The Corpse Clothes of the Green Bag [Complete] - 6

Chapter Sixty-Seven.

Inside the deep courtyard of Wuyuan County.

"Brother-in-law, I beg you, please think of a way to bring that old doctor back from the capital. Your nephew will be saved. Moreover, Han Sheng said that not only can he cure his paralysis, but he can also grow new testicles. Then I, Meng Zhuqi, will have an heir. Please, brother-in-law!" Meng Zhuqi said to Huang Qiansui with a sob in his voice.

Huang Qianhui patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, for Xiaobing's health, how could I not help? I'll handle things in Beijing, so don't worry about it. Also, Jian Guo discovered clues about Shen Caihua's body and that adulterer. Do you think that adulterer could be? It's Zhu Biao, the squad leader and militia platoon leader of Nanshan Village."

Meng Zhuqi was briefly surprised, then furious, and said through gritted teeth, "So it was him! That son of a bitch, he ruined my whole family, I'll skin him alive!"

Huang Qianhui smiled slightly and said, "Hey, don't be impulsive. Find an opportunity to catch him red-handed as a counter-revolutionary and execute him, that'll be the end of it."

"Yes, I'll take care of it," Meng Zhuqi said fiercely.

Huang Qianhui patted his brother-in-law's shoulder again and smiled, "Go and discuss with Jianguo that Shen Caihua's body needs to be dug up as soon as possible and sent to the county town for cremation to eliminate any traces and prevent future troubles. Jianguo was injured in Nanshan Village this time. That new grave of Shen Caihua is really a bit eerie; where did all those biting mutts come from? Also, Wu Daoming seems to have an unusual relationship with Zhu Biao. It seems he even helped Zhu Biao. We invited him here to find Taiji Yun, but we still haven't heard anything. Go and investigate him thoroughly. If this guy has betrayed us, we'll label him a US spy or a Chiang Kai-shek spy and arrest him. Wouldn't that make Zhu Biao a ready-made accusation of colluding with foreign powers? We'll execute him during the crackdown before the Spring Festival."

"Okay, I'm leaving now. As for Xiaobing's matter..." Meng Zhuqi said worriedly.

"I'll handle it," Huang Qianhui said with a sinister smile.

Meng Zhuqi left, and Huang Qianhui watched his retreating figure and sneered a few times.

"Dad, did Uncle and Xiaobing really strangle Shen Caihua?" Huang Jianguo emerged from the inner room, wearing a baggy, grass-green military uniform, his bald head adorned with a military cap, though without collar insignia or cap badges, and his face smeared with medicine.

"Yes," Huang Qiansui replied.

"Dad, did you agree to them doing this beforehand? This is murder!" Huang Jianguo said.

Huang Qiansui snorted, his face darkening.

Seeing his father's displeasure, Huang Jianguo said nothing and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Huang Qiansui asked.

Huang Jianguo stopped and said, "Mingyue has been missing for half a month. I'll go to the Nameless Nunnery again to inquire about any news of her."

"Jianguo," Huang Qiansui said sternly, "the country is in a turbulent time right now, the situation is constantly changing. Why are you still so sentimental? You need to focus your energy on your studies and pay close attention to the political climate in the capital. You are the hope of our Huang family. In a few days, I will go to the capital with you to recommend you to the leader. You are not allowed to go anywhere. I have already found materials about the leader's experiences, thoughts, and political views. You must study them thoroughly so that when you meet him, you can align your thinking with his, and he will value you. Understand?" Huang Jianguo reluctantly

turned around and went back to his room to continue studying the tedious materials.

Huang Qiansui muttered to himself, "What I need to do is find the Taiji Halo and give you a helping hand." In the afternoon, a cool autumn breeze blew, and a jeep sped away on the road leading to Wengong Mountain, leaving a trail of dust behind it.

Huang Qiansui leaned back in the jeep seat, lost in deep thought as the journey bumped along.

Huangcun was his hometown, nestled at the foot of Wengong Mountain. At the foot of the mountain to the north of the village sat a temple, the nameless nunnery. Last mid-autumn, Jian Guo returned from his holiday in Beijing and stayed in Huangcun for over a month, unwilling to return to the county town. Later, he learned that Jian Guo had fallen in love with a nun at the nameless nunnery—an outrageous act! He was furious, wishing he could tear the temple down. Jian Guo was stubborn; neither gentle persuasion nor threats or beatings worked. They didn't break up until the start of the new semester, and even then, they secretly pledged their lives to each other.

He couldn't bear to see his long-planned scheme fall apart, nor could he let this young nun ruin his son's bright future. Therefore, he hastily implemented his grand plan, inviting Wu Daoming, Hong Kong's top feng shui master from Lingnan, to search for the Tai Chi Yin Aura. Furthermore, killing the young nun extinguished Jianguo's hopes. Just half a month ago, a box of mooncakes was sent, poisoning the lovesick nun. Her body was then stolen and dumped in the desolate outskirts of Jingdezhen, two hundred miles away, where it might be fed to wild dogs. She only had herself to blame; why didn't she focus on her Buddhist practice and instead fall in love with someone she shouldn't love? Since ancient times, those who achieve great things must ruthlessly remove obstacles that hinder their progress. When Jianguo stands atop Tiananmen Square, he will understand his father's good intentions.

Struggle inevitably involves sacrifice; even the leader said so, so what wrong have I done?

The jeep stopped in front of a three-room red brick house in Huang Village. It was the only brick house in the village, secretly arranged by the town government after I became the director of the county revolutionary committee.

"Dad, Qianhui has come to see you," Huang Qianhui said with a beaming smile as he approached the old man's bedside.

Huang Qiansui's father was a stern old man, his eyes, clouded by cataracts, fixed on the direction of the voice.

"It's Qiansui," the old man murmured.

Qiansui was his nickname, something his father had called him since childhood. As a child, he didn't understand its meaning, but later he realized it signified being second only to the emperor, equivalent to the prime minister. He didn't know when it started, but he had genuinely harbored the idea that if his son were to one day don the imperial robes, wouldn't he truly become Qiansui?

"I'm talking to you! Why aren't you answering me?" the old man snapped.

"Qiansui is listening," Huang Qiansui said with a forced smile.

"You said you'd find me a good burial site, have you found one?" the old man demanded.

"Father, we're almost there! Why the rush? Qiansui won't want you to leave," Huang Qiansui's tone was unusually sincere, surprising even himself.

The old man then said sternly, "You said the feng shui is better than Wen Gong's tomb?"

"A hundred times better," Huang Qiansui replied, speaking from the heart.

The old man instructed, "Your Excellency, after I die, according to our local custom, the body must be kept for three days. Then, exhume your mother's bones and place them in your father's coffin. I want your mother and father buried together, do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Your Excellency will do as you wish," Huang Qiansui agreed, gesturing for the town's staff who were serving his father to leave.

"Father, how have you been feeling these past few days?" he asked.

"Alas, I can only hold on for another six months at most. It's a pity I won't see Jianguo's wedding day," the old man sighed deeply.

Huang Qiansui remained silent.

"Your Excellency, has the girl from the nameless nunnery that Jianguo likes been found? You must put in the effort to help inquire about her," the old man asked.

"Hmm, there's still no news, but Your Excellency will keep sending people to look for her. You don't need to worry about it," Huang Qiansui said.

“What are you saying? How could I not care about the girl that Jian Guo likes? Although I can’t see, I can tell that she’s quite nice. Not only does she have a beautiful voice, but she can also recite poetry to me.” A rare smile appeared on the old man’s face.

Huang Qianhui interrupted his father and said, “I’ve come today to discuss something with you. I would like to ask you to move to my place in the city.”

The old man said, "I've lived here my whole life, what would I do in the city? When Mingyue comes back, she'll come and chat with me."

Huang Qiansui frowned, thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Your grandson is injured, don't you want to spend more time with him?"

"What! Jianguo is injured? Where is he injured? Is it serious? Why didn't you say so sooner?" The old man was angry.

Huang Qiansui said, "He's injured all over, and he's been talking about you."

"Alright, I'll go to the county town with you," the old man said urgently.

Huang Qiansui breathed a sigh of relief. If his father lived in his own secluded house in the city, he could carry out his plans discreetly, making things much easier.

Huang Qiansui called over the staff outside, helped his father into the car, and then told them to go back to the town to report. After locking the door, the jeep drove away from Huang Village, heading towards Wuyuan County.

On the bus, the old man, his eyes clouded by cataracts, looked back at Huang Village, where he had lived his entire life, and said, "Your Excellency, I'll come back in a few days. I'll die here, if I have to."

*That's not up to you,* Huang Qianhui thought to himself.

Chapter Sixty-Eight.

At dawn, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney of the thatched hut. The diligent Lan'er had gotten up early to start a fire and cook.

Han Sheng, still sleepy, got up. Today he was going to find Wu Daoming of Lingnan to ask about the situation with the flesh corpse.

He instructed Lan'er to tell Master Yiqing not to leave after he woke up, as he had something to discuss with him upon his return.

Lan'er agreed, and Han Sheng hurried towards Zhu Biao's house at the north end of the village.

Under the old locust tree, a clear pond lay, and on the vermilion gate, the portrait of the leader in military uniform still silently waved.

"Captain Zhu..." Han Sheng called out twice, but no one answered. After hesitating for a moment, he pushed the door open.

The door was ajar and opened with a knock. He stepped inside.

Zhu Biao was still fast asleep, covered by the blanket. Han Sheng called him several times, but Zhu Biao didn't respond. Han Sheng was puzzled, so he went over and nudged him, realizing something was wrong.

Han Sheng grabbed Zhu Biao's hand and pressed two fingers against his wrist.

A healthy person's pulse should beat four times per breath, with a clear pulse at the cun, guan, and chi positions, neither floating nor sinking, but gentle and strong. Zhu Biao was in his prime; why was his pulse so deep and wiry?

A deep pulse cannot be felt with light pressure but can be felt with heavy pressure; a strong pulse indicates internal fullness, while a weak pulse indicates internal deficiency. When pathogenic factors are stagnant internally, qi and blood are obstructed, and yang qi is not flowing smoothly, resulting in a deep and strong pulse indicating internal fullness; when the internal organs are weak, yang qi is deficient and qi is sunken, resulting in a weak and shallow pulse.

A wiry pulse is straight and long, firm under the fingers, like pressing a harp string. Impaired qi circulation and liver dysfunction cause the pulse to become constricted, hindering the flow of qi and resulting in a wiry pulse.

Zhu Biao's pulse was deep, firm, and wiry, indicating a blockage in his meridians. However, Han Sheng couldn't pinpoint which meridian was blocked. If his father were present, perhaps he could figure it out. He checked Zhu Biao's breathing, but it was perfectly normal. Strange, had he been acupunctured?

Han Sheng suddenly thought of acupuncture. He himself had been put to sleep by Jiang Lao Er in Wolong Valley. Could Zhu Biao have been acupunctured as well? His breathing was normal, and his complexion was normal, but the deep, firm, and wiry pulse suggested that an acupuncture point had been sealed by external force. However, he didn't know how to unblock acupuncture points.

The *Qing Nang Jing* only had one method for unblocking acupuncture points, which he had tried on Wu Daoming once in the cave in Wolong Valley, resulting in a large amount of excrement and urine.

Should he try it again? Han Sheng was undecided.

Zhu Biao had been ambushed; there must be a reason. Wu Daoming was supposed to be staying here too, but he wasn't there, and the door was ajar. Something might have happened. Whatever, he'd try it again.

Thinking of this, Han Sheng leaped onto the bed, pressing his hand against Zhu Biao's mouth and nose to stop him from breathing. Zhu Biao writhed, his face flushed, his internal energy surging wildly. Han Sheng could barely hold him down, so he pressed his entire weight onto him.

With a "plop," Zhu Biao's sphincter gave way, and he urinated and defecated together, filling the room with a stench.

Han Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, withdrew his hand, and jumped off the bed. Zhu Biao took a few deep breaths and slowly woke up.

"Where did that stench come from?" Zhu Biao asked Han Sheng in confusion.

"You soiled the bed," Han Sheng told him.

Zhu Biao reached into his pants and grabbed at his crotch. Sure enough, it was extremely sticky, and his hand was covered in a yellowish paste... "I've come to find Wu Daoming of Lingnan," Han Sheng said, covering his nose with his hand. He didn't tell Zhu Biao about releasing his acupoints earlier.

"Huh, isn't he here?" Zhu Biao steadied himself and exclaimed, "The child is gone too! Quickly check if the nun in that room is there!"

Han Sheng quickly went out the door, glanced at the opposite room, and returned to tell Zhu Biao that no one was there.

Zhu Biao sat on the bed, confused. Where had they gone?

Han Sheng shook his head and left the Zhu family home.

Returning home, Lan'er had already set breakfast on the table, and Wu Chushan and Master Yiqing were already up.

"Uncle Shanren, we haven't found Wu Daoming. Last night, the poison from the corpse was cured. Should we let Master Yiqing stay for a few more days? I'll think of another way," Han Sheng whispered to Wu Chushan.

