then recounted how he delivered the baby of the female Yin Bat and treated the Yin Bat leader.

"Hmm, good lad, you actually know some external medicine. This old man had no idea that such a family of doctors had appeared in the Central Plains," the old man nodded.

Han Sheng thought to himself, this old man is so strange. Liu Jinmo's fate is unknown after he came in. After all, we entered without permission, which is considered unauthorized entry. If it weren't for knowing the leader of the Yin Bats, I'm afraid I would also be in grave danger. In that case, I should try to get on their good side first.

"May I ask, old man, these Red-Eyed Yin Bats live in the caves at the foot of Dazhang Mountain. How did they suddenly end up in Ghost Valley Cave?" Han Sheng asked.

The old man smiled slightly and said, "Since ancient times, celestial rats have lived in Guigu Cave. Before Guiguzi secluded himself in this cave, it was called 'Cave of Celestial Rats,' and later renamed after him. The celestial rats multiplied generation after generation, so every seven years they would swarm. The celestial rat you rescued swarmed away more than ten years ago, and only returned a few days ago with its wife and baby rats. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that its entire clan had been poisoned by evil people. I'm still wondering how only these few remain."

Han Sheng saw the old man's expression soften.

Chapter 104

"Young man, considering you rescued the celestial rats twice, I will answer two questions for you. You can speak now," the old man said.

Han Sheng said, "Alright, first question. A friend of mine entered the cave an hour before me. How is he now?"

The old man from Xiangxi chuckled coldly and said, "He injured so many of my white-haired rock rats. Of course, I can't let him go."

"Was he eaten by the rock rats?" Han Sheng asked anxiously.

"No," the old man from Xiangxi shook his head.

"You killed him?" Han Sheng asked again.

The old man from Xiangxi shook his head again and said, "I need to find out his purpose for coming here before I feed my rock rats."

Liu Jinmo was still alive, and Han Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was still alive, there would still be a way.

"Second question. I heard that you successfully saved a corpse decades ago. I would like to ask you how you saved it? Did you first return it to the intermediate state before reviving it?" Han Sheng mentioned the real purpose of his visit.

Upon hearing this, the old man from Xiangxi's expression changed drastically. He looked at Han Sheng for a moment, then said coldly, "Young man, who told you this?"

Han Sheng truthfully replied, "Decades ago, Wu Daoming from Lingnan came to Tianmen Mountain with his master and met you. He told me that you successfully cured a female corpse and even had a child."

The old man from Xiangxi pondered for a moment, as if recalling a distant past.

"That's right, that was around 1937 or 1938. A Yin-Yang master surnamed Gu from Foshan, Lingnan, came to a wooden house by Moon Lake on Tianmen Mountain with a young apprentice. The corpse lived there." The old man from Xiangxi said thoughtfully.

"How did you cure her?" Han Sheng asked intently.

"Do you really want to know?" the old man from Xiangxi asked.

"Yes," Han Sheng replied.

"Tell me, was the corpse you wanted to cure male or female, how old was she, and what was her relationship with you?" the old man continued.

Han Sheng replied, "She is a young woman, and I have no relation to her."

The old man from Xiangxi stared intently at Han Sheng's brows for a moment, then slowly said, "Hmm, judging from your brows, you are still a virgin. This matter is of great importance, and you should think it through carefully."

Han Sheng blushed and said, "What does this have to do with whether I am a virgin or not? Besides, I would like to ask you, how did you determine that I am a virgin just from my appearance?"

The old man from Xiangxi smiled and said, "A person who is purely yang or purely yin and has never had sexual intercourse has no impurities in their qi and blood. There is no yin within yang, and no yang within yin. Blood appears in the glabella, and qi manifests in the eyebrows. Whenever yin and yang have intercourse once, there is yin within yang and yang within yin, and the eyebrows will inevitably scatter, even if some eyebrows are crossed and scattered. This is due to the interaction and attraction of yin and yang. I observe that your eyebrows are arranged in an orderly manner and are not scattered, so I conclude that you are still a virgin."

Han Sheng admitted, "That is indeed the case."

Han Sheng then asked, "What does saving a corpse have to do with being a virgin?"

Suddenly, two tears fell from the old man's eyes.

Han Sheng was taken aback, but dared not ask rashly, so he remained silent.

The old man from western Hunan sighed and said, "I'll tell you a story from the past..."

In the midsummer of 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out in Beijing, and many refugees fled south, including some from Xiangxi City who went to the mountains. One moonlit night in late autumn, an old man named Xiangxi saw a woman attempting suicide by drowning at Moon Lake. He rescued her. The woman was beautiful, with delicate features and a graceful figure, unlike any mountain woman he had ever seen. However, upon closer inspection, he discovered that this beautiful woman was actually a corpse, and had been dead for over ten years. The old man was astonished. Corpses typically have short lifespans, at most a few months. He examined her pulse and discovered that she had practiced an extremely yin and evil martial art, her eight extraordinary meridians being extremely yin, which explained her ability to remain in a corpse state for over ten years. However, every midnight, the yin energy would backfire, causing her unbearable pain, leading her to take her own life.

An old man from Xiangxi inquired about her background. This woman was originally a young lady from a martial arts family in Phoenix City. Her parents had both died at the hands of their enemies, and her only brother was far away in the capital. More than ten years ago, confident in her martial arts skills, she went to avenge her enemies, but was no match for them. She was fatally wounded, her yang meridians severed, and she was abandoned in a mass grave. Because of this, the evil true energy hidden within her yin meridians took effect, causing her to transform into a corpse. She found a peddler selling mountain goods as her host, and the peddler, having purchased goods, came to Tianmen Mountain in Xiangxi.

At midnight, she left her host and wandered by Moon Lake, pondering her fate. Unable to avenge her family, with no news of her brother, and suffering daily torment from the backlash of yin energy, she lost all will to live and ultimately drowned herself in the lake.

The old man from Xiangxi sighed at her tragic fate and decided to revive her. However, the first step was to return her from her physical body to her intermediate state (bardo) before reconnecting her severed yang meridians and restoring her to normalcy. To return, the old man had to relinquish his virginity, which he had maintained for over eighty years. The two were buried in luminous sand to allow the woman's yin energy to flow through his pure yang, as she was also a virgin.

After consulting with her and obtaining her consent, the old man took her to the Ghost Valley Cave and buried her in the luminous sand for three days and three nights, completing the yin-yang union and returning her to her intermediate state. Then, after forty-nine days, all the severed yang meridians were reconnected, and the woman finally returned to normal.

Only then did the old man discover that the woman was pregnant. "Oh, that woman is Mei Xiaoying!" Han Sheng exclaimed.

The old man from Xiangxi was taken aback, his sharp gaze fixed on Han Sheng: "How did you know?"

Han Sheng was startled by the old man's cold stare. He truthfully recounted to the old man how he met the old woman in the mountains, was invited to her home, how Liu Jinmo drank with the old woman's husband, the Old Ancestor of Tianmen Mountain, how he and the old woman went to Moon Lake to catch giant clams, and how the old woman planned to use Fangzhu Water to cure her eye ailment at night. He also mentioned that the old woman's older brother was actually Liu Jinmo's master, Mei Yiying, which explained why he knew the old woman's name was Mei Xiaoying.