Shanren nodded.

Han Sheng walked to Yiqing's side and said, "Master Yiqing, could you consider staying here a few more days? I'll think of another method."

Yiqing pondered for a moment and said, "I can go to town and call home to ask for a few days off."

After breakfast, Yiqing went to town to make the call and tried to return before noon.

Wu Chushan had been silent throughout the meal, but now he pulled Hansheng aside and asked, "Do you know anyone in the village selling their old sow?"

Hansheng thought for a moment and replied, "Most families wouldn't sell it; they'd keep it to breed piglets in the spring. Why?"

The man said seriously, "The Taiji Yin Aura feng shui puzzle set up by Liu Bowen back then is of little use today, and its secret has been leaked. I'm worried that unscrupulous people might exploit it, which wouldn't be good for the common people. In short, since ancient times, it's always the common people who suffer when dynasties change; prosperity brings hardship to the people, and ruin brings hardship to the people."

Hansheng nodded; Uncle Wu Chushan was right.

"Bury the old sow there and destroy the Taiji Yin Aura," Wu Chushan finally said resolutely.

Han Sheng immediately went to the village and ran back to ask Wu Chushan, "There's a seriously ill old sow that's about to die, it's terribly thin, I wonder if it'll work?"

Wu Chushan replied, "No problem, actually a dead pig can be used."

Han Sheng and Wu Chushan went to the farmer's house and saw the dying, emaciated old sow. The sow seemed to know her fate, and two tears even rolled down her cheeks.

Seeing this, Han Sheng felt a pang of pity and couldn't help but sigh.

"Uncle Shanren, I think this pig might be curable," he said, looking at Shanren with hopeful eyes.

Wu Chushan glanced at Hansheng and sighed inwardly, "This child is so kind-hearted; he'll have a hard time surviving in this dog-eat-dog world." But he said aloud, "Hansheng, why don't you try treating him? We can find a dead pig anywhere."

The old farmer interjected, "Hansheng, can you cure this pig?"

Hansheng replied, "I'll try. Uncle Han, look, it's trembling and seems to have a fever. Its skin is blue inside; could it be swine fever?"

The old man said, "One has already died; it's probably an infectious disease."

"Uncle Han, go and catch two toads right away, chop them up, mix them with four qian of 'Fulonggan' (a type of medicinal herb), and make a paste with brine. Give it to him, even if it's a last resort," Han Sheng said.

Uncle Han asked doubtfully, "Toads are easy to catch, and we also need the brine for making tofu, but what is 'Fulonggan'?"

Han Sheng explained, "'Fulonggan' is the yellow soil directly under the pot in your stove."

"Yes, yes, I'll go get it right away. By the way, I just buried a dead sow yesterday. If it's useful, go dig it up."

Han Sheng looked at Wu Chushanren, who nodded.

Chapter Sixty-Nine

: In Uncle Han's vegetable garden, Han Sheng, wielding an iron hoe, dug vigorously. Soon, the dead sow's carcass was revealed. It had just been buried yesterday and hadn't started to decompose yet. The sow's skin was blue, a symptom of swine fever.

Han Sheng found a burlap sack and put the over 100-pound, thin sow inside.

Old Han returned, carrying a bowl of brine and two toads.

Brine, also known as salt bile, is a thick, black liquid that drains from the vat when salt is first boiled. It tastes salty and bitter, and is highly poisonous and inedible, but it can be used as a coagulant for tofu.

Old Han hesitated, "This stuff will work? Yang Bailao died from drinking brine back then."

Han Sheng smiled and said, "Brine can cure cervical fistula, also known as cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Swine fever is caused by a virus, causing swelling of the lymph nodes throughout the body. The large toads after the beginning of autumn are good for reducing inflammation, ascites, and malnutrition, especially the white liquid between their eyebrows, which is toad venom, a very fast detoxifying agent. The medicinal guide is 'Fulong liver,' made from yellow clay that has been burned and calcined thousands of times, embodying the five elements and penetrating deep into the internal organs. Old Han, try it as a last resort. You'll see the results in two hours."

Old Han nodded and went to the kitchen to prepare the medicine.

Wu Chushan thought to himself, "Han Sheng is truly a good candidate for medicine."

Old Han chopped two large autumn toads into pieces on his cutting board, then scooped the blood and minced meat into a large bowl. He scraped a small amount of hardened yellow clay from the bottom of the iron pot in the hearth stove – this was the so-called "Dragon Liver."

Seeing that he had four qian (approximately 15 grams) of the paste, Han Sheng poured it into the bowl, added some brine, and stirred it into a paste.

"Alright, now you can force-feed it to the sow," Han Sheng said.

The dying sow was unable to eat, so Wu Chushan gently pried open her mouth, and Han Sheng smoothly poured the entire bowl of paste into her mouth.

"Observe her for two hours," Han Sheng instructed Old Han.

The sow seemed to look at Han Sheng with gratitude. Han Sheng smiled slightly at her; even animals have feelings, he thought.

"Let's go," Wu Chushan said, gently lifting the bulging sack weighing over a hundred jin (approximately 50 kg).

Old Han stared in astonishment at their retreating figures.

Han Sheng ran home first, grabbed his hoe and shovel, and headed towards Linggu Cave with the mountain man.

As usual, several black crows perched on bamboo branches in the bamboo grove, watching Han Sheng and his companion with ill intent, occasionally letting out a couple of cawing cries to scare them.

Before Linggu Cave, Wu Chu Shanren put down his sack and looked around. A gentle autumn

breeze blew, migratory birds flew south, and the cries of geese echoed in the sky.

Moved by the scene, Wu Chu Shanren sighed deeply and recited: "I went to the Eastern Mountain, never to return; I came from the East, shrouded in drizzling rain.

I say I will return from the East, but my heart grieves in the West; since I disappeared, what year is this?"

Having recited, he picked up his sack and headed straight for the Taiji Yin Halo… Parting the bushes, a circular Taiji Yin Halo, about ten feet in diameter, appeared before him.

For six hundred years, all the feng shui mysteries have revolved around this small piece of land. Countless generations of Qingtian youths have wasted their youth here, and countless heroes of the martial world have bowed down for it. And now, it's going to benefit an old sow… Hahaha! Wu Chushan, filled with grief and indignation, couldn't help but laugh out loud, the laughter echoing through the valley for a long, long time… Wait, what's that? A group of small bumps have risen from the five-colored earthen ring.

Wu Chushan approached in surprise to examine it closely, and discovered that the small bumps were still moving. Suddenly, a large mound of earth rose from the ring, the soil cracked open, and a huge turtle head emerged, its two eyes staring straight at Wu Chushan.

What is this thing that has actually occupied the yin halo of the tai chi? The mountain man, puzzled, reached out his arm to grab the glans from behind, but the glans turned freely, opening its mouth and exhaling. Caught off guard, the mountain man felt a burning sensation on his fingertips, followed by a surge of heat rising from the Shaochong acupoint of the Shaoyin Heart Meridian on his right hand, passing through the Shaofu, Shenmen, and reaching the Shaohai. His entire right forearm instantly went numb. The mountain man was terrified… There are six meridians originating on the hand: the Heart Meridian, Pericardium Meridian, Large Intestine Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, Lung Meridian, and Sanjiao Meridian, with the Heart Meridian being the most crucial. The

exhaled breath from the glans was extremely Yin; as the saying goes, extreme cold turns to heat. This breath, entering the arm, felt like being burned by fire, but it was indeed extremely Yin energy.

The mountain man quickly extended his left finger, forcefully pressing and closing the Qingling and Jiquan acupoints to stop the Yin energy from rising, and then leaped back about ten feet.

Han Sheng pushed through the bushes and entered, a smile spreading across his face as he spotted the golden-headed turtle mother emerging from the Tai Chi halo.

"Be careful! That turtle is incredibly poisonous!" Wu Chushan warned, stopping Han Sheng from approaching.

Unexpectedly, Han Sheng walked into the Tai Chi halo and squatted beside the giant turtle. The golden-headed turtle mother extended her long tongue, licking the back of Han Sheng's hand. She recognized him as their family's savior, because he had removed the Yin-Yang Cone that sealed their blood vessels last time.

"I know them," Han Sheng said.

Wu Chushan smiled dejectedly; this child always surprised everyone.

At this moment, the golden-headed turtle babies burrowed into the soil also emerged, surrounding Han Sheng and rubbing their turtle heads against his hand affectionately.

The hermit paused for a moment, then said, "Hansheng, we need to find a way to get these poisonous turtles out of the Taiji Yin Halo, otherwise we won't be able to bury the old sow."

Hansheng looked at the little turtles' cheerful appearance; they seemed to have already made the Taiji Yin Halo their home.

"Uncle Hermit, must the Taiji Yin Halo be destroyed?" Hansheng felt a pang of pity.

"The Taiji Yin Halo must be destroyed!" Wu Chushanren said sorrowfully and sternly.

"No one is allowed to destroy the Taiji Yin Halo..." someone said coldly from behind.

Wu Chushanren and Hansheng were both extremely shocked and quickly turned around to take a closer look.

Two ragged, sweat-soaked, and disheveled men and women stood hand in hand before them; it was none other than Lingnan Wu Daoming and the nameless nun... "What are you doing here?" Wu Chushanren was dumbfounded.

The nun glanced shyly at Wu Daoming, who gently gestured for her not to be afraid. He then cleared his throat and said loudly, "The nun and I are now engaged, and I will certainly invite you both to our wedding feast in the future. However, the Taiji Yin Aura is the essence of nature, a treasure of our Chinese nation. I, Wu Daoming, absolutely do not agree to destroy this rare feng shui cultural heritage. I urge you, Wu Chushanren, to reconsider." "

You're married?" Han Sheng asked in surprise.

"Women of the martial world need no such formalities. A promise is enough for a lifetime together," Wu Daoming said eloquently.

Han Sheng looked at the nun's full head of white hair, then at Wu Daoming's bald head, and couldn't help but want to laugh.

Wu Chushanren sneered, "Mr. Wu, your words are incorrect. Back then, Liu Bowen set up the Taiji Yinyun feng shui puzzle, originally intending to take revenge on Zhu Yuanzhang. Later, he realized that the Ming Dynasty was already settled, and restarting war would only cause widespread suffering and displacement of the people, so he refrained from action. Now, China has been stable for many years. Although the people suffer a bit, they are no longer in a state of chaos and displacement. If war were to break out again, what benefit would it bring to the people? Mr. Wu and his nun are old and frail; don't you want to live a peaceful and stable life?"

The man thought to himself that his right arm was injured and he could not use his true energy. Originally, his martial arts were similar to those of Wu Daoming from Lingnan, but he was no match for him now. Moreover, there was also an unnamed old nun whose martial arts were unfathomable. Judging from their affectionate manner, they must be a perfect couple. He and Hansheng were no match for each other. Therefore, he could only reason with him, hoping that Wu Daoming would back down after exhausting his arguments.

Wu Daoming and the nun were trapped deep within an underground cave, both struck by Liu Jinmo's unique hidden weapon, their meridians damaged, temporarily preventing them from healing each other. It was in this helpless situation that their long-suppressed humanity was awakened. One was a virgin for sixty years, the other had remained chaste for decades, and both were江湖儿女 (people of the martial arts world). Thus, beside the steaming spring, their decades-long suppressed humanity finally erupted like a volcano… For a long, long time, in the darkness, Wu Daoming could be heard murmuring: "Don't worry, nun, I, Wu Daoming, am not an irresponsible person…" Fueled by love, they suddenly found boundless courage. Supporting each other, they groped their way back in the dark, relying on their memory. After an unknown amount of time, they finally saw light, and they embraced tightly in excitement.

At that moment, they heard the desolate and indignant laughter of Wu Chushanren outside Linggu Cave. They rushed forward, and unexpectedly, what appeared before them was the Tai Chi Yin Aura they had longed for.

Wu Daoming pondered, weighing the strengths of both sides. Han Sheng was unskilled in martial arts, while Wu Chushanren's skill was roughly equal to his own. He should have been a shoo-in for victory, but both he and his master had injured their meridians, their internal energy restricted. It seemed that once they fought, he would definitely not gain the upper hand.

"Master Wu," Wu Daoming said confidently, "what you say makes sense. I've wandered the martial world for decades; how could I not understand? The Taiji Yin Yun must not be allowed to be seized by those with wicked intentions. That would be a catastrophe for the Chinese nation. We, the people of the martial world, should work together to protect it. I think you would agree with that, wouldn't you?" Wu Daoming spoke eloquently.

Wu Chushanren nodded.

Wu Daoming continued, "While I may not be a grandmaster in geomancy, I am still one of the most outstanding figures in the Central Plains. In my opinion, you don't need to destroy the Taiji Yin Yun. We have feasible methods to protect it; isn't that a good thing?"

"What do you mean?" Wu Chushanren asked warily.