Han Sheng didn't mention the old woman's exact words, "It was that old thing who gnawed on" the skull, fearing it might displease the old man.

"What Old Ancestor of Tianmen Mountain? All self-important, just a drunkard," the old man snorted.

It seemed they had a grudge; no wonder, it was just jealousy, Han Sheng thought to himself.

"Night-shining sand... Stone liver, isn't that just bat droppings? It tastes pungent, slightly bitter, and is cold in nature, entering the liver meridian. It clears and disperses, I never knew it had such a use," Han Sheng muttered to himself.

The old man from Xiangxi's expression softened slightly. He said, "Rat droppings have a peculiar effect, never mentioned in medical books. They can gather yang energy. During intercourse, when one sweats profusely, yang energy easily evaporates. Burying this substance prevents the yang energy of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian from leaking out. Generally, a corpse is yin, and only pure yang can counter it."

Han Sheng pondered, "Senior, is there no other way to make a corpse return to the intermediate state?"

"Absolutely no other way," the old man from Xiangxi said decisively. Han Sheng was now in a dilemma.

He had traveled thousands of miles to Tianmen Mountain, enduring hardships to meet the old man from Xiangxi, only to receive such a method. How could he take advantage of Mingyue's vulnerability and do such a thing to her? How could he face his fiancée Lan'er in the future?

But Mingyue's time was running out.

"Senior, Liu Jinmo is the disciple of Granny Mei Xiaoying's own brother. Please, have mercy and let him go," Han Sheng pleaded. Liu Jinmo was an old hand; perhaps asking him about Mingyue's situation would yield a solution.

"No, a life for a life. One person for a hundred rock rats is already too lenient," the old man from Xiangxi refused outright.

Han Sheng anxiously asked, "How can you, sir, let Liu Jinmo go?"

The old man from Xiangxi thought for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed, and he said with a radiant smile, "There's only one way. If you can do it, I can let him go."

Hearing there was hope, Han Sheng quickly replied, "If it's within my power, please tell me, senior."

The old man from Xiangxi chuckled, "Guess."

"Guess?" Han Sheng asked, puzzled.

"That's right, guess what I want you to do?" the old man from Xiangxi said.

Han Sheng pondered, "This strange old man is asking me to guess, so what does he really want?" Jealousy… That's it, it must be Granny Xiaoying!

"I guess the old master wants me to go and talk to Granny Mei Xiaoying, to ask her to return to your side," Han Sheng said.

The old man from Xiangxi blushed instantly, stammering, "She so cruelly killed our child, how could she possibly change her mind? You're wrong."

Han Sheng was startled, saying, "You mean Granny killed your child?"

The old man from Xiangxi shed a few more tears, his face showing great pain.

"Yes, she killed our flesh and blood. I think it must have been that drunkard's idea. If it weren't for Xiaoying's feelings, I would have killed that drunkard long ago," the old man from Xiangxi said indignantly.

Han Sheng was speechless, stunned.

"Since Xiaoying became pregnant, we've been deeply in love; no one in the world is happier than us. Xiaoying didn't want to live in the Ghost Valley Cave, so I built a small wooden house by Moon Lake for her. Every night, I would come out of the cave to meet her, and we were always happy. Xiaoying is a good woman; she even cultivated several vegetable plots near the house, planting vegetables and flowers during the day, and preparing meals for me. You know, the fish in Moon Lake are delicious. As

Xiaoying's baby grew, I was at a crucial stage in my training, sometimes unable to leave the cave for days at a time. That's when that wicked drunkard took advantage of the situation. Xiaoying is a kind-hearted woman, easily trusting, and was deceived by the drunkard's sweet talk. By the time I discovered it, they were already together. I wanted to kill the drunkard, but Xiaoying refused, threatening to kill herself." "I had no choice but to watch them live together. One day, I couldn't take it anymore, so I burned down their house—the little wooden hut.

Later, they moved away to that crooked stilted house you went to. That drunkard saw that I called him 'Old Man of Xiangxi,' and he called himself 'Ancestor of Tianmen Mountain,' trying to overpower me. For Xiaoying's sake, I didn't argue with him; after all, I'm decades older than him.

Until one day, Xiaoying came to tell me that her baby had died. I checked her pulse, and sure enough, the fetus had been dead for several days. Alas, there was nothing I could do but use medicine to dissolve the stillborn. Later, I realized that it must have been that drunkard who used sweet words to trick Xiaoying into conspiring to kill my child. It's pitiful that I, at over 130 years old, am now without an heir." Old Man of Xiangxi shed a few more tears.

Han Sheng didn't know how to comfort the old man.

"You really can't guess what I want you to do?" the old man said softly.

Chapter 105

Han Sheng shook his head.

The old man from Xiangxi sighed and said, "Become my son, and I will teach you the 'Ghost Valley Divine Skill,' the coveted 'Thirty-Six Heavenly Measuring Rulers of the Heavenly Gate,' and all my Miao witchcraft medical skills, far surpassing those of the Central Plains. What do you say?"

Han Sheng was speechless, not expecting the old man to offer such a condition.

Seeing Han Sheng's hesitation, the old man explained, "Child, the 'Ghost Valley Divine Skill' is a technique for men to control their qi. After mastering it, one's lifespan can reach at least 130 years, and one will be unparalleled in the martial world. With my Miao witchcraft medical skills combined with your Central Plains medical skills, you will surely become a legendary doctor, surpassing even Bian Que and Hua Tuo."

Han Sheng smiled and said, "Han Sheng is just an ordinary person. I only wish to practice medicine and help people, to alleviate their suffering. Although the Ghost Valley Divine Skill is unparalleled in the martial world, I do not wish to fight with others." I have no desire to hurt or kill anyone. In this day and age, with guns, cannons, and laws, things are different from ancient times. Learning supernatural powers wouldn't be of much use. Besides, Han Sheng already has a fiancée. If I knew the art of controlling male qi, I could live to be over 130 years old, but Lan'er has been dead for many years. What's the point of Han Sheng living alone in this world? As for the elder's statement that Miao medicine far surpasses Central Plains medicine, I disagree. Han Sheng only learned a smattering of traditional Chinese medicine from his father; it's truly insignificant. True traditional Chinese medicine is profound and extensive, dating back to the time of the Yellow Emperor. For thousands of years, the people of the Central Plains have thrived and multiplied thanks to traditional Chinese medicine. It's a pity that many precious and miraculous remedies have been lost; otherwise, many incurable diseases in the world today wouldn't be so.

Han Sheng's words were eloquent and righteous. The old man from western Hunan listened in silence for a long time before slowly saying, "Everyone has their own aspirations, and I won't force you. Alright, now I ask you, since the early years of the Republic of China, when Western medicine began to enter the Central Plains, your traditional Chinese medicine has declined like autumn leaves falling. I've heard that in every city and town..." "Western hospitals have been established, but in the Miao region of western Hunan, Miao medicine still operates as it always has. What does this tell us? Traditional Chinese medicine is no match for Western medicine, and traditional Chinese and Western medicine are no match

for Miao medicine. If you can refute and convince the old man on this point, then Liu Jinmo's matter will naturally be at your discretion." Han Sheng actually knew very little about traditional Chinese medicine theory, except for the strange tricks in the *Qing Nang Jing*. Fortunately, he had extremely high comprehension and could draw inferences from one instance to another. Furthermore, he was well-versed in Liu Bowen's *Shi Yi Jing*, understanding the most practical and bizarre exorcism techniques in the world. Therefore, his thinking differed from ordinary people, often achieving unexpected victories and defeating his enemies in a single move.

"Senior, could you please introduce me to Miao medicine?" Han Sheng asked humbly. Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to finding an opportunity.

The old man from western Hunan nodded and began to speak: "The Black Miao shamans in Miao territory are called 'Mina' in the Miao language. When they encounter a sick person, they kill a dog to ward off evil spirits, a practice called 'beating the old demon.' They are skilled in 'spirit communication' and 'ghost-gazing,' which is what is meant by the combination of shamanism and medicine, and the dual efficacy of divine medicine. Before the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the Black Miao of western Hunan were not officially registered and were known as the 'Miao ethnic minority's territory.' They still followed the Tusi system of the early Qing Dynasty, with the prohibition of 'barbarians not entering the territory, and Han people not entering the caves.' Therefore, Han Chinese medicine from the Central Plains did not spread to us." Here. After the Republic of China was established, with the conversion of native chieftains to centrally appointed officials, both traditional Chinese and Western medicine began to be introduced. However, due to their inability to compete with Miao medicine, they gradually disappeared.

Miao shamanic medicine believed that the causes of diseases were seasonal climate and external toxins (such as wind toxins, water toxins, air toxins, and cold toxins). Historically, there have been sayings about two categories, five channels, thirty-six symptoms, and seventy-two diseases. The two categories refer to cold diseases and hot diseases; the five channels refer to cold channels, hot channels, half-side channels, fast channels, and mute channels; the thirty-six symptoms refer to internal diseases; and the seventy-two diseases refer to surgical diseases, totaling one hundred and eight symptoms. In Miao medicine, disease names are vivid and descriptive, making it easy to diagnose and treat accordingly. For example, "Crow Disease" refers to a patient's fainting, collapse, and shock, resembling a crow sometimes swooping down with its eyes rolling back. "Ant Disease" describes a numbness in the nerves, as if being bitten by ants. "Loach Disease" is heatstroke. "Snake-like Waist Disease" is what traditional Chinese medicine calls "shingles," which is both unpleasant to hear and difficult to remember in Western medicine.

Miao medicine's diagnostic methods include nail diagnosis, ear diagnosis, fingerprint diagnosis, hair diagnosis, fine hair diagnosis, sideburn diagnosis, palm diagnosis, and pulse diagnosis. The locations and points of contact are completely different from those in Central Plains medicine. There are three pulse points, the upper horse pulse, the lower horse pulse, the finger pulse, the elbow pulse, the Kunlun pulse, and the five-finger pulse. The treatments are even more ingenious, including egg rolling therapy, sugar-medicine needle therapy, water-dissolving therapy, tendon picking therapy, blistering therapy, wearing therapy, bloodletting therapy, and so on.

But Central Plains medicine is simple and rigid, only knowing how to flip through a few tattered books like the "Huangdi Neijing" (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). Am I right?

The old man from Xiangxi was indeed very knowledgeable about medical principles, and Han Sheng was speechless.

More wonderful books can be found at---Zhu Lang Original Literature () Chapter 105 Part 2 The old man from Xiangxi stroked his white beard and looked at Han Sheng with a smile.

In his anxiety, Han Sheng actually sneered: "That's because the external classics have been lost."

The old man from Xiangxi was slightly surprised and said: "You are so young, yet you know the 'Huangdi Waijing'?"

Han Sheng thought to himself, to save Liu Jinmo, he might as well go all out.

"Elder, you may know that during the time of the Yellow Emperor, there were three famous physicians: Lei Gong, Qi Bo, and the most renowned, Yu Fu. Yu Fu's medical skills were exceptionally high. He generally didn't use traditional Chinese medicine treatments like herbal decoctions, acupuncture, or massage. Instead, he would cut open the skin, dissect the muscles, remove the lesions, and then ligate them—and he employed many other unbelievable methods. Yu Fu even revived drowning victims using CPR and artificial respiration—and keep in mind, this was over 2000 years ago!

In Yu Fu's later years, the Yellow Emperor dispatched Cangjie, Lei Gong, and Qi Bo, who spent a considerable amount of time treating Yu Fu..." Yu Fu's medical skills were compiled into thirty-seven volumes, but before they could be published, Cangjie passed away. Later, Yu Fu's son, Yu Zhi, brought the book back and gave it to his father for revision. Unfortunately, the whole family perished in a fire; the house, the medical books, and Yu Fu and Yu Zhi's entire family were reduced to ashes. The *Huangdi Waijing* was thus lost, leaving only the *Huangdi Neijing* in the Central Plains. Moreover, since it was recorded on bamboo slips in ancient times, repeated copying inevitably led to errors and omissions. "Han Sheng spoke with great passion, though he had heard it from Ma Du, he was now reciting it on the spot, and it was quite catchy.

The old man from Xiangxi blinked, momentarily speechless.

Han Sheng pressed his advantage: "The profound treatments of the *Huangdi Waijing* have been lost, leaving only the vast theories of the *Neijing*. Countless generations of physicians have silently explored and verified these theories, and many highly perceptive individuals have grasped even a fraction of the *Huangdi Waijing*'s essence. This led to the emergence of legendary doctors like Bian Que, Hua Tuo, and Zhang Zhongjing. Of course, due to frequent wars and internal strife in the Central Plains, more than half of their medical skills were lost. What has been passed down is all later compilations. Imagine if the *Huangdi Waijing* still existed, with the *Neijing* as the theory and the *Waijing* as the application, combining internal and external approaches—wouldn't it be no match for Miao medicine? It is said that the Miao region has never had its own written language, and Miao medicine has only been passed down orally from generation to generation, with no theoretical books surviving. How can it compare to the profound and extensive medical knowledge of the Central Plains?"

This time, the old man from western Hunan was speechless.

"Of course, the fact that Miao medicine has survived for so long is quite remarkable, especially some of its witchcraft techniques, which I greatly admire," Han Sheng said, softening his tone.

"Can you really cure Xiao Ying's Qingfeng internal cataracts with Fangzhu Water?" the old man from Xiangxi asked in a low voice.

"With the addition of Jinlongzi soaking, there shouldn't be any problem," Han Sheng affirmed, now completely convinced of the prescription in the *Qingnang Jing*.

The old man from Xiangxi nodded, and without any apparent effort, his naked body suddenly floated backward, just like the flying apsaras in the rock paintings, his white hair, long beard, and even white pubic hair flowing gracefully.

Then, the old man slammed his palms against the rock wall, and with a loud "rumble," the rock wall rotated ninety degrees, and Liu Jinmo emerged wearily.

Liu Jinmo stood before Han Sheng, looking somewhat embarrassed. His trousers had been torn to shreds by the albino giant rat, stained with blood.

"Thank you. I heard everything you said from the crevice in the rock wall," Liu Jinmo said gratefully.

"You've suffered," Han Sheng said, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Sigh, you can go now," the old man from Xiangxi said.

Han Sheng silently approached the old man from Xiangxi, bowed, and said, "I am deeply grateful for your teachings, sir."

The old man walked to a rock painting on the side, activated a mechanism, opened a stone door, and said, "I will lead you down this secret passage, which leads directly to Moon Lake."