"Does the hermit know how many days it takes for the Taiji Yin Aura to manifest most quickly?" Wu Daoming asked the hermit.

Wu Chushanren shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Wu Daoming smiled slightly and said, "Live burial manifests quickly, requiring five days; burial of the body after death requires fifty days; and burial of bones requires five hundred days."

"Why?" Han Sheng, who was listening nearby, became interested.

Wu Daoming explained, "The dragon vein energy of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) connects with the biomagnetic field of the person buried alive, maintaining their life for five days. Each of the five elements needs 12 hours to fuse. The body's circulation is closed, so the fusion takes ten times longer. Burial of bones is even more difficult, taking five hundred days."

Han Sheng interjected, "What about the ashes?"

Wu Daoming said seriously, "The ashes are of no use whatsoever."

Wu Chushanren said, "Please explain, Mr. Wu."

Wu Daoming was knowledgeable, quick-witted, and extremely shrewd. He glanced at the nun, his gaze tender, and murmured, "I can invest in building..." "A hall, with a Buddha statue standing atop the Taiji Yin Aura. Several east and west wing rooms are built in the courtyard. My nun and I will live in the west wing, and the mountain man and his wife will live in the east wing. We will jointly guard the Taiji Yin Aura. Anyone who wants to use the acupoint will not be able to activate it for at least five days; during this time, it will be impossible to hide it from us. In our leisure time, we can discuss poetry and painting, and practice martial arts—wouldn't that be delightful? If, at that time, the mountain man still believes it is necessary to destroy the Taiji Yin Aura, I, Wu, will not stop him. What do you say?"

Wu Chushanren pondered without speaking. Firstly, he was no match for the two of them; if a conflict broke out, he and Hansheng would be silenced, and the secret of the Taiji Yin Aura would fall into the hands of Wu Daoming and his nun. Secondly, Wu Daoming's suggestion was quite appealing. He and Hexiang could not stay at Doctor Zhu's house for long, and he had no money to build a house. If they had a place to stay here, not far from Lan'er and Hansheng, it wouldn't be bad.

Thinking of this, Wu Chushanren asked, "Mr. Wu, is this true?"

Wu Daoming solemnly assured him, "I swear."

"Alright, it's a deal," Wu Chushanren said.

"I have one condition," Han Sheng suddenly said.

"What condition?" Wu Daoming looked at Han Sheng strangely.

"A corpse, what is a corpse? Tell me everything you know," Han Sheng said.

Chapter Seventy

"A corpse? You know about corpses too?" Wu Daoming asked in surprise.

Han Sheng smiled but remained silent.

Wu Daoming sighed and said, "No one probably knows where the corpse originated, but it has been circulating among the people for a long time. The great Feng Shui master Jing Fang of the Han Dynasty mentioned it in his book. In the past sixty years, I have only seen one in the Xiangxi mountainous area during the War of Resistance

Against Japan, and it was a woman. Han Sheng, do you know what the state of dying, when breathing stops and the internal organs slowly fail, is called?"

"Is it the intermediate state?" Han Sheng replied.

“Exactly, that’s what Buddhism says.” Wu Daoming glanced at the nameless nun.

The nun smiled awkwardly and said, “The Buddhist Abhidharmako?a says that the intermediate state (bardo) has five names: mind-born body, seeking rebirth, food-fragrance, intermediate state, and arising. The Mahavibhasa says that the intermediate state lasts for forty-nine days after death.”

Wu Daoming continued, “Therefore, there is a custom of offering food and alms to the deceased within forty-nine days after death. During this time, the body’s organs begin to stop beating, followed by the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, stomach, etc., which gradually die. Finally, the uterus can survive for about a month, during which time the fetus may still be alive. Of course, if the feng shui of the grave is bad or the body is left at room temperature, it will decompose quickly.

During this stage, if the deceased’s pent-up resentment is not resolved, coupled with interference from relatives or enemies, or the use of drugs, the intermediate state can undergo mutations. Hmm, there are probably eighteen kinds of mutations, and the flesh corpse is one of them.”

“What are the characteristics of the flesh corpse?” Han Sheng asked.

“The lifespan of a flesh corpse is forty-nine days. At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) in the middle of the night, when the Yin energy is strongest, it can come out and move around for about an hour, eat something, and have thoughts and emotions. After that time, it must return to its host’s body,” Wu Daoming explained.

Han Sheng thought for a moment and asked, “Can a flesh corpse return to its original normal state?”

Wu Daoming shook his head and replied, “I’m afraid not…” Seeing Han Sheng’s disappointed look, he hesitated for a moment, then added, “However…”

“However what?” Han Sheng seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

“The female flesh corpse I saw back then did come back to life, returned to normal, and even had a child later,” Wu Daoming recalled.

Han Sheng perked up immediately and said, “That means it’s possible to recover. I wonder what method was used?”

Wu Daoming smiled: “I wonder if that old man from Xiangxi is still alive. If he’s still alive, he must be over 100 years old.”

“The old man from Xiangxi?” Han Sheng asked.

Wu Chushanren picked up the conversation: “The old man from Tianmen Mountain in Xiangxi?”

“That’s him. His feng shui skills are exceptionally high, he has his own unique style, and he’s arrogant and aloof. It’s said that Chiang Kai-shek invited him three times, but he refused. I only met him once, with my master’s help,” Wu Daoming said.

“I want to go find him,” Han Sheng murmured.

Wu Daoming said, “Tianmen Mountain in western Hunan was called Yunmeng Mountain in ancient times. The old man from western Hunan had completely white hair and beard, and a ruddy complexion. He lived in the Guigu Cave on Tianmen Mountain for almost forty years. He was already over seventy years old then, and he’s probably gone now.”

“Uncle Shanren, let’s go back. I want to pack up and go find the old man from western Hunan,” Han Sheng said.

Wu Chushanren hesitated, glancing at Wu Daoming inadvertently.

Wu Daoming observed this, smiled slightly, and said, "Are you still not at ease, Master? Now that the nameless nun of the nameless temple is here to testify, I, Wu, will never touch this acupoint with a single finger."

The nameless nun solemnly replied, "This old nun testifies."

At this moment, the Yin energy was rushing upwards and breaking through the barriers at the sealed Qingling and Jiquan acupoints of Wu Chushanren. If he did not find a way to treat it, it would probably be too late. Thinking of this, he nodded slightly and said, "Since the nun has testified, I naturally believe her. Alright, I'll take my leave now." After saying this, he took Hansheng's hand, and the two of them walked through the bamboo forest towards the village.

Seeing the two walk away, the nun blushed and said shyly, "Brother Dao, were you truly sincere just now?"

Wu Daoming chuckled and said, "Look, the Golden-Headed Turtle is guarding the Taiji Yin Aura here; ordinary people can't get close. Let's go back and heal our injuries before making any plans."

The nun shifted her body slightly and said, "I was talking about building the house."

Wu Daoming stared at the nun and said firmly, "I'm sincere."

A "crunching" sound came from the Taiji Yin Aura. They looked closely and saw that the Golden-Headed Turtle had begun to frantically devour the flesh of the dead sow, even crushing the bones.

Wu Daoming and the nun returned to Zhu Biao's house in Nanshan Village.

Zhu Biao was still sitting on the bed, and the room was filled with a foul stench.

"Where's Caihua?" Seeing Wu Daoming and the nun return, he didn't notice their strange behavior and hurriedly asked.

The nun sniffed. Wu Daoming said, "We've been tricked by Liu Jinmo. He snatched our child. But don't worry, we'll go find the child and bring him back once we've healed."

Zhu Biao got up blankly and went to the kitchen to fetch water to wash himself.

How did his acupoints come off? Wu Daoming was confused.

Back home, Lan'er and her daughter were washing bedding. Master Yiqing hadn't returned yet.

The hermit went straight into the east room and said to Hansheng, "Hansheng, my right Shaoyin Heart Meridian was injured by the extremely cold Yin energy spewed out by that tortoise. It was hot at first, then cold, and now it's numb. Do you have any solutions? I'll try to circulate my Qi to resist it for a while." After saying this, he took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, and mobilized his Yang Qi to the Heart Meridian to resist the Yin energy of the spirit tortoise. Upon hearing this,

Hansheng hurriedly looked at the hermit's right arm. It was ice-cold to the touch, and the blood vessels were blocked. If this continued, the blood vessels might die, which would be troublesome.

With a grave expression, Han Sheng said to the mountain man, "This yin energy is different from the yin energy of a person's meridians. It may not be able to be expelled by the yang energy in the body alone, unless one is a pure yang virgin. But don't worry, I have a way."

Han Sheng dashed off to the field, found a wild peach tree facing the sun, discarded the branch that absorbed the most sunlight, and ran back into the house. He whittled the peach branch into eight wooden needles, about the thickness of chopsticks and about five or six inches long, and set them aside for later use. He then found some cotton paper, wrapped it in three to five layers, and placed it on the mountain man's arm. He dipped the wooden needles in sesame oil, lit them, and immediately blew them out. He then inserted the needles into the upper eight of the nine acupoints of the Shaoyin Heart Meridian on the mountain man's right arm, starting with the first acupoint, Jiquan, in the armpit, followed by Qingling, Shaohai, Lingdao, Tongli, Yinxi, Shenmen, Shaofu, and finally the last acupoint, Shaochong, at the fingertips.

Wu Chushan felt a surge of heat seep directly into the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian from eight acupoints, while a cool sensation gradually receded towards his fingertips. If any acupoint lacked sufficient heat, Wu Chushan informed Hansheng, who then reapplied sesame oil and rekindled it before applying it again. The cool sensation gradually dissipated from the Shaochong acupoint, and Wu Chushan felt his arm slowly recover from top to bottom.

Lan'er and her mother stood anxiously by, neither daring to utter a sound. An hour later, the yin energy was almost completely dispelled, and Wu Chushan was able to circulate his true qi through the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian; the meridians were no longer severely impaired.

"It's alright," Wu Chushan said, jumping off the bed. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hansheng, thank you so much. Given time, you will surely become a legendary eccentric doctor in the martial arts world," Wu Chushan said with a smile.

"Father, what eccentric doctor? That sounds awful," Lan'er pouted.

The hermit laughed heartily, "Hansheng's treatments are so unconventional, his prescriptions so unusual—he truly deserves the title of 'eccentric doctor.' I think that name is quite fitting."

The Eccentric Doctor of the Green Bag, hmm, that's a good name, Hansheng thought.

Benben started barking in the yard. Hansheng went outside and saw that Yiqing had returned. Yiqing told Hansheng that he had already taken ten days of leave from work.

"I'd like to ask you to come with me to find a master; perhaps he can help us. We'll leave tomorrow," Hansheng asked Yiqing's opinion.

Yiqing said it was no problem, and that he would cover the travel expenses and food along the way.

At dusk, Wu Chushanren pulled Hansheng out of the yard and into the fields. He had something to say to Hansheng.

"Hansheng, you've never traveled far before. This trip to western Hunan requires some mental preparation," the hermit said.

Han Sheng's expression turned solemn: "Uncle Shanren, please tell me your advice."

Wu Chushanren said, "Han Sheng, you are too kind-hearted and easily trusting. You could say you're naive. There are countless wicked people in this world, and it's impossible to guard against them all. In short, while you may not have the heart to harm others, you must always be wary."

Han Sheng smiled and said, "Uncle Shanren, I have no criminal record and no money. It's no use if others try to harm me."

Wu Chushanren sighed and said, "Xiangxi has always been known for its strange and bizarre events. There are some things you must know, mainly the 'Three Evils of Xiangxi.' The first evil is the Xiangxi corpse-driving ritual. You must be very careful when walking at night." The sorcerer who drove the corpses walked in front, followed by a row of corpses in the intermediate state, connected by straw ropes, each six or seven meters long. It was said that each sorcerer carried a black cat, which was especially dangerous to touch, and even if you encountered it, you should not look directly at it.

Han Sheng asked in surprise, "Are there really such bizarre things in the world?"

The hermit continued, "The second evil is the use of Gu. Gu is a kind of poisonous insect raised by the Miao people. There are many kinds, and it harms people invisibly. Remember one thing: any farmhouse that is unusually clean, spotless, and even without a single cobweb on the beams, is a family that raises Gu. Eat two cloves of garlic before eating, and you will vomit if you encounter Gu."

Han Sheng was dumbfounded. His father had never told him any of this.

"The third evil, the Fallen Flower Cave Woman, is said to be some unmarried women in the tribe who can weep leaves from trees, then go to a cave for days without eating or drinking. Upon returning, they also refuse to eat or drink,

and die a few days later. The tribe believes she married the tree spirit and the well spirit. Therefore, these girls were unmarried in life, but after their deaths, while others hold funerals, their families not only refuse funerals but also arrange marriages for them," Wu Chushanren said. Han Sheng asked curiously, "Why is that?"

Wu Chushanren shook his head and said, "Actually, the most mysterious is this third evil. There are some things I don't fully understand, but I always suspect they are..."

"Are what?" Han Sheng asked.