The leader and his wife of the Yin Bats leaped over, reluctant to part with Han Sheng, their large, blood-red eyes seemingly brimming with tears.

"Let's go back to Wolong Valley sometime," Han Sheng said, giving the leader a final hug before following the old man into the secret passage.

It was a natural stone path leading downwards, with steps carved into it, now covered in moss and very slippery. Around the corner was a huge circular stone pool. Han Sheng shone his flashlight on it; the water was a deep green, with a few bubbles rising to the surface.

"This is the Jade Ghost Pool. The inscriptions on the stone wall say that soaking in it after death can cause a corpse to rise from the dead, but no one has ever done it," the old man from Xiangxi explained.

Ten minutes later, they reached the last step of the stone steps, which was completely submerged.

"Dive down from here, and Moon Lake is just two or three zhang away. I used this secret passage to meet Xiaoying before," the old man from Xiangxi said, a smile spreading across his face.

"Senior, why don't you go out?" Hansheng asked with concern.

"Since Xiaoying left, I never wanted to return to the mortal world. Besides, my lifespan isn't long. Hansheng, you're a pure-hearted child. If you ever need anything, come find me through this secret passage, if I'm still here. Those thirty-six rock paintings are the martial arts manual for 'The Thirty-Six Heavenly Rulers of Heaven.' If you're willing, you can come to the cave to study them anytime." The old man hadn't seen anyone outside for many years and seemed to have endless things to say.

"Senior, I want to ask you something. Did you gnaw on those skulls at the bottom of Moon Lake?" Hansheng asked.

The old man from Xiangxi laughed heartily and said, "That's right, it's what I gnawed on. Rock rats are extremely delicious."

But it was raw, Han Sheng thought.

The old man from Xiangxi took Han Sheng's hand and finally said, "If a flesh corpse receives pure Yin energy through the Yongquan acupoint at midnight every night, it can remain alive."

Han Sheng was overjoyed upon hearing this and thanked him repeatedly.

The water of Moon Lake was icy cold. Han Sheng and Liu Jinmo hadn't gone far before they surfaced on the surface of Moon Lake and swam towards the shore.

On the shore, under the moonlight, two people were huddled together, barely alive.

Chapter 106

Under the moonlight, the Yin Corpse Shen Caihua, wrapped in a black corpse shroud, headed straight for Tianmen Mountain.

On the cliff of Ghost Valley Cave, Ma Du paced anxiously. Even the Iron Shopkeeper was getting impatient. Han Sheng had been down there for almost an hour, but there was still no news.

"Mama," the baby in Ma Du's arms suddenly called softly.

Ma Du gave a wry smile. He knew that Liu Jinmo's relationship with the child was extraordinary; the baby had often called Liu Jinmo "Mom" along the way, so he hadn't paid much attention.

"Who's there?" The shopkeeper suddenly noticed a black figure standing silently a few feet away. In the moonlight, the person was wrapped in black shrouds and wore a tall black felt hat. "

Huh? Why is there a corpse standing alone on this cliff in the dead of night?" the shopkeeper wondered.

He walked closer. Could it be that some corpse-transporting craftsmen had lost a body?

Upon closer inspection, he saw it was the corpse of a very beautiful young woman. In the moonlight, the woman's eyes were bright, and her skin was fair, but there were bloodstains on her face. Something seemed off. He finally remembered: the yellow Chenzhou talisman wasn't pasted on the woman's face.

The female corpse suddenly grinned, spreading her arms and throwing off the black shroud, revealing a plain white outfit underneath. She shook her head, knocking off her tall black hat and revealing long, jet-black hair. "

Oh no, she's come back to life!" The shopkeeper suddenly realized this, but it was too late. The female corpse was already in front of him, opening her blood-red mouth to bite… The shopkeeper's martial arts skills were not weak either. In that critical moment, he swiftly dodged, feeling a chill on his left ear. He stepped back and checked his left ear, finding it bitten off, his hand and half his face covered in blood.

His employee witnessed the shopkeeper's face being mangled in a single exchange and was already paralyzed with fear.

Shen Caihua rushed straight towards Ma Du.

Ma didn't know martial arts, but he was a sorcerer from Miao territory who practiced dark magic. He was quite adept at dealing with a mere female corpse that had come back to life. However, he needed to use both hands to cast the spell, so he had no choice but to bend down and put the baby in his arms on the ground. When he straightened up, he was holding a handkerchief in his left hand and a cleaver in his right hand. These were the unique magical weapons of sorcerers from Miao territory.

Ma Du twirled the handkerchief in a counter-clockwise circle with his left hand, chanting a "corpse-binding incantation." Shen Caihua, who had lunged forward, suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on the handkerchief. At that moment, the cleaver in his other hand slowly reached out and plunged straight into Shen Caihua's heart… "Mommy!" Shen Caihua suddenly leaped up from the ground, her small mouth opening in mid-air to reveal two rows of sharp teeth, which she bit into Ma Du's left wrist… Ma Du hadn't expected the ghost infant to attack so suddenly and was caught off guard. The small, sharp teeth pierced the flesh, nearly severing the wrist artery. Ma Du screamed, dropping the handkerchief and the cleaver, and hurriedly covered the wound.

Shen Caihua instantly snapped out of the incantation, scooped up Shen Caihua, and disappeared into the darkness in a few leaps.

After a moment, everyone recovered from their shock, looking at each other speechlessly.

"Wow, that's incredible..." After a long while, Manager Tie finally spoke, trembling as he covered half his face.

Ma Du said anxiously, "Why did this female corpse kidnap Shen Caihua? How am I supposed to explain this to Mr. Liu Jinmo and Brother Hansheng?" As he spoke, he picked up a handkerchief and bandaged his wrist to stop the bleeding.

"What kind of corpse is this, so ferocious?" Manager Tie said, still shaken.

"This might be a Yin Corpse that ran away from Han territory. There are no such things in Miao territory," Ma Du said, noticing the injury on Manager Tie's face. He stepped forward to examine it closely and said, "Manager Tie, you're badly injured. I need to give you some basic treatment."

Ma Du walked to the edge of the woods and circled around, holding a handful of golden, thread-like wild grass. He pressed it against Manager Tie's face, while the shopkeeper tore off his outer garment, shredded it into strips, and wrapped it around the manager's head.

"This is a golden retriever; it's excellent for stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation," Ma Du said.

"Look! What's that!" the young man suddenly exclaimed, pointing to Moon Lake below the cliff.

Ma Du and Manager Tie stared down at the lake. Under the cool moonlight, the lake was like a mirror, and several small figures moved about on the shore, interspersed with flashlight beams.

"Why would there be people by Moon Lake at this time? It might be Han Sheng and the others," Ma Du speculated.

Manager Tie pondered, "Ghost Valley Cave must have another exit."

Ma Du said, "Let's go down and take a look."

The three of them hurriedly took a detour down the mountain, and soon they arrived at Moon Lake. Sure enough, there were Han Sheng and Liu Jinmo, along with an old man and a white-haired nun, but they all seemed to be injured.

Han Sheng was very happy to see them and said, "I've already met the old man from Xiangxi. We'll talk about the details when we get back. I know these two. They've been poisoned by a slow-acting poison and came to Tianmen Mountain to seek my treatment."