"Flesh corpses," the man said.

Chapter 71

The moon rose over the eastern mountains, and in the open wilderness, Wu Chushan and Han Sheng talked for most of the night until the moon was high in the sky. For the first time in his life, Han Sheng had received so much social experience and knowledge of the martial world. He felt he had benefited immensely and would be more cautious in everything he did from now on.

Back in his room, Han Sheng lay on his bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

"Han Sheng, aren't you asleep yet?" Mingyue's sweet voice reached his ears. At the end of Hai hour (9-11 PM), the corpse emerged.

Han Sheng sat up, and Mingyue sat opposite him.

In the moonlight, Mingyue's pure and pretty face, her high breasts, exuded a serene beauty reminiscent of an ancient lady.

Han Sheng said, "Tomorrow I'll take you to Guigu Cave on Tianmen Mountain in Xiangxi to find the old man there. He'll definitely have a solution."

Mingyue smiled faintly and said softly, "I'll leave it to Brother Han Sheng. Since I transformed half a month ago, I've been going out less and less at night, and I'm feeling a bit tired. I don't know why."

Han Sheng knew that Mingyue would pass away in forty-nine days, and he didn't have much time left, but he didn't want to tell her that. He simply asked, "Mingyue, are you hungry?"

Mingyue giggled, "Do you still want me to eat that pig intestine? It smells awful, and my mouth still feels strange. I haven't had any appetite these past two days."

"By the way, I didn't have time to ask who that scholar you were dating was last time?" Han Sheng suddenly remembered and asked.

"His name is Huang Jianguo. He's a university student studying in the capital. His hometown is Huang Village, not far from the Nameless Temple," Mingyue said quietly.

Huang Jianguo? Huang Qiansui's son!

Han Sheng was startled by this.

"Brother Han Sheng, do you know him?" Mingyue asked, noticing the strange look on Han Sheng's face.

Han Sheng smiled slightly and said, "I only know that Huang Jianguo is the son of Director Huang Qiansui of Wuyuan County, but I've never met him." For some reason, Han Sheng felt a pang of sadness.

"Could it be the poisoned mooncake Huang Qiansui gave you? Did he want to kill you?" Han Sheng couldn't believe a high-ranking government official would do such a thing.

"No, it was Huang Jianguo's grandfather, that blind old man, who gave it to me," Mingyue said.

"How could a blind old man poison a mooncake?" Han Sheng asked, puzzled.

Mingyue looked at Han Sheng with clear, watery eyes and said firmly, "It couldn't have been that old man. He's very good to me; he wouldn't harm me. And it certainly wasn't Jianguo; he said he would definitely come back to marry me in two years."

So it must be Huang Qiansui. Why would he want to kill his son's fiancée? He'd heard that young Master Huang would stay in the capital as an official; could it be for his future? Was he afraid that marrying a nun would affect his political career? Even so, he couldn't kill her. It seems Uncle Shanren was right; the world of martial arts is indeed extremely dangerous.

Just as dawn was breaking, Lan'er started a fire. Hansheng was leaving on a long journey.

She was a girl who grew up in the countryside, wandering from place to place with her ailing mother, begging for food, sleeping on the streets, scavenging from garbage cans, enduring the scorn of the world. Now, with Hansheng, it was like living in paradise.

Hansheng was leaving; it was said to be a long and dangerous journey. She didn't express her feelings like city girls did; she would only get up early every day to start a fire, cook, find Hansheng's clothes, wash, dry, and fold them, silently thinking of him. At these times, Lan'er's heart would fill with sweetness.

The firelight reflected on her face, and two crystal tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

Han Sheng pushed open the door and silently knelt down beside her. They were to set off at dawn, and he felt he had so much to say, yet he didn't know how to begin. He wanted to comfort Lan'er, but

all he did was keep adding firewood to the stove. They stood there silently, gazing at the roaring flames, the faint scent of cooking smoke filling their nostrils, their hearts overflowing with unspoken affection.

At breakfast, Lan'er didn't eat with them. Instead, she silently packed Han Sheng's belongings: a few changes of clothes, a bar of soap, two towels—one for his face and one for his feet—and a blue ruler. Finally, she placed the emerald-green gemstone Han Sheng had given her inside, so that wherever Han Sheng went, seeing that stone would remind him of her.

The weather was overcast, threatening rain, and everyone's mood was heavy, as if foreshadowing a perilous journey to western Hunan.

Benben squatted sullenly to the side, watching Hansheng. It seemed to understand that its young master was about to leave on a long trip and would be gone for a while.

"Hansheng, remember what I said. If it's not your business, stay as far away as possible. If you can't find the old man from Xiangxi, come back as soon as possible. Sometimes fate is like this, and people can't change it," Wu Chushan instructed.

Hansheng nodded and asked the man to inquire about his father's situation.

After walking a distance, he looked back and saw the man, Lan'er and her daughter, and Benben still standing silently at the crossroads. Tears welled up in Hansheng's eyes.

In late autumn, the leaves on Nanshan Mountain had turned red, and wild geese flew south in a V-formation. Hansheng thought to himself, this is only the beginning.

To reach western Hunan, they could travel by water from Jingdezhen up the Yangtze River to Yueyang, then through Changde into western Hunan. By land, they could travel west from Wuyuan, taking a long-distance bus across Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake to western Hunan. Although the journey was longer, it would save considerable time, and Hansheng ultimately decided on the land route.

They first arrived in Wuyuan County, from where they took a long-distance bus. Around noon, they boarded a bus bound for Nanchang.

In a corner of the waiting room, an elderly man holding a baby stood watching the bus drive away, muttering to himself, "The journey to Tianmen Mountain is long, but this stretch of road shouldn't be dangerous. Only once they enter western Hunan might they encounter danger. I'll secretly wait for them on the route they must take in western Hunan. What do you say, Caihua?"

The baby grinned, licked its lips, and called out, "Mama."

Hansheng and Yiqing had been traveling for three days straight, and finally arrived in Changde. From there, they would continue west into western Hunan.

Xiangxi is located at the intersection of the northeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the western Hubei mountains. It is characterized by high mountains, dense forests, deep valleys, and over a thousand rivers and streams, primarily the You, Li, Wu, and Yuan river systems.

In the 1970s, transportation in Xiangxi was still extremely difficult, with rugged mountain roads and sparse population. Hansheng and Yiqing inquired with locals about the route to Tianmen Mountain in the Wuling Mountains and began their journey on foot.

At dusk that day, they arrived at the bank of a large river. In the distance, they saw a farmer's house—two and a half thatched huts—with smoke rising from their chimneys in the darkness.

Hansheng and Yiqing approached the huts, stood outside the fence, and called out, "Is anyone home?"

The half-thatched hut was the farmer's hearth, from which the smoke was rising. An old woman wearing an old apron stepped out of the doorway, looking at the two unexpected guests.

Han Sheng stepped forward and said, "Grandma, we are travelers. It's getting dark, and we don't know the way. We'd like to ask if we can stay here for the night, is that alright?"

The people of the Xiangxi mountain area are known for their ruggedness, but they are also very hospitable. They would never turn away travelers.

"Where are you from, and what are you doing?" the old woman asked.

Han Sheng replied, "We're from Jiangxi, on our way to Tianmen Mountain."

The old woman exclaimed in surprise, "That's quite a distance!"

She invited them into the east room and lit a small oil lamp. Han Sheng looked around. The room was very simple; besides a bed and a few hoes and other farm tools, there was almost no furniture. It seemed that the Xiangxi mountain area was much poorer than Wuyuan.

"Grandma, who lives in your family?" Han Sheng asked.

The old woman said, "My husband passed away a long time ago. I only have one son, who went hunting and hasn't returned yet. You two can squeeze into this bed in the east room. When he comes back, he'll sleep with me."

Han Sheng was startled and wanted to argue, but didn't know how to start.

"Okay, thank you, Grandma," Yi Qing readily agreed.

Dinner at the mountain farmhouse was simple: a dish of pickled vegetables, half a bowl of chili sauce, and cornmeal porridge. Han Sheng and Yi Qing had been hiking all day and were starving, so they ate with relish.

The old woman's son might not return from hunting for a while, so she sat beside him and chatted.

Han Sheng remembered Wu Chushan's words when he left. He had already observed carefully when he entered the house. There was still dust in the house, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Therefore, Han Sheng concluded that this family did not raise any Gu poisons.

Han Sheng asked, "I've heard that corpse-transporting rituals sometimes take place in western Hunan at night. Do you often encounter them?"

The old woman shook her head and said, "That was a long time ago. My husband died in a foreign land, and his corpse was brought back home. Now it's rare to see them, maybe once a year."

"I heard that corpse-transporters need to bring a black cat. Why is that?" Han Sheng asked with interest.

"It's not entirely black. Its eyebrows must have white hairs. In the trade, it's called a 'corpse cat.' Ordinary people don't dare to keep them; only corpse-transporters do. These cats are rare and very expensive," the old woman explained.

"Grandma, tell me about the corpse-transporting rituals in western Hunan. It sounds very interesting," Han Sheng pleaded. He was born with a mixture of fear and curiosity about these mysterious things.

The old woman rarely saw visitors, and seeing Han Sheng's innocent and simple appearance, she began to tell him:

"According to the elders, thousands of years ago, Apu, the ancestor of the Miao people in western Hunan, whose name means 'father-in-law' in Miao language, led his troops in a fierce battle against the Han people of the Central Plains along the Yangtze River. The fighting raged until the battlefield was littered with corpses and rivers of blood. Finally defeated, he retreated to the Miao Mountains in western Hunan. After the soldiers had carried away the wounded, Apu said to his strategist, 'We cannot abandon our brothers who died here. Use some magic to bring these good brothers back to their homeland.' Apu's strategist replied, 'Alright, let's change our appearances. You lead the way with the gong, and I'll urge them on from behind.' So the strategist disguised himself as Apu, stood among the corpses of his fallen brothers, chanted incantations and prayed to the gods, and then shouted loudly at the bodies, 'Brothers who died, this is not the place where you should rest in peace. Your untimely deaths are truly lamentable. Your parents in your hometown are waiting for you, your wives and children are longing for your return. Your spirits and souls need not be...'" Hesitantly, as the law commands, rise… The corpses that had been lying on the ground suddenly stood up and followed Apu's gong obediently southward. The enemy pursuers arrived, and Apu and his strategist joined forces to summon a thick fog, trapping the enemy within. Because it was Apu, the strategist, who 'managed' it—meaning to implement—and it was his magic that saved everyone, the Miao people henceforth called him 'Old Master.' The final method Apu Old Master used to defend against the enemy was 'fog magic,' but the character for 'fog' had too many strokes to write, so it was replaced with the character '巫' (witch/shaman). The horizontal line at the top represents the sky or fog, the horizontal line at the bottom represents the earth, and the vertical line in the middle represents a talisman. Two people stand on either side of the vertical line; the one on the right represents Apu, and the one on the left represents Apu Old Master. This means that two people must work together to perform the witchcraft of corpse driving, which is the earliest origin of corpse driving in western Hunan.

"And then what happened?" "Han Sheng asked with great interest.

The old woman smiled and continued, "In the upper reaches of the Yuan River in western Hunan, the land is barren. Many poor people go to eastern Sichuan or eastern Guizhou to make a living as peddlers, herbalists, or hunters. Those places are mostly high mountains and steep ridges, with heavy miasma and frequent outbreaks of malignant malaria. The living conditions are extremely bad, and apart from the local Miao people, outsiders rarely go there. None of the Han people who die in those places are rich. The Han people have a deep-rooted tradition of transporting corpses back to their hometowns for burial. However, on those rugged mountain roads that stretch for thousands or hundreds of miles, even if they have money, it is difficult to use vehicles or stretchers to carry the bodies. So some people use the relatively cheap method of transporting corpses back to their hometowns in the Miao Mountains."

Suddenly, Han Sheng felt a chill run down his spine, a sense of unease rising within him. How could this old woman know so much? And the way she spoke about transporting corpses—her words and tone—was like those of a completely different person. This was definitely not something an ordinary rural old woman could describe in such detail. The

dangers of the world, the warnings of the Wu Chu Mountain people, echoed in Han Sheng's ears.

As Han Sheng pondered, the old woman asked, "Tianmen Mountain is in the Wuling Mountains of western Hunan. What are you doing all this way from Jiangxi?"

Han Sheng replied, "We're looking for someone." The old

woman asked, "Is someone in your family missing?"

"No, we want to find someone called 'Old Man of Western Hunan.' Have you heard of him, Grandma?" Han Sheng said.

"Old Man of Western Hunan? I heard my old man mention him years ago. The Han people call him Old Man of Western Hunan, while the Miao people call him 'Lao Si,' which is Apu Lao Si, the black wizard of the Great Miao Mountains," the old woman said.

Han Sheng was secretly delighted and quickly asked, "Do you know if he's still alive?" The old woman gave Han Sheng a strange look and said, "

Of course he's alive. Old Master Apu died, so his son became the new Master Apu. And when the son dies, there are grandsons, generation after generation of Master Apu." "

Oh, I see," Han Sheng thought. "Master Apu, the old man of Xiangxi, is a hereditary black sorcerer from Miao territory. No wonder he can save corpses." Han Sheng felt that this trip to Xiangxi would definitely be fruitful.

The old woman brought over some hot water. "Soaking your feet before bed is good for long journeys and helps you recover from fatigue," she said.

Han Sheng and Yi finished washing up and prepared for bed.

For days, Han Sheng had been traveling and was exhausted, so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. He kept reminding himself that the moon would reappear for an hour during the night, and he needed to be careful. She bumped into someone, but still fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Yiqing, exhausted, collapsed onto the bed. The old woman took away the oil lamp and gently closed the door.

That night, the moonlight was like water, and the world was cool.

Moonlight streamed gently through the window onto the bed, where Hansheng was still fast asleep.

At the turn of the night, under the moonlight, Yiqing's breasts gradually rose. A long sigh was heard, and Mingyue sat up in bed… Mingyue looked around, her gaze finally settling on Hansheng's face. She silently examined Hansheng lying beside her; his body exuded the aura of a young man. Her face… Two blushes rose on her cheeks. She couldn't help but take a few deep breaths, then let out a soft sigh, got up, stepped out of bed, put on her shoes, pushed open the door, and went into the courtyard.

She tried to control her racing heart, repeatedly telling herself that she loved the scholar she had fallen for at first sight, but for some reason, she felt that Han Sheng possessed an indescribable, irresistible quality, something the scholar lacked. What it was, she couldn't say. This was the second man she had encountered in her life.

Under the moonlight, the bright moon stood there for a long time, its beauty... Her beautiful face, smooth skin, and prominent breasts made her stand gracefully like a jade statue. She was waiting, waiting for this hour to pass. If she went back to bed now, she feared she would… Not far away, under an ancient tree, a man stood in the shadows, holding his breath, silently watching the girl under the moon. A large black cat's head peeked out from his arms, its eyes sharp, with several white hairs between its brows.

Chapter Seventy-Two:

Mingyue suddenly trembled slightly, sniffed the air repeatedly, and slowly turned her face towards the large tree. She then walked over, softly calling out, “Come out.”

Seeing that his presence had been revealed, the man under the tree stepped out of the shadows.

He was a young man, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressed in a homespun black jacket, a black turban, carrying a small bamboo basket on his back. He had thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, and bright, piercing eyes. The large black cat in his arms stared warily at Mingyue with its two copper-bell-like eyes.

"Young lady, who are you, and where do you come from?" the man asked, speaking with a strong Hunan accent.

Mingyue simply smiled at him and said, "I'm hungry."

The young man quickly took a newspaper package from his basket, inside which was a glistening, cooked chicken. He handed it to her, and Mingyue grabbed it, tearing off a leg and stuffing it into her mouth to chew.

Watching the girl wolf down her food, the young man thought, "This girl must be starving; how pitiful. "

In no time, Mingyue had finished the chicken, leaving not even bones.

"Who are you? What are you doing here so late at night, and why are you so hungry?" the young man asked with concern.

Mingyue said, "I'm staying at this farmhouse and came out to find something to eat."

The man smiled and said, "I'm the owner of this farmhouse. I've rushed back from another village late at night. My name is Can'er." Mingyue giggled and

said, "That's a strange name."

Can'er gazed at Mingyue, thinking to himself, "In all my years of transporting corpses, my footsteps have traversed western Hunan, and I've never seen such a beautiful girl. Even her voice and laughter are so lovely; she's like a fairy." Can'er

blushed and said, "I couldn't walk properly from a young age, and I only started walking steadily at eight, so my mother calls me Can'er."

The moon, like a silver plate, hung high in the sky. Can'er had just returned from his journey, but now he didn't want to go back to his room. He only wanted to spend more time alone with the girl.

"Miss, what's your name?" Can'er asked cautiously.

Mingyue replied, "Mingyue."

It really was the moon in the sky, Can'er thought.

"Will you stay a few more days?" Can'er asked.

"I have to set off early tomorrow morning for Wuling Tianmen Mountain," Mingyue said.

"That's very far. What are you going there for?" Can'er asked.

Mingyue smiled and said, "To find the Old Man of Xiangxi."

Can'er was startled and said, "The Old Man of Xiangxi is Apu Laosi. He has been living in seclusion in Guigu Cave for many years. No one has seen him since. Besides, the journey to Tianmen Mountain is too arduous for Miss Mingyue to bear."

Upon hearing this, a cloud of sorrow descended upon Mingyue, and her face became melancholy.

Can'er felt a pang of pain in her heart, and her blood boiled. She said loudly, "If you want to go, Miss, Can'er is willing to lead the way."

"Meow..." The big cat in Canyue's arms growled angrily.

"Can'er is back." The old woman appeared at the door of the thatched hut.

"Mother, it's Can'er who's back." Can'er replied and walked back to the courtyard with Mingyue.

The old woman was startled to see the beautiful girl beside Can'er and asked, "Who is this girl...?"

Can'er smiled and said, "Mother, isn't Mingyue a guest staying at our house?"

The old woman looked at Mingyue with surprise and said even more strangely, "Tonight, only two men from Jiangxi are staying here."

Can'er turned to look at Mingyue, his questioning gaze fixed on her. The large black cat in his arms stared fiercely at Mingyue, then suddenly leaped out of her arms, its two sharp front paws landing on Mingyue's high breasts... Mingyue was instantly terrified.

Can'er was shocked and shouted, "Black Eyes, stop!" But it was too late.

Just then, Mingyue's high breasts suddenly deflated, her face contorted rapidly, and before her stood an ugly, lewd man in his fifties. It turned out that the time had come. The

corpse cat Black Eyes missed its target and stood on the ground in front of the house, panting heavily, its eyes fixed on Yi Qing.

Both Can'er and his mother were utterly astonished, exchanging bewildered glances, speechless.

"He is Master Yiqing," Hansheng said, emerging from the house, the voices outside having startled him.

Back inside, the old woman lit an oil lamp, and Hansheng began to explain the situation.

So that's what happened; Can'er and his mother finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Can'er, are you a corpse driver? Is this big black cat the kind of corpse cat Grandma mentioned?" Hansheng asked.

Can'er nodded, saying, "I've been working with my father since I was ten, doing corpse driving and delivering auspicious spirits, but business is slow now. In our Xiangxi region, there's a long-standing tradition of corpse driving. To learn this trade, one must meet two conditions: courage and good health, and also be somewhat ugly. I've always been timid and weak, and much prettier than most people, so I don't meet the requirements for a corpse driver." As he said this, Can'er secretly glanced at Yiqing.

Seeing that Yiqing didn't react, Can'er continued, "Because my father was a corpse driver, I did this job even though I didn't quite meet the requirements. To learn the craft, you first have to look at the sun in the sky, then spin around, and then suddenly stop. You have to immediately distinguish east from west, north from south. If you can't, it means you won't be able to navigate at night when driving corpses. Also, corpses aren't living people, so if they encounter a steep slope, they can't climb it themselves. The corpse driver has to carry them up the slope one by one, so you need to be physically strong. To train my courage, my father placed a paulownia leaf on a grave mound deep in the mountains and made me retrieve it alone in the dark, saying that only then would I have the courage to be a corpse driver."

"So how do you drive them?" Hansheng asked with great interest.

"Our homes as corpse-drivers are just like those of ordinary farmers; it's generally impossible to tell the difference. We only dress up and go when we receive a corpse-driving job. Although it's called corpse-driving, we usually avoid using the term. Insiders who hire us say they want us to 'walk the body.' We use a special piece of yellow paper to write the deceased's name, date of birth, date of death, gender, etc., then draw a talisman and stick it on the paper. Finally, we hide the paper on our person. There are also rules about what we wear when we're transporting corpses. Regardless of the weather, we wear straw sandals, a long blue cloth robe, a black belt around our waist, and a blue cloth hat. We also carry a bag of talismans in our waist pouch. These talismans are different from those of Taoist priests; they are pictographs drawn on yellow paper with cinnabar ink. If we encounter any unexpected situations on the way, we hang these talismans facing west on a tree or door. Sometimes we burn them to ashes and swallow them with water, depending on the situation," Can'er explained.

Han Sheng interjected, "Can a dead person really walk?"

Can'er smiled and said, "Of course a corpse won't walk on its own; you have to use your inner power to make it move."

"What kind of inner power?" Han Sheng asked.

"There are thirty-six kinds of skills in total. The first is 'Standing Skill,' which requires the corpse to stand up. The second is 'Walking Skill,' which allows the corpse to stop and move freely. The third is 'Turning Skill,' which requires the corpse to be able to turn corners while walking. In addition, there are 'Downhill Skill,' 'Bridge Crossing Skill,' 'Silent Dog Skill,' and so on. 'Silent Dog Skill' is very useful, as it prevents dogs along the way from barking at the corpse, because the corpse is most afraid of barking dogs. If a dog barks, the corpse will be startled and fall over. Especially when a dog comes to bite, the corpse has no ability to resist and will be bitten to pieces. The last skill is 'Soul Return Skill.' The better the Soul Return Skill, the more soul the corpse will return, making it particularly easy to drive the corpse. This 'Soul Return Skill' is actually achieved by sprinkling a kind of herb, which is a specialty of our Xiangxi region, on the corpse's mouth, nose, and body."

Yi Qing listened with amazement, looking at Can'er with admiration.

The disabled boy felt a warmth in his heart upon seeing this, as if he could see Mingyue's handsome face and admiring expression through the ugly body.

He continued, as if explaining it specifically for Mingyue: "Our profession can only be practiced in western Hunan. Because only in western Hunan do 'corpse inns,' and only the people of western Hunan know to avoid the corpse-driver's small gong and will voluntarily lock up their dogs, otherwise, if the dogs come out, they will tear the corpse to pieces. There are roads outside the villages in western Hunan, so corpses are absolutely not allowed to enter the village."

"Do corpses stay in inns?" Han Sheng asked with interest.

"Of course, these inns only house corpses and corpse drivers; ordinary people don't stay there. The inn's doors are open all year round because behind the two large doors is where the corpses rest. The corpse drivers arrive at the inn before dawn and leave quietly at night. During the day, the corpses stand neatly against the wall behind the doors. If it's rainy and difficult to travel, they might stay in the inn for several days and nights." Can'er said with great interest, glancing at Yi Qing from time to time.

"What are the corpse cats used for?" Han Sheng asked.

Can'er said somewhat awkwardly, "It's a secret of us corpse drivers; it's not allowed to be told to outsiders."

Han Sheng nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

"Does Mingyue come out every night?" Can'er asked at the opportune moment.

Han Sheng said with a heavy heart, "Yes, but I'm afraid Mingyue doesn't have much time left."

"Then I'll take you to Tianmen Mountain first thing tomorrow morning. It's a journey that will take several days." Can'er's anxiety was palpable.

Chapter 73

After two days of rest and healing, Wu Daoming and the nameless nun's meridians had been completely unblocked, and their skills had both returned to normal. Zhu Biao had been carefully tending to them with a mournful face for the past two days, hoping that they could find their child as soon as they recovered.

That morning, Wu Daoming sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating his qi for one cycle. Feeling refreshed, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The nun peeked out from under the covers, still sleepy, and asked, "Brother Dao, what are you laughing at?" They had been living together since returning from Linggu Cave two days ago.

Wu Daoming said, "Junior sister, I'm thinking that we can go to Taiji Yinyun today." Since living together, Wu Daoming had changed one character in how he addressed the nun, calling her "Junior sister."

The nun asked in surprise, "Didn't you promise Wu Chushanren you wouldn't use the Taiji Yin Aura without permission, and the child hasn't been found yet?"

Wu Daoming laughed and said, "That's right, I did promise Wu Chushanren I wouldn't use the Taiji Yin Aura without permission, but I didn't say I wouldn't take the Taiji Earth Egg. That was a token of love I gave to my junior sister."

The nun shushed her, her face flushed, her expression seemingly dissatisfied, but inwardly she was overjoyed.

After breakfast, Wu Daoming took a burlap sack and a hoe, and went up the mountain with the nun.

"Where are you going? Do you want me to come with you?" Zhu Biao asked in surprise.

"No need, we'll just wander around the mountain and dig up some herbs to treat our injuries," Wu Daoming said.

Zhu Biao dared not say anything. Seeing them walk far away, he quietly followed behind. He had sensed something was amiss two days ago. They had been told they would share a room for healing, but the sounds he heard in the middle of the night weren't the sounds of healing, but rather the moans of a man and woman making love. He and Shen Caihua had both made similar sounds, so it couldn't fool him.

Zhu Biao kept a watchful eye on them from a distance. He knew he couldn't get too close. Fortunately, he knew the terrain well, and even circling around wouldn't make him lose sight of them; otherwise, with Mr. Wu and the nun's skills, they would definitely have been discovered.