"What kind of poison?" Ma Du asked.

Han Sheng shook his head and said, "We don't know yet. We'll have to go back to the inn to investigate further. Liu Jinmo has already sealed their acupoints, so we're temporarily protecting their hearts and will try to treat them later. How did you two get injured too?" He noticed that Ma Du's wrist and the manager's face were wrapped with strips of cloth, still stained with blood.

Ma Du was extremely ashamed and recounted in detail how the Yin Shi suddenly appeared, injured him and the manager, and kidnapped the baby, avoiding mentioning the fact that Shen Caihua was frantically biting his wrist. Being bitten by a baby was too embarrassing.

"So it's Shen Caihua." Han Sheng muttered to himself. More exciting books can be found at --- Zhulang Original Literature () Chapter 106 (Part 2) On the hillside, in the shadow of a banyan tree, Nika rode her white horse, silently watching Han Sheng and his group leave Moon Lake.

When all was quiet, she silently tied her horse to a tree, then went to the Moon Lake, gazed at the bright moon in the sky, sighed deeply, and then plunged into the water… At dawn, Han Sheng and his group finally returned to the Tianmen Inn.

Upon entering the inn, they were greeted by a stench of blood.

“Wait!” Liu Jinmo, a seasoned veteran, immediately understood what had happened. He quickly put down Wu Daoming from his back, and in a flash, he was inside the east room. The scene before them was extremely gruesome and terrifying. On the ground lay a male corpse wrapped in a black shroud, its face contorted in a grotesque manner, with a burned hole in its body. Beside it stood a motionless female corpse, also wrapped in a black shroud, a yellow Chenzhou talisman stuck to its face.

On the edge of the large communal bed lay the naked Mo Laoda, eyes wide open, his neck a bloody mess, blood flowing all over his body, and a puddle on the floor. On the bed, Wang, the shopkeeper, knelt against the wall, completely naked, his eyes slightly open, a smile on his face. His neck was mangled, revealing the white bone beneath, arterial blood spurting onto the white wall, staining half of it red.

Can'er lay on her side on the bed, eyes closed, a patch of crimson at the corner of her mouth, one hand still tightly gripping the quilt.

Only Yiqing remained asleep under the covers, emitting even snores… Han Sheng and the others were stunned. The blacksmith's apprentice trembled, almost vomiting, and retreated from the room, covering his mouth.

“Who did this? So brutal?” Han Sheng asked.

Liu Jinmo pondered, “Kills in the martial world usually don't happen like this. Both Wang and Can'er died from their necks being bitten, so it wasn't done by humans.”

Han Sheng got onto the bed, pressed his hand against Can'er's wrist; there was no pulse, but upon closer inspection, he could faintly detect a very weak pulsation.

“Carry them to the west room,” Han Sheng ordered.

Liu Jinmo carried the disabled child to the west room, while Hansheng and Madu carried Yiqing. Lifting the blanket, they saw that Master Yiqing was naked, with a protruding chest and buttocks, rough, yellowish skin, withered and extremely ugly.

Yiqing, the disabled child, Wu Daoming, and the nun were all lined up on the large communal bed in the west room.

Hansheng looked at them, his heart filled with unease. How could they be treated?

The blacksmith's apprentice ran in and said, "One corpse is missing."

Liu Jinmo silently went out, and after looking, returned and said, "Hansheng, before we left, I checked carefully. Boss Mo was herding four corpses in total, but now, counting them all, there are only three. One is indeed missing."

Madu said from the side, "I know, it's the corpse that abducted the baby."

"You mean Shen Caihua? Were Manager Wang and the others bitten to death by Shen Caihua?" Hansheng seemed to understand.

"She bit off my ear too," Manager Tie said sadly from the side.

Liu Jinmo whispered to Han Sheng, "In the martial arts world, if you encounter something like this and can't avoid it, the usual way is to destroy the evidence."

Han Sheng asked, "Can't we report it to the authorities?"

"No, think about it. How can the police believe that the already dead Shen Caihua bit two more people? We'll all be implicated."

Han Sheng thought about it and agreed. It was a different era; the government was atheistic and would never believe in superstitious beliefs like the "yin corpse" theory.

"So, what should we do?" Han Sheng asked.

"Leave it to me," Liu Jinmo said.

Han Sheng nodded; that was the only option.

Liu Jinmo called over his assistant, grabbed a hoe and a shovel, and went to the vegetable garden in the backyard to dig a pit. Before dawn, they had dug a large, deep pit. Liu Jinmo went into the house one after another, carrying the naked bodies of Manager Wang and Boss Mo, and threw them into the pit. Then he threw in the other three corpses brought by the corpse-driving team, along with all their clothes.

"There's one more." The waiter brought over a black dead cat, the one Shen Caihua had secretly killed and sucked blood from the previous night.

Finally, Liu Jinmo filled in the pit completely, smoothing away the traces.

Liu Jinmo instructed the waiter to clean up the bloodstains on the ground and walls, then quietly told Han Sheng that everything had been handled according to the rules of the martial arts world.

Currently, the most seriously injured is Can'er. After examining him, Han Sheng discovered that he had three broken ribs on his right side, the broken bones piercing his chest cavity and damaging his internal organs. There was no other way but surgery.

The opening of the *Qing Nang Jing* records Hua Tuo's anesthetic powder, which mainly uses "Datura flower, also known as Fengxia'er or Shanqiezi, which has a pungent, warm, and toxic taste. Datura flowers are harvested in autumn and dried in the shade. One liter of medicine is used, along with four qian each of raw aconite, whole angelica, fragrant angelica, and Sichuan lovage, and one qian of stir-fried arisaema. Three qian are mixed with hot wine and taken orally, so that the patient is drunk and unaware. The abdomen and back are then cut open, and the accumulation is removed. If it is in the intestines or stomach, it is cut off and washed to remove the disease and filth..."

While Liu Jinmo was dealing with the corpse, Han Sheng had already ordered Ma Du to ride a fast horse to find the necessary herbs and surgical instruments. Although he had never operated on anyone before, in this remote and desolate place, if time was delayed, the disabled child would surely die, and he could not withstand the bumpy ride to send him to a distant hospital.

Wu Daoming and the nun were poisoned by the same kind of poison. He had inquired about this in detail with the nun by Moon Lake. The poisoning started with numbness at the coccyx acupoint, then spread to the waist and hips, and finally caused numbness and loss of sensation throughout the body. The

coccyx acupoint is a connecting point of the Governing Vessel, which branches off to the Conception Vessel. Problems with this acupoint can obstruct the flow of Qi throughout the body, preventing the Qi from rising from the Dantian. It is also a vital acupoint in the body. What kind of poison was it? Han Sheng pondered deeply but still couldn't figure it out.

The Huang family was truly too insidious. Han Sheng wondered where the poison came from. There was a place near Wuyuan, Jiangxi, where a medicinal stone called "red arsenic" was produced in the mountains. Its scientific name was "arsenic trioxide," which is the arsenic poison mentioned in ancient operas, and known in the martial arts world as "crane's crest red." As a child, Han Sheng always thought that "crane's crest red" was the tuft of red feathers on the head of a red-crowned crane.