Wu Daoming and the nun walked through the bamboo forest with great interest, talking as they went. Neither of them noticed Zhu Biao following them from afar.

Zhu Biao was focused on their every move, but he also neglected what was behind him. He could vaguely see two people following him from a distance.

In front of Linggu Cave, Wu Daoming and the nun stopped and looked around. Finally, making sure no one was there, they disappeared into the bushes.

At the Tai Chi Yin Aura, the golden-headed turtles were still there, the baby turtles frolicking on the ground, rolling and crawling, while the mother turtle lay nearby watching peacefully. Everything seemed so leisurely and serene.

"Be careful! The golden-headed turtles are incredibly powerful at spewing breath. Strange, I had already sealed their blood vessels with the Yin-Yang Cone several days ago, and the cone automatically fused with their flesh and blood, permanently closing their meridians. Now it seems they haven't been affected at all. Alas, I have to start over. It's a pity I only have the Yin Cone available." Wu Daoming said in surprise, reaching into his crotch, enduring the pain as he grabbed, and opened his palm to find only a few hairs left. It turned out that the Yin Cone was almost completely used up, with very few remaining.

To catch the thief, first catch the kingpin. Wu Daoming gathered his true energy and blew out the Yin Cone towards the golden-headed mother turtle.

The Yin Cone lost its sharp, piercing sound, its flight speed slowed considerably, and it wobbled and lost its aim. A gust of autumn wind blew it away, and it disappeared without a trace… Wu Daoming stood there stunned, speechless for a long time.

The nameless nun smiled gently: “Brother Dao, please step aside and watch your junior sister.”

With that, she channeled her true energy, and with a whooshing sound, her silver hair stood on end. The nun shouted, “Take this!” More than ten silver threads snapped, flashing like lightning, and had already struck the necks of the mother turtle and her baby turtles.

The blood vessels in the neck of the mother golden-headed turtle were blocked, and her glans could no longer move. Knowing that she had encountered a powerful enemy, she could only tearfully lead her injured baby turtles out of the Taiji Yin Aura, struggling to leave the bushes and slowly crawling into the Linggu Cave.

“Junior sister, what excellent skills!” Wu Daoming exclaimed awkwardly.

In the bushes, Zhu Biao, his head covered by a large patch of leaves, stared wide-eyed at everything, barely daring to breathe.

Wu Daoming, hoe in hand, stood on the Tai Chi Yin Aura, sighed deeply, and said, "Since ancient times, countless Feng Shui masters and heroes have dreamed of the Tai Chi Aura, and now it lies beneath the feet of Wu Daoming of Lingnan. Heaven has been kind to me, Wu."

The nun smiled slightly and said, "Come out, aren't you tired crawling in the bushes?"

Wu Daoming was startled and quickly followed the nun's gaze, only to see Zhu Biao slowly crawling out of the bushes.

Strange, how come I didn't notice? It wasn't like this before, Wu Daoming thought dejectedly.

"What are you doing there?" Wu Daoming questioned Zhu Biao sternly.

Zhu Biao, his face flushed, stammered, "I was following you, just wanting to know the child's whereabouts."

"Didn't I tell you that the child was kidnapped by Liu Jinmo? Don't you believe me, Wu?" Wu Daoming said angrily.

“I’m just worried about his talent,” Zhu Biao stammered, thinking to himself, “Of course I don’t believe it. So Mr. Wu and the nun are looking for some Tai Chi omen. It seems there’s some treasure down there. Otherwise, why would they bring a hoe and a sack?

” The nun said softly, “Brother Dao, forget it. I think he’s just missing his son. It’s only human nature.”

Wu Daoming nodded and said, “Since you say so, then forget it.”

The nun continued, “Since he’s already seen it, let him help dig up the Tai Chi egg.”

Wu Daoming handed the hoe to Zhu Biao and said, “You dig. There are some dirt balls down there. Dig them all out, but be careful not to break them.”

Zhu Biao took the hoe. Dirt balls? What are those? Since Mr. Wu values them so much, they must be valuable. He picked up the hoe and started digging.

After a while, the Tai Chi soil egg appeared. It was a black, stone-like egg, cool to the touch. Wu Daoming held the eggs in both hands, extremely excited, his voice trembling: "Junior sister, look! These are the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon, nurtured over millions of years! Below are also five-element Tai Chi eggs of white, green, red, and yellow. I'll give them all to you, junior sister."

While Wu Daoming and the nun were looking at the water eggs and not paying attention to him, Zhu Biao secretly grabbed a yellow earth egg and put it in his pocket. "Maybe it's gold," he thought.

More than an hour later, the Taiji Yin Aura had been dug to a depth of over two meters. Below that, it seemed there was nothing left; the five-colored soil had been turned upside down. Seeing that all the five-element soil eggs had been retrieved, Wu Daoming counted them. A total of twenty-seven Taiji soil eggs had been unearthed: six white gold eggs, four blue wood eggs, six black water eggs, six red fire eggs, and five yellow soil eggs.

Wu Daoming hadn't noticed the yellow soil egg in Zhu Biao's arms.

Wu Daoming breathed a sigh of relief and stuffed all twenty-seven Taiji eggs into a burlap sack.

"Zhu Biao, backfill and level the soil," Wu Daoming instructed.

After a while, the soil in the Taiji Yin Aura had been completely backfilled and leveled. Wu Daoming stepped on it, tamped it down, and then said with satisfaction, "Mission accomplished. Zhu Biao, with the sack on your back, let's go back."

The three of them walked through the bamboo forest towards Zhu Biao's house in the north of the village.

Two men emerged from behind a tree and disappeared into the bushes, standing beside the Tai Chi Yin Aura. They looked at the newly leveled ground with puzzled expressions.

"What's this?" one of them asked, grabbing a handful of five-colored soil.

The other looked at it and said, "Strange, why is this soil so many colors?" He shook his head and said, "Let's go back and report to Director Meng first. Here, let's take two handfuls of soil back."

The first man nodded and said, "Okay." He then grabbed two handfuls of five-colored soil and stuffed them into his jacket pocket.

The two men emerged from the bushes and headed towards Nanshan Town.

In the Nanshan Town Revolutionary Committee office, Meng Zhuqi listened to the report from his two subordinates who were monitoring Wu Daoming. He silently stared at the two handfuls of five-colored soil on the table, pondered for a moment, and then instructed his subordinates that this matter was a state secret and must be kept absolutely secret.

After the two men left, Meng Zhuqi picked up the five-colored soil and chuckled, "You, Wu Daoming, you found the Taiji Yin Aura a long time ago, and you were just pretending to be mysterious. You're in cahoots with that Zhu Biao. It seems Shen Caihua's body was buried in Zhu Biao's house, and the soldier's injury was also done by you, Wu Daoming, this acupoint master. Hmph, if you're ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless. We'll see."

Meng Zhuqi took out an envelope, put the five-colored soil inside, and put it in his pocket. Then he got into the jeep and headed to the county town. He wanted to report to his brother-in-law privately that the Taiji Yin Aura had been found and the plan could be implemented.

Chapter 74

"The Taiji Yin Aura is indeed near Linggu Cave. It seems we made the right decision to have our cousins relocate the graves, haha." Huang Qiansui laughed after hearing Meng Zhuqi's report.

"Brother-in-law was indeed prescient." Meng Zhuqi smiled amiably.

After laughing, Huang Qiansui's expression suddenly changed. "What was that sack of stuff Wu Daoming dug up?"

Meng Zhuqi shook his head blankly and said, "My men couldn't get too close. They only saw them go in with an empty sack, fill it up, and come out. Only after they were far away did they realize that Taiji Yinyun had been dug up. Look, this is the five-colored soil."

Huang Qiansui watched as Meng Zhuqi poured the soil from the envelope onto the table, then pinched a small handful and carefully examined it.

"Amazing, truly amazing! Nature has bestowed upon us so many wondrous things. This is a godsend for me, Huang Qiansui—no, for the founding of the nation! The great leader Chairman Mao once taught us, 'To struggle with Heaven is endless joy; to struggle with Earth is endless joy; to struggle with Man is endless joy.' Today, I truly understand this truth." Huang Qiansui said with great pride.

"Brother-in-law, when are we going to arrest Wu Daoming and Zhu Biao?" Meng Zhuqi said through gritted teeth.

Huang Qiansui pondered for a moment and said, "Wu Daoming is, after all, a Hong Konger. We need to gather some evidence to make things easier. Here's what we'll do: First, find a reason to bring Zhu Biao to the county for a secret arrest. Use him as a starting point to implicate Wu Daoming. The second step is self-explanatory; you can handle that too."

Meng Zhuqi suddenly remembered something and said, "There's an old white-haired nun with Wu Daoming. From the description, she looks a lot like the old nun from the nameless nunnery in Huangcun."

"What? The nameless old nun? How did she get involved?" Huang Qiansui's heart skipped a beat. He wondered what this old nun knew about Mingyue's poisoning. If she was colluding with Wu Daoming, things would get complicated and become quite troublesome.

"Hurry up and lure Zhu Biao. We must fully realize that imperialist agents often use religious guises to subvert the dictatorship of the proletariat. This is a new trend in class struggle. Our comrades must not be careless about this, understand?" Huang Qiansui said meaningfully.

"Brother-in-law, I understand, I'll go do it right away." Meng Zhuqi walked out full of fighting spirit.

"This old nun's appearance in Nanshan Village is no accident. Since she won't stay obediently in the temple, don't blame me, Huang Qianhui, for eradicating evil completely. This time, I'll take care of her too." Huang Qianhui muttered to himself.

Zhu Biao received a notice from the town that he had been selected as an active member of Wuyuan County in studying and applying Mao Zedong Thought, representing Nanshan Town at the conference. Zhu Biao happily changed into new clothes, pinned a Chairman Mao badge to his chest, and carried a yellow military satchel. Inside the satchel was a well-worn set of Mao Zedong Thought selections, the blank pages of which were filled with reflections and aphorisms.

Before leaving, when no one in the house was paying attention, he quietly buried the yellow earthen egg in front of Shen Caihua's grave. The Yin Corpse Crickets did not interfere, still busily preparing food for winter. "

You can give the Tai Chi Egg to the nun, I'll give it to Caihua too," Zhu Biao chuckled foolishly.

A jeep was parked in the courtyard of the Revolutionary Committee of Nanshan Town. It had come specifically to pick up Zhu Biao, a delegate to the conference, and take him to the county. Zhu Biao, full of confidence, boarded the jeep. Just as he stepped onto the running board, he thought of the leader's posture during inspections.

The jeep sped away.

At the gate of a grand mansion in Wuyuan County, Zhu Biao was brought in. He looked around until his eyes fell on Meng Zhuqi, whose face was grim. Only then did he realize that things were not as rosy as he had imagined.

In the empty woodshed, a blood-red banner hung on the wall: "Confess and receive leniency; resist and receive severe punishment. "

Behind the table sat Meng Zhuqi, dressed in a stern robe, with Huang Jianguo standing behind him.

"Zhu Biao, do you know your crime?" Meng Zhuqi asked sternly.

Zhu Biao, bound by rope to a lone chair in the middle of the room, opened his mouth blankly and said, "What crime? I don't know."

Meng Zhuqi slammed his hand on the table, pointed to the red slogan on the wall, and said, "You know our Party's policy, don't you? Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely! Tell me, what did you do yesterday with Di Te Wu Daoming at the entrance of Linggu Cave in Nanshan?"

"Die Te? Mr. Wu?" Zhu Biao was confused.

"What did you dig up there? What was in the sacks? Was it a secret radio station for contacting foreign countries? Weapons? Counter-revolutionary leaflets? You really don't want to tell the truth?" Huang Jianguo said calmly, but every word was like a steel needle pricking Zhu Biao's nerves.

Cold sweat dripped down Zhu Biao's forehead.

"You, you said, Mr. Wu, no, Wu Daoming, is an imperialist spy? But Director Meng, you told me to treat him well!" Zhu Biao's expression was one of injustice.

Meng Zhuqi snorted and said, "That was the organization testing you. You failed the test and colluded with the spies. Of course, you might just be an accomplice. If you can proactively expose Wu Daoming's counter-revolutionary crimes and perform meritorious service, the government might consider leniency."

Zhu Biao was covered in sweat and panting heavily. Suddenly, he shouted, "I'll expose them! Wu Daoming and the nameless nun were having an affair in my house! I heard it!"

"What did you say? They were having an affair?" Meng Zhuqi asked. This was a new development.

“Yes, I heard it with my own ears, and they were even groaning ‘ouch, ouch,’” Zhu Biao described, his face showing an eagerness to boast.

Huang Jianguo frowned and asked, “What’s in the sack?”

Zhu Biao replied hastily, “Tai Chi soil eggs, five colors in total, twenty-seven in total.” He concealed the fact that he had dug up one.

Tai Chi soil eggs? Hmm, so it really is Tai Chi Yin Aura.

“Where is it hidden?” Meng Zhuqi asked.

“In the west room of my house,” Zhu Biao replied.

“Anything underground belongs to the state, you know that?” Meng Zhuqi asked.

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”

Meng Zhuqi chuckled and said, “This is a typical case of foreign imperialist spies colluding with domestic religious counter-revolutionary forces to frantically steal precious national cultural relics.”

Zhu Biao’s forehead began to sweat again.

“You stole Shen Caihua’s body and buried it in the west room of your house, didn’t you?” Meng Zhuqi said coldly without even raising his eyelids.

Zhu Biao paused for a moment, then lowered his head and refused to utter another sound.

Meng Zhuqi ordered his men to take Zhu Biao away and lock him up, then arranged for men to secretly capture Wu Daoming and the nameless nun in Nanshan Village.

"I'll lead the team myself," Huang Jianguo said angrily, touching the scar on his face from the slashing wound inflicted by the Yin Corpse Cricket.

"Be careful, Wu Daoming and the nameless nun both know martial arts," Meng Zhuqi warned.

Huang Jianguo snorted disdainfully and said, "This is no longer the era of cold weapons."

Nanshan Village. Huang Jianguo led a well-trained militia squad, armed with semi-automatic rifles, and surrounded the three thatched houses belonging to Zhu Biao at the north end of the village.

The nun and Wu Daoming heard the commotion outside and leaped out of the house.

Huang Jianguo stood expressionless in the courtyard, behind him were armed militiamen with live ammunition.

"Young Master Huang, what's going on..." Wu Daoming asked in surprise.

Huang Jianguo sneered, "Mr. Wu, the government wants to discuss something with you and the nun. Please come with us."

"This…" Wu Daoming was caught off guard and didn't know what to say.

"Take them to the car first, wait for me," Huang Jianguo ordered.

The militiamen pointed guns at Wu Daoming and the nun and took them away. Wu Daoming knew resistance would backfire, so he and the nun obediently followed.

"Search!" Huang Jianguo waved his hand.

A moment later, the militiamen came out of the house carrying a burlap sack. Opening it, they found twenty-seven five-colored Tai Chi earth eggs inside. Huang Jianguo nodded and ordered them to be taken to the car.

Now was the time to exterminate the Yin Corpse Mole Crickets.

Huang Jianguo tiptoed to the west side of the house and stood outside the enclosure. The Yin Corpse Mole Crickets seemed to sense something, stopping their work and warily watching the newcomer with their compound eyes.

Huang Jianguo sneered and ordered, "Pour it in!"

Several militiamen appeared behind him, carrying plastic buckets, and poured highly toxic insecticide into the mole cricket holes in the ground. The pungent smell filled the air. Some of the mole crickets on the ground launched scattered attacks, but they were quickly killed by the prepared militiamen with brooms.

Huang Jianguo looked at the mole cricket holes with satisfaction, seeing that no more living mole crickets crawled out. "Hmm, trying to fight me?"

He ordered two militiamen to stay and guard the holes, while the rest returned directly to the county.

Shen Caihua's body should be handled by her uncle's family; he didn't need to interfere.

Huang Jianguo, escorting Wu Daoming and the nameless nun, and carrying the spoils of war—the twenty-seven Tai Chi earth eggs—returned to the county town in a grand procession.

"Old Wu, this is not right of you," Huang Qiansui said to Wu Daoming with a gloomy face, drawing out his voice.

In Huang Qiansui's living room, Wu Daoming was questioned alone, while the nun was isolated.

"I don't quite understand what Director Huang means," Wu Daoming said, feigning ignorance.

Huang Qiansui chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll ask you, what are we doing here in Wuyuan, having spent so much money to bring you here?"

"Searching for the Taiji Yin Aura," Wu Daoming replied.

"Did you find it?" Huang Qiansui asked again.

Knowing his scheme had been exposed, Wu Daoming had no choice but to speak, so he readily replied, "I just found it and was just about to report to you."

Huang Qiansui laughed heartily, "Alright, then I'll hear your report."

Wu Daoming had no choice but to continue, "It's like this: after many days of observation, calculation, and deduction, I finally determined the exact location of the Taiji Yin Halo, which is not far from the entrance of Linggu Cave. You know, the reason it took so long is entirely because the location of the Taiji Yin Halo contradicts the ancient and modern Feng Shui theories. It actually appears under the dragon's lips! No wonder so many Feng Shui masters have searched for it for thousands of years without success. I was fortunate enough to find it, not only thanks to Director Huang's good fortune, but also because it fills a gap in our country's Feng Shui theory."

"Haha, well said. Then let me ask you, how do you bury someone to bring the fastest fortune?" Huang Qiansui asked casually.

Wu Daoming said, "Of course, it's a live burial. That's how Zhu Yuanzhang's mother was buried..." Suddenly, he stopped, his mind racing, and continued, "Director Huang, I can tell you everything you need to know without reservation, but you must grant me one request."

Huang Qiansui sneered, "Are you negotiating with me?"

Wu Daoming straightened his neck and remained silent.

The two remained locked in a stalemate for a long time before Huang Qiansui spoke, "What request?"

Wu Daoming said, "The matter is understood. I want to return to Hong Kong safely with the nameless nun and take those twenty-seven Taiji earth eggs with me."

Chapter 75

Wu Chushanren stood silently beside the Taiji Yin Aura, looking at the mixed five-colored soil that had been dug up. The original five-colored soil aura was gone, and the spirit turtles that spewed Yin poison were also gone.

"Wu Daoming!" Wu Chushanren stomped his feet angrily. He turned and headed straight for Zhu Biao's house in the north of the village.

Two strangers were leaning against the gate of Zhu Biao's house, smoking, with two rifles stuck in the ground.

Wu Chushan was taken aback. Composing himself, he stepped forward and asked, "Is Captain Zhu Biao home?"

"Who are you?" asked the militiaman smoking.

"From the village, I live at the east end," Wu Chushan replied.

One of the militiamen snorted and said, "A whole bunch of counter-revolutionaries, plus an old man and a nun, all sent to the county."

Wu Chushan's heart skipped a beat. What was going on?

"If you don't have anything to do, stay away," the smoking man said menacingly.

Wu Chushan turned and left, walking home, pondering the situation, still unable to figure out what had happened. Judging

from the excavation of the Taiji Yin Aura, the Taiji soil eggs might have been stolen, but that wouldn't affect the feng shui efficacy of the Taiji Yin Aura. Since that was the case, he might as well go all the way and seize the opportunity to bury a sow there, so no one could use it anymore.

Wu Chushan went to Old Man Han's house, intending to buy the old sow.

"Well done, Xiao Hansheng is truly amazing! Two toads actually cured the swine fever, it's incredible!" Old Man Han exclaimed as soon as he saw Wu Chushan, praising him endlessly.

Having ascertained the mountain man's purpose, Old Man Han shook his head and said, "I won't sell it. This sow is lucky to have survived such a serious illness; I simply can't bear to sell it."

"Are there any other dead pigs?" the mountain man asked.

"No, I went to my in-laws' house today and heard they also have swine fever. Look, I've caught some toads; I'm going to take them to treat their sick pigs," Old Man Han said.

"Do you know anyone who has a dead sow?" the mountain man asked.

"There aren't any in this village. How about this, I'll inquire in my in-laws' village for you. If there are any, I can take them to Dr. Zhu's house at the east end by bicycle; it'll be a way of thanking Han Sheng," Old Man Han enthusiastically suggested.

"Alright, thank you in advance," Wu Chushanren said, turning and heading home without further ado.

As dusk fell, the two militiamen guarding Zhu Biao's house, seeing that it was already dark, began to prepare a meal. While searching, they discovered a jar of old wine. Overjoyed, they fried all the eggs from the small basket they had found, filling half a basin.

Under the oil lamp, the two men drank and chatted to pass the time.

"I heard that the woman who died was incredibly beautiful," one said, smoking a cigarette.

"Which woman?" the other asked, drunkenly.

"The daughter-in-law of Director Meng of Nanshan Town, something like Shen Caihua," the other replied.

"Yeah, supposedly she was stolen right after being buried. Think about it, even her corpse was wanted; everyone must have been envious when she was alive." After another drink, the man became more talkative.

"Shh, I'll tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone," one said.

"Don't worry, anyone who tells is a bastard," the other replied.

"Shen Caihua is buried at the west end of this house, under the spot where we sprayed the pesticide today."

"Really?"

"Of course! Dare to dig it up and see just how beautiful this woman is?"

"You're not thinking of messing with the corpse, are you?"

"Just looking. If you're too scared, forget it."

"Damn it, who says I'm scared? Let's dig!"

"Let's go."

The two, drunk, grabbed hoes and started digging at the west end of the house… The soil was loose and easy to dig, and it didn't seem buried very deep. Neither of them noticed the yellow clod of dirt that had rolled to the side.

With each stroke of the hoe, they unearthed the corpses of some venomous crickets. Finally, they heard a "thump," and they knew they had reached the coffin.

They shoveled the soil aside, revealing a wooden cabinet in the pit. It seemed the body had been placed in the cabinet during burial. They looked at each other, their hearts pounding. Just how beautiful would the woman inside be?

"Do you think she's wearing clothes?" one man asked with a lewd grin, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Hopefully not, haha," another chuckled.

"I heard Shen Caihua has big, white breasts," the first man laughed even harder.

"I like women's butts, the fatter the better," another man added with a lewd grin.

"Stop talking, I can't wait any longer," the man threw away his cigarette, jumped into the pit, and reached out to grab the cabinet door, lifting it with force. The wooden cabinet door popped open; it turned out there were no nails on it.

In the moonlight, a woman lay inside, dressed, her breasts prominent, buttons undone, with jet-black hair, delicate features, pale skin, closed eyes, a small, exquisite nose, and a wide-open mouth.

The man smoking stared at the woman, and involuntarily reached out a hand, reaching into the tear in her clothing.

The female corpse opened her eyes… Suddenly, she raised her head and bit the man's finger!

"Oh my god!" the man screamed, collapsing into the cabinet. A "plop" sound followed, hot blood splattering everywhere; his carotid artery had been severed by the female corpse.

The militiaman above was terrified, frozen in place. The female corpse, her mouth full of blood, grinned menacingly as she gently stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and then bit it off… Under the pale moonlight, the corpse Shen Caihua, disheveled, stood with her arms outstretched, her chest rising and falling, breathing heavily towards the moon… A dark cloud drifted over, slowly obscuring the moon, plunging the world into darkness.

Shen Caihua moved, noticing a yellow earthen egg on the ground. She bent down, picked it up, and held it in her hand. Suddenly, she sniffed the air, slipped into the thatched hut, and emerged moments later, holding a small garment for a ghost infant.

Shen Caihua pressed the small clothes against her face, sniffing them incessantly. Then, she looked around and vanished in a flash.

Chapter 76

The next morning, there was still no news from Old Man Han. After breakfast, Wu Chushanren headed towards Old Man Han's house.

Jeeps and trucks were parked in the village, and the villagers were scattered towards the north end of the village. Shanren followed suit.

Outside the pond in front of Zhu Biao's house, a group of elderly people, women, and children had gathered, all discussing the matter.

Shanren squeezed to the front. On the west side of Zhu Biao's thatched hut, the ground had been dug up. Under a bed sheet near the door, two corpses lay, and two semi-automatic rifles were stuck to one side of the door.

Director Meng Zhuqi saw Wu Chushanren from afar and waved him over. Shanren then parted the crowd and went to the west side of the thatched hut.

"Wu Chushan, come and see how these two died?" Meng Zhuqi knew Wu Chushan was knowledgeable, so he asked him to take a look.

Lifting the sheet, the women and children watching gasped in shock.

Two strong militiamen were covered in blood, their facial muscles completely contorted, their eyes wide with terror. Four fingers on one of their hands had been cleanly severed, revealing the white bone.

"Both were wounded in the neck; one side of their carotid artery was severed. Look at the teeth marks on their necks; it looks like they were bitten off alive," Wu Chushan said, pointing to the corpses' necks.

"Biten? We haven't seen any wild beasts in Wuyuan for many years!" Meng Zhuqi asked doubtfully.

"It was a human bite," Wu Chushan said calmly.

"A human? How is that possible?" Meng Zhuqi exclaimed.

"This tooth mark is clearly from the first permanent molar of a human, also known as a 'six-year molar.' Humans grow this tooth at age six and it remains unchanged throughout their lives. Wild animals don't have it, and besides, judging from the wound, there are no traces of canine teeth

from wild animals," Wu Chushan explained. Meng Zhuqi remained silent, deep in thought. If what Wu Chushan said was true, combined with the fact that Shen Caihua's grave was empty and the body had vanished, could it really be a case of the legendary corpse transformation? If it were true… that would be troublesome.

Meng Zhuqi waved his hand, ordering his subordinates to chase away all the onlookers.

"Hehe," Meng Zhuqi chuckled maliciously, then continued, "A human bite? What kind of person could be so accurate and ruthless as to bite two strong young men to death in one go? Don't spread rumors, Shanren."