Once, his father had treated someone suffering from acute realgar poisoning, but the person didn't survive. Later, his father told Hansheng that realgar was also known as "arsenic trioxide," and that after poisoning, symptoms usually appeared immediately, or at the latest within one or two hours. Symptoms resembled acute gastroenteritis: a garlic and metallic taste in the mouth, a burning sensation in the throat, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, watery stools, tenesmus, and in severe cases, vomiting bloody fluid, convulsions, shock, acute renal failure, and even death.

Chronic poisoning manifested as fatigue, numbness in the limbs, anemia, decreased renal function, and frequent pain in the fingertips and toes, related to daily diet.

Could it be chronic arsenic poisoning? A little bit was added to food every day; it was colorless and tasteless, completely undetectable. Hansheng pondered this repeatedly, but what did it have to do with the coccyx acupoint?

Hansheng called Liu Jinmo and told him his doubts.

After listening, Liu Jinmo smiled and said, "It's very simple. Think about it, they've maintained pure Yang and pure Yin for decades. Once the dry wood ignites, it will be extraordinary. Wu Daoming's kidneys are under immense strain. The pain in his toes is due to peripheral nerve pain, and the coccyx is the last acupoint on the Governing Vessel, a concentration of peripheral nerves. It's no wonder it's numb."

Han Sheng immediately understood and his doubts were resolved. He then instructed Liu Jinmo, "Mr. Liu, please infuse some Yang Qi into Wu Daoming's Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. Be quick and forceful, and infuse it into the Renying acupoint next to his Adam's apple on his neck."

Liu Jinmo said, "Understood." He then channeled his true Qi, extended his left index and middle fingers, and pressed them on the Renying acupoints on both sides of Wu Daoming's Adam's apple, forcefully pouring in the true Qi.

Soon after, a smell of raw garlic emanated from Wu Daoming's mouth.

"That's right, the Huang family poisoned them with 'arsenic' in their food. They controlled the amount each time, slowly accumulating it to reach a lethal dose. Otherwise, with their martial arts skills, they wouldn't have missed it," Han Sheng said.

In Chapter 107

, inside the inpatient ward of Wuyuan County People's Hospital, Meng Hongbing's condition had basically stabilized. Although he still couldn't move below the neck, his spirits were exceptionally high because, starting today, Lan'er would be taking care of him.

The father adopted Huang Jianguo's scheme, using both soft and hard tactics on Wu Chushan and Lan'er. First, the town notified Wu Chushan that his family were from out of town, and if they wanted to live in Nanshan Village, they must provide a letter of introduction from their original government and a series of related certificates; otherwise, they would be detained and investigated indefinitely or sent back to their original place of residence. Exceptions were made if someone in the family had a formal job in a local state-owned enterprise.

Wu Chushan's family was very anxious but had no other solutions.

Just then, Director Meng visited and said that the county hospital had several new nurse openings, and he could use his connections to get one for Lan'er, with a monthly salary of 50 yuan. In those days, this was equivalent to the salary of a fourth-grade worker, which was quite tempting.

The matter was settled so easily. Lan'er officially started working at the county hospital as a state-owned employee, and Mr. and Mrs. Wu Chushan no longer needed letters of introduction or other supporting documents.

Lan'er was overjoyed to have a formal job. The hospital provided staff dormitories, and meals in the canteen were subsidized and quite inexpensive. After a few days of simple training, Lan'er officially started working. The hospital director himself spoke to her, offering encouragement and motivation, urging her to study hard, work diligently, and uphold the revolutionary spirit of hard work and perseverance, striving to join the Party organization as soon as possible.

This morning, she received her first job assignment: full-time nursing care for a patient with high-level paraplegia. Her nursing duties mainly included feeding the patient, administering injections and medications, full-body cleaning and massage, preventing bedsores and muscle atrophy, and assisting the patient with toileting.

So, early in the morning, Lan'er, dressed in a brand-new white nurse's coat, her simple, rosy face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, arrived at room 201 on the second floor—a single VIP ward.

She gently pushed open the door and tiptoed to the bedside.

The patient suddenly turned around, smiling at her, and said, "Lan'er, you're here."

Lan'er was startled; she never imagined the patient was Meng Hongbing… "How…it's you?" Lan'er turned to leave in fright.

"Don't you want this job anymore?" Meng Hongbing's chuckled from behind.

Lan'er slowly stopped.

"Do you three want to go to a shelter?" Meng Hongbing's voice turned cold.

Lan'er slowly turned back.

Meng Hongbing's tone softened, and he said softly, "Lan'er, don't worry, I definitely won't make things difficult for you. I'm waiting for Hansheng to treat my illness; how could I be so foolish as to offend you, which would be the same as offending Hansheng?"

Lan'er stood silently on the ground, unsure whether to leave or stay.

"Lan'er, I need to urinate, but I really can't move. Could you please bring me the chamber pot?" Meng Hongbing pretended to be in a hurry.

Lan'er slowly moved her feet on the ground, bent down to pick up the white enamel chamber pot from under the bed, turned her back, and handed it to the bed… "My dear Lan'er, how am I supposed to urinate like this? Please grab my little penis, put it in the chamber pot spout, and after you're done, you have to shake it a bit," Meng Hongbing said maliciously.

Lan'er seemed to have made up her mind. Without another word, she threw the chamber pot onto the blanket and turned to walk towards the door.

At this moment, the door opened, and the dean and Meng Zhuqi walked in.

"Dean, I want to change jobs, no matter how hard or tiring it is," Lan'er pleaded urgently. The dean

's face immediately darkened. "Comrade Lan'er," he said, "how can you be picky about revolutionary work? You must be a cog in the revolutionary machine, shining brightly wherever you are placed. Tell me, why do you want to change jobs?"

Lan'er's face flushed crimson. "He's a man," she stammered. "I..."

the dean admonished her sternly. "You're wrong, Lan'er. You must see him as your revolutionary comrade, your class brother. Remember, a revolutionary comrade-in-arms in the same trench."

"But he was naked..." Lan'er stammered, her face burning red.

The dean said kindly, “Comrade Lan’er, once you have a correct understanding of the proletarian revolutionary worldview, you will deeply realize that in your eyes, there is no difference between men and women, nor between naked and clothed. They are all your revolutionary brothers. Can we just stand by and watch the disease devour the bodies of our class brothers step by step, and do nothing, and run away? Besides, nursing work involves contact with patients' bodies. There's a first time for everything; you'll get used to it over time.”

Lan’er bit her lip tightly, her face flushing red and then pale. Finally, she thought of Han Sheng, and her eyes finally lit up, her expression becoming even more resolute.

“Dean, I'm quitting,” Lan’er said calmly.

“You…” The dean’s face immediately turned ugly.

"Oh, it wasn't easy for Lan'er to get this job, Dean. I think we should send another experienced nurse over. Revolutionary work also needs mentorship, so let Lan'er get familiar with it slowly. Alright, you two go outside and chat. I have something to say to my son."

The dean and Lan'er went out and closed the door.

Meng Zhuqi's face became unusually excited. He said in a trembling voice, "Xiaobing, I received a call from your uncle in Beijing. The Taiji Yin Yun is really amazing..."

More exciting books can be found at --- Zhulang Original Literature () Chapter 107 (Part 2) Meng Hongbing's eyes widened immediately. He said urgently, "Wasn't the old man only buried for half a month? How come there's a reaction so quickly?"