"It's a dead person. Only a corpse would be so vicious," Shanren said.

"A corpse? What is a corpse?" Meng Zhuqi asked anxiously.

"A 'yin corpse' is someone who harbored great resentment in life, had unfulfilled wishes, and was unwilling to die just like that. Therefore, the resentment protects the body, preventing it from decaying. Under certain external influences, it eventually rises from the dead," the mountain man explained.

"Why would it come out?" Meng Zhuqi vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

“To fulfill an unfulfilled wish,” the hermit replied.

“What did you say? A zombie? Don’t scare yourself. How did you learn Marxist materialism? You actually believe such nonsense,” Huang Qianhui muttered in dissatisfaction.

Meng Zhuqi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and continued, “Brother-in-law, we’ve already arrested Zhu Biao, that adulterer. Wu Daoming and the old nun are also locked up. Where is Shen Caihua’s body? It’s as obvious as a louse on a bald man’s forehead.”

Huang Qianhui’s face was gloomy as he paced back and forth on the ground, deep in thought, for a long, long time.

Suddenly, Huang Qianhui stopped and said seriously, “This matter is too suspicious. We must be wary of someone causing trouble. There’s no time to lose. You immediately select a few trusted men, find a military tent, cover it with the Taiji Yinyun tent, and personally guard it. No one is allowed to approach, and not a single word can be leaked, understand?”

Meng Zhuqi nodded repeatedly and immediately went to make the arrangements.

In the back room, Wu Daoming and the nun were sitting and talking.

The nun lowered her head and said, "It's fine if we don't return to Wuming Nunnery. Since I've already returned to secular life, I'll go to Lingnan with you."

Wu Daoming held the nun's hand tightly.

"Brother Dao, there's something I don't understand," the nun said

. "Please speak, Sister Dao," Wu Daoming said softly, looking at the nun.

"Brother Dao, you've been searching for the Taiji Yin Aura. What exactly is it about?" the nun asked.

Wu Daoming paused, then said, "There are only a handful of Tai Chi halos in the entire Central Plains. They are what we Feng Shui masters strive for our entire lives. When I was in Hong Kong, several tycoons commissioned me to search for them in the Central Plains, offering hundreds of millions of dollars. But money is easy to come by, but a good burial site is hard to find. I can only sigh in vain."

The nun interjected, "Since those people are so rich, why do they still seek Tai Chi halos?"

Wu Daoming smiled and said, "Junior sister, you don't understand. Those people have too much money, so they turn to power and hope to be remembered in history, even to wear dragon robes, sit on the dragon throne, and become the founding emperor."

The nun shook her head and said, "That's strange. Where are there emperors in today's society? Yuan Shikai wanted to be the last emperor of China, but he didn't succeed. Now everyone is called something like Chairman or Secretary, and they have to be elected."

Wu Daoming said, "The names may be different, but the essence is the same. In short, the highest official in the world can bring glory to their ancestors and be remembered in history."

"With such a powerful effect as Tai Chi, won't there be war and chaos? Wouldn't the common people suffer the most?" the nun said worriedly.

Wu Daoming replied dismissively, "Sigh, everyone thinks they have the greatest ability, that only they can bring benefits to the people, and that everyone else is inferior. Aren't they all the same?"

The nun remained silent.

Wu Daoming spoke in an even gentler voice, "Dollar or power, I, Wu Daoming, am fortunate to have met my junior sister. Everything else is external, fleeting. As long as we can wander the world together, sailing the five lakes, wouldn't that be better than being an immortal? I've kept my virginity for sixty years for my junior sister."

The nun blushed and lowered her head, saying, "Me too."

Someone knocked on the door, and Huang Qiansui walked in with a smile.

Wu Daoming stood up when he saw Huang Qiansui enter.

Huang Qiansui smiled kindly and said, "Old Wu, I've fully considered your request. You and the nun can return to Hong Kong. I've heard you're deeply in love, congratulations! I'm definitely going to the wedding banquet. I'll take care of the nun's one-way permit to settle in Hong Kong, how about that?"

Wu Daoming laughed, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Huang Qiansui frowned and said, "As for those twenty-seven Tai Chi eggs, that's a bit difficult. You know, the underground mineral deposits belong to the state. I'm just a small official in Wuyuan County, I wouldn't dare give away the nation's treasures. Besides, Mr. Wu is a Hong Kong resident, what if they accuse me of colluding with foreign powers?"

Wu Daoming was about to reply when the nun tugged at his sleeve and said, "As long as we're together, what do we need those material possessions for?"

Seeing that the nun had already spoken, Wu Daoming didn't say anything more and agreed.

"Good, that's great! Now can you tell me how to use the Tai Chi Yin Yun?" Huang Qiansui laughed heartily.

Wu Daoming forgot to look at the nun, who returned his gaze with approval.

Wu Daoming said, "The Taiji Yin Halo uses softness to overcome hardness. Back then, Liu Bowen wanted to use this dragon vein to restrain Zhu Yuanzhang, but he was never able to use it. Six hundred years have passed, and the power of the Taiji Yin Halo is even stronger than before."

Huang Qiansui nodded in satisfaction.

Wu Daoming continued, "Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang's mother was buried alive in the Taiji Yang Halo, so the fortunes improved very quickly, in less than ten years. To achieve rapid fortune, one must be buried alive, and male elders prosper faster than females."

Huang Qiansui was even more satisfied.

"Generally speaking, in Feng Shui, a dragon vein mainly benefits the third generation; if there are no grandchildren, then it benefits the second generation," Wu Daoming explained.

Huang Qianhui nodded and asked, "How exactly is a live burial performed? What are the necessary procedures?"

Wu Daoming replied, "First, the elderly person must take a bath with fragrant water and empty their bladder and bowels. Ideally, they should not eat or drink for three days. Next, all body hair should be shaved off, and any old skin should also be removed. Please remember, a naked burial is easier to complete quickly; wearing clothes is less effective, and a coffin should not be used. For the Yin phase of the burial, it should be done at midnight; for the Yang phase, it should be done at noon. Do not reverse the times.

At the beginning of midnight, place the elderly person upright, head to toe, into the burial pit, and then begin to collect the soil. If the elderly person moves around or changes position easily, they must be bound." "Tie it up to avoid any adverse effects. Fill the grave with soil at midnight and repair the mound. If there isn't enough soil for the mound, you can take some five-colored soil from the side to pile it up. After the burial, burn incense and offer sacrifices."

Huang Qiansui asked anxiously, "How long will it take for this burial method to bring prosperity?"

Wu Daoming replied, "It takes five days for the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) to complete their integration with the biomagnetic field. After that, it will slowly affect future generations. It will take seven or eight years at the fastest, and ten years at the slowest, and the Central Plains will surely change hands."

Old Master Huang lay in a side room in the corner of the courtyard. Huang Jianguo sat by the bed, and the two chatted, with the old man laughing occasionally.

Huang Qiansui came to the door of the side room and waved to Huang Jianguo through the window.

Huang Jianguo tucked the quilt under his grandfather, then went out of the side room and followed his father to the living room.

"Child, something has happened." Huang Qiansui said worriedly.

"Dad, what happened?" Huang Jianguo asked.

“Shen Caihua’s new grave in Zhu Biao’s house was dug up last night, and her body is gone,” Huang Qianhui said.

Huang Jianguo asked in surprise, “No way, I sent two people to guard that place yesterday.”

“Both of them are dead, their necks look like they were bitten off, they died a gruesome death,” Huang Qianhui said, shuddering.

“Any clues?” Huang Jianguo asked calmly.

“No, your uncle suspects that Shen Caihua’s corpse rose from the dead and did it,” Huang Qianhui forced a smile.

“Nonsense, what makes you suspicious, Dad?” Huang Jianguo asked.

Huang Qianhui said gravely, “Someone must be behind this, but Zhu Biao, Wu Daoming, and the nameless nun are all here with us, who else could it be? Maybe it’s a warning, or a signal, could someone else also be plotting against the Taiji Yinyun?”

"Could it be that Wu Chushan? He knows about the Taiji Yinyun, and his background is highly suspicious," Huang Jianguo speculated.

"We can't rule him out. If he weren't Han Sheng's future father-in-law, I would have sent him for questioning long ago. I've already sent your uncle with men to keep an eye on the Taiji Yinyun. I need to discuss something with you." Huang Qiansui's expression seemed reluctant to speak.

"Dad, just tell me," Huang Jianguo sensed that what was about to happen was serious.

Huang Qianhui said, "Jianguo, after these two years in Beijing, tell me your thoughts on the current situation based on your own feelings."

Huang Jianguo was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, "The struggles at the top are fierce, even life-or-death. The national economy is also in terrible shape, and ordinary people are having a hard time."

Huang Qianhui said seriously, "If you were the national leader, and you had the final say, could you manage the country well?"

Huang Jianguo looked at his father with a questioning gaze and said, "Of course, I would abandon those theories of class struggle and unite the whole country in construction. As long as the economy improves, the people will live and work in peace and contentment, and the socialist country of the proletariat will be stable."

Huang Qianhui's eyes lit up, and he looked at his son with approval, saying, "Well said. For the sake of the Chinese proletarian revolutionary masses, are you willing to sacrifice your own family ties?"

Huang Jianguo said loudly, "As long as it's for the proletarian revolutionary masses, I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life, let alone family ties!"

"What if you sacrifice your grandfather?" Huang Qianhui asked seriously.

“Even if it means sacrificing my father, I’m willing!” Huang Jianguo straightened his neck, his resolute face tensed, and his gaze turned icy cold.

Huang Qiansui felt a chill rise from his feet in an instant.

Chapter Seventy-Seven:

Huang Gouya in Xiangxi was a market town deep in the mountains. On market days, it was bustling with people.

In the center of the market, on the gravel road, stood a blacksmith shop facing west. A bright plum blossom was painted on the signboard at the entrance. A shop assistant stood at the door greeting customers, and the clanging of hammering metal came from the courtyard behind the shop.

The shop assistant saw an old man, travel-worn and dressed in a black homespun jacket, walking with a brisk pace, carrying an infant in his arms. This man was Liu Jinmo.

Liu Jinmo stopped in front of the blacksmith's shop. His gaze fell on the plum blossom on the signboard, and his sharp eyes swept over the shop assistant. He said, "I want to see your boss."

The shop assistant looked at Liu Jinmo suspiciously and said, "Fellow villager, what do you want? Just tell me."

Liu Jinmo chuckled, his voice extremely grating, making the shop assistant's ears very uncomfortable: "Take me to your boss."

Inside the shop, a dark-skinned man in his sixties, who had been drinking tea at a table, stood up and said, "Sir, I am the owner here. What can I do for you?"

Liu Jinmo stepped into the shop, and with a flick of his finger, a white light flashed, and a fingernail was nailed to the table… The old man first looked at Liu Jinmo suspiciously, then gently pulled the fingernail from the table. Upon closer inspection, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Sir, please come to the back room to discuss this."

Liu Jinmo, without even raising his eyelids, followed the owner to the back room.

The old man personally served a cup of hot tea and respectfully asked, "The Shadowless Armor, a technique long lost in the martial arts world, is it related to Mei Yiying, the top martial artist of the Qing Dynasty?"

Liu Jinmo nodded and said, "Mei Yiying is my master."

The old man was even more surprised and hurriedly said, "So it's the esteemed disciple of my benefactor, the Tie family! May I ask your name?"

Liu Jinmo said, "I'm preoccupied with my case, no need to explain."

The old man said, "Very well, very well. You can just call me Manager Tie. Now that you've come to Xiangxi, please feel free to speak your mind."

Liu Jinmo nodded . Nodding, he said, "My master once said that any blacksmith shop in western Hunan and eastern Sichuan with a plum blossom hanging on its sign could be trusted to ask for help."

The shopkeeper replied, "That's right. Back then, Master Mei was kind to our Tie family, so my grandfather used a plum blossom as a mark. Any descendant of Master Mei who needs help can come by recognizing this mark, and the thirteen shops of the Tie family in western Hunan and eastern Sichuan will certainly provide full assistance."

Liu Jinmo said, "I need to wait for someone here at Huang Gou Ya. They're expected to arrive in a day or two. Please prepare a place for me to stay, mainly because there are children with us, and it's inconvenient for them to sleep outdoors."

"That's easy. You can stay on the second floor of that blue brick house at the town entrance. From the window of that room, you can see everyone passing by. Is the person you're waiting for an enemy?" the shopkeeper asked cautiously.

"No, a benefactor," Liu Jinmo said calmly.

Shopkeeper Tie breathed a sigh of relief; this meant there wouldn't be a bloodbath. His grandfather had told him that Mei Ziying was incredibly skilled in martial arts, killing without hesitation, especially with her unique hidden weapon, the Shadowless Armor, which was silent and deadly.

Liu Jinmo continued, "I have very few Shadowless Armors left. Could you forge a hundred for me from fine steel? Just so you know, I was in a hurry