Meng Zhuqi smiled mysteriously and said, "Your cousin Jianguo just returned to Beijing a few days ago and was appointed as the chairman of the student union and secretary of the Youth League Committee of Peking University, and is also a member of the school's Party Committee."

"Just such a small official position." Meng Hongbing muttered dismissively.

"What do you know? Peking University is the cradle of the nation's pillars, the base for the successors of the Red Revolution. Think about it, the founding father was a top figure in this cradle, so how could he not rise in the future? Wow,

you're already making it big so quickly!" Meng Zhuqi said with longing. Meng Hongbing pouted, "Has Hansheng's father been released yet? I'm so eager for Hansheng to come and cure my illness. Oh, right, Dad, you said last time that Hansheng could make me grow new testicles?"

"That's what he said," Meng Zhuqi replied.

“If that’s the case, I’ll get hard, and then I’ll sleep with a few more of them…” Meng Hongbing was immersed in blissful excitement.

“Sigh, Dr. Zhu hasn’t returned yet. Dad will keep asking.” Meng Zhuqi sighed.

“Dad, is that adulterer Zhu Biao dead?” Meng Hongbing asked through gritted teeth.

Meng Zhuqi frowned and said, “Strange, Zhu Biao and Meng Wu disappeared together. I sent people to Wolong Valley to check, but there wasn’t a trace of them. Just yesterday, Meng Wu’s family came to ask for him.”

“Could they have run away?” Meng Hongbing said worriedly.

Meng Zhuqi fell into deep thought.

In the hospital garden, the director continued to persuade Lan’er.

"Comrade Lan'er, nursing requires not only enthusiasm but also a high level of class consciousness. Let me tell you a revolutionary story from an old Red Army soldier. During the Long March across the grasslands, one of our Red Army commanders, who had survived countless battles, was seriously wounded and unable to move his limbs. He also suffered from constipation, his stomach bloated. What could they do? Our young Red Army nurse, about your age, with boundless revolutionary fervor, used her fingers to carefully remove the hardened feces from his anus, bit by bit. The commander was saved and immediately returned to the front lines of the struggle against the reactionary Kuomintang government, ultimately winning the revolution. Think about it, how noble and precious was the spirit of this admirable young Red Army nurse!" the director recounted passionately.

"And then what happened to that nurse?" Lan'er asked with concern.

"Later, later she married that Red Army commander," the director replied, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Oh, I see," Lan'er said thoughtfully.

Meng Zhuqi walked out of the hospital building.

"Dean, has everything been settled?" Meng Zhuqi asked.

The dean nodded and said, "Comrade Lan'er has a certain level of class consciousness. Director Meng, I will follow your advice and immediately send an experienced nurse to ward 201. Comrade Lan'er doesn't need to do anything yet; she can learn as she goes. We'll discuss it further after she's fully adapted."

Meng Zhuqi said to Lan'er, "Lan'er, if you encounter any difficulties, just tell the organization. The organization will definitely resolve them properly. Also, I'm trying to get Dr. Zhu back from Beijing as soon as possible. Hmm, hasn't Hansheng returned yet?"

Lan'er replied that he hadn't.

Yes, Hansheng, why haven't you returned yet? Lan'er thought to herself, her eyes brimming with tears. The

newly assigned nurse was a head nurse in her forties, efficient and capable, adept at navigating social situations, but with a strong sense of justice—a kind of righteous, almost naive, character.

The moment they met, the head nurse pulled Lan'er aside and whispered, "Lan'er, has that guy without testicles taken a liking to you?"

Lan'er was startled and said, "What? I don't understand."

The head nurse smiled mysteriously and said, "You're a special nurse, understand? If it were a relative, it would be fine, but you were recruited under a pretense, specifically assigned to room 201, so..."

"Special nurse? Fake recruitment?" Lan'er was even more confused.

The head nurse explained, "A special nurse is someone who provides special care, doesn't do anything else, and we can't control you. The hospital is currently overstaffed and doesn't need extra staff, so why would they suddenly recruit? And just you alone."

Lan'er asked doubtfully, "Didn't they say they recruited a batch? And they're all formal state-owned enterprise employees, even given worker ranks?"

The head nurse smiled even more and said, "Did you have a background check? Did you have a physical exam? Did you fill out a state-owned enterprise employee registration form?"

Lan'er shook her head, indicating that she hadn't.

Lan'er was completely stunned.

"We're both women. I only reminded you because you're a bit naive. You absolutely can't marry a man without testicles; you'll be living a life of widowhood, and it'll be too late to regret it then," the head nurse said earnestly.

Lan'er remained silent for a while, then said, "I understand."

"In this society, it's always women who suffer. Think it over carefully. I'm going to room 201 now," the head nurse said sympathetically, glancing at Lan'er before hurrying away.

Lan'er returned to her dormitory, tidied up briefly, and then slipped out of the hospital.

On the mountain road back to Nanshan Village, the silent mountains, the rustling autumn wind, and the falling withered leaves made Lan'er burst into tears as she walked, the pent-up grievances in her heart suddenly erupting.

Back home, Lan'er told her father the truth.

Wu Chushan pondered for a long time before saying, "Lan'er, I'm sorry you've suffered. Child, let's go."

"Go? Hansheng hasn't returned yet," Lan'er asked in surprise.

“We can’t wait any longer. They could take us in for questioning at any time. Your mother’s body can’t handle that kind of place. As for Hansheng and Dr. Zhu, we’ll try to contact them once we’re safe,” Wu Chushan said.

“I need to write a letter to Hansheng,” Lan’er said.

“Okay, child.” Wu Chushan sighed and went into the west room to discuss with He Xiang.

At dusk, the family, carrying simple belongings, reluctantly left Nanshan Village.

They had already traveled a long way, and looking back, Benben, whose fur had just started to grow, was still standing at the crossroads, staring blankly at them…

Chapter 108

Zhu Biao traveled westward, enduring wind and rain, eating a few bites of bread when hungry and drinking from mountain springs when thirsty, saving every penny. The little money in his pocket would be used after finding the child and Caihua.

On this day, he had arrived at Xuefeng Mountain. Some mountain people told him that after crossing Xuefeng Mountain, he would enter western Hunan.

At the foot of Xuefeng Mountain lay a primeval forest, rarely visited by humans. Zhu Biao sat down to rest under a large tree, his feet blistered from the continuous trek.

He pulled out a dry flatbread, took a big bite, chewed it, and swallowed it with difficulty.

A rustling sound came from the woods behind him.

"Who's there? Come out! Or I'll shoot!" Zhu Biao jumped up nervously, drew his dog-tag pistol from his waist, and aimed into the woods.

"No, don't shoot, we're coming out." With the voice, two tall men, hand in hand, emerged from behind the tree.

Under Zhu Biao's gun, the two men cautiously probed the ground with sticks, slowly approaching.

Zhu Biao looked closely and realized they were two blind men, their eye sockets sunken, without eyeballs.

"Who are you two? Why are you sneaking around in the woods?" Zhu Biao demanded.

“We’re blind men from the north. We’ve wandered into this deep mountain forest by mistake and haven’t eaten for days. We just smelled the aroma of flatbread and came to investigate,” one of them said, sniffing the air constantly.

Zhu Biao noticed that although the two men were tall, they were thin and sallow, speaking with a strong northern accent. They were clearly outsiders, starving.

“Alright, I have two more flatbreads here. You can eat them,” Zhu Biao said, putting away his pistol, opening his bundle, and handing them the last two flatbreads.

The two men took them and quickly stuffed the flatbreads into their mouths. Without water, the dry flatbreads were difficult to swallow, and their faces turned red from holding their food.

“Where are you going?” Zhu Biao asked. The two blind men were quite pitiful in this deep mountain forest.

“We have a companion from the north. They live in Guling Town, west of Xuefeng Mountain. We want to go and meet them,” the two men said.

Zhu Biao glanced at the towering Xuefeng Mountain and felt a pang of pity. He said, "I'm also heading over Xuefeng Mountain to western Hunan. I'll take you two with me."

The two thanked him profusely, one of them exclaiming, "Although we can't see you, we can imagine you must be a handsome, learned, and highly talented martial arts master."

Zhu Biao felt quite pleased.

He didn't know that these two were the two evil northern feng shui sorcerers from the Qinren Valley of Peach Blossom Spring, who had been blinded by the nameless nun.

The three of them entered the dense primeval forest. Zhu Biao led the way, holding a wooden stick and leading one blind man. The blind man, with another stick, led another blind man, forming a line. Their feet crunched on the fallen leaves as they walked along the forest path. Zhu Biao had inquired and learned that the path bypassed the Xuefeng Mountain and led directly to the first small market town in western Hunan, Guling Town.

On the way, Zhu Biao learned that the two blind men were named Genqi and Kunba, which were indeed unusual names for northerners.

They also inquired about Zhu Biao's situation, and when they learned that he had traveled a long distance from northern Jiangxi to find his wife and children, they couldn't help but admire him greatly.

Genqi said, "This is the true spirit of a chivalrous hero! A wife who has shared hardship, a young child, he remains steadfastly by her side—truly a great man!"

Kunba added, "Although she is a wife who has shared hardship, she must be a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm. If I'm not mistaken, she must be the most beautiful woman in Ganzhou, with countless suitors, but she disdains them all, remaining loyal to only you, Hero Zhu, until death do us part."

A surge of pride welled up in Zhu Biao's heart. He said, "You two are both right. While Caihua may not be a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm, she is certainly stunning. Moreover, she doesn't covet wealth and status, and secretly bore me a son, avoiding her husband's family's notice. Don't you think she deserves the title of 'heroine'?" Zhu Biao was very proud of having found a suitable idiom.

Genqi and Kunba immediately understood: this man had been having an affair with a married woman and had an illegitimate child.

"Of course it counts! Pursuing one's own happiness and staying with the one you truly love, even if it's just for a month, a day, an hour, or even a moment, is worthwhile. This spirit is truly admirable. What is this spirit called?" Genqi exclaimed.

"The Bethune spirit," Kunba added promptly.

"That's right, this is the Bethune spirit. Women from our place lack this spirit," Genqi said.

"I should add something else: children secretly born from true love are extremely beautiful and intelligent, because they are called the crystallization of love. I've heard that many high-ranking officials in the capital are like this," Kunba added.

Zhu Biao's mind was filled with Shen Caihua's handsome face and intelligent eyes, and he felt as if he were intoxicated.

A hissing sound startled Zhu Biao back to reality. Looking closely, he saw a large cobra lying across the road a few steps ahead. Its head was flat and raised, and its tongue was constantly extending and retracting towards them, emitting a threatening hiss.

Zhu Biao was so frightened that he couldn't move and was too nervous to speak.

"Is it a cobra?" Genqi asked.

"Yes, yes, it's...it's huge..." Zhu Biao said in a trembling voice.

"Let me handle this." Genqi stood in front of Zhu Biao, holding a wooden stick.

Although Genqi was blind, his hearing was even more acute. He bent over, tilted his ears, and gently prodded forward with the wooden stick in his left hand. The cobra snapped its jaws onto the stick with lightning speed. At that moment, Genqi's right hand swiftly struck, grabbing the cobra's neck with lightning speed. He tightened his grip, and the snake opened its mouth wide, trying to bite down, but it couldn't lower its head. While

Zhu Biao was still dumbfounded, Kunba had already stepped forward, a gleaming knife in his hand, and sliced open the cobra's scalp. At the same time, Genqi's fingers pried open the snake's skull.

Genqi and Kunba each quickly grabbed a handful of snake brains and stuffed them into their mouths... "You..." Zhu Biao was speechless with astonishment.

Genqi tossed aside the cobra's carcass, wiped the snake brain mucus from his lower lip with his sleeve, and said, "That's how it is where we are, we're used to it."

"Snake brains are very nutritious, the more poisonous the better," Kunba added.

Zhu Biao suddenly felt fear towards the two blind men from the north.

"Let's continue on our way," Genqi said.

The three of them stepped over the snake carcass and continued forward. At dusk, they finally crossed the forest, rounded the mountain pass, and arrived at Guling Town, a small town in western Hunan.

It was a small town with only about a thousand households. In the twilight, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the smell of burning firewood made them instantly hungry.

"We've arrived at Guling Town. Where are your companions?" Zhu Biao asked.

"There's a large courtyard at the west end of town. Can you take us there?" Genqi replied.

Zhu Biao led them through the town center. A few small eateries were open, and the aroma of spicy food wafted from inside; people were eating hot pot.

Zhu Biao felt the banknotes in his pocket, swallowed hard, shook his head, and continued walking forward.

At the westernmost end of the town, there was an old courtyard. A thin young man stood at the gate, and upon seeing Zhu Biao and his group from afar, he ran over in surprise.

"Hey, isn't this Lao Qi and Lao Ba? What's wrong with their eyes..." the young man asked in surprise.

Gen Qi interrupted him, saying, "It's Brother Zhen Si. Come inside and see Big Brother first."

The young man called Zhen Si led them into the courtyard. A rich aroma of stewed meat filled the air, and Zhu Biao couldn't help but take a few more breaths, causing his stomach to rumble.

A plump and kind-faced old man hurriedly came out of the house. He glanced at Gen Qi and Kun Ba, who were being led by a wooden stick, and his face tightened slightly. He gently gestured, and Zhen Si led the three of them into the main room.

"And this is..." the old man asked after the three of them sat down.

Gen Qi hurriedly said, "Big Brother, we..." and then began to sob.

The old man said softly, "Seventh Brother, don't rush. Who is this brother?"

Genqi stopped sobbing and said, "Eldest Brother, after we fell into trouble, we rushed back. We were fortunate to meet this Mr. Zhu along the way, who took care of us, allowing us to return safely."

The old man nodded and said to Zhu Biao, "I am deeply grateful for Mr. Zhu's help. May I ask who you are, and how you met my two brothers?"

Seeing the old man's amiable demeanor, Zhu Biao recounted how he had come to search for his wife and children, met Genqi and Kunba, and, pitying their blindness and difficulty in traveling, had taken them to Guling Town.

"Oh, Mr. Zhu is truly a chivalrous fellow. You must be tired from your journey. Fourth Brother, please take Mr. Zhu downstairs to wash up and rest. I will personally thank you with wine later," the old man instructed. "

Yes, Eldest Brother," Zhen Si led Zhu Biao out.

"Alright, tell me what happened, and what powerful enemy you encountered?" the old man said sternly.

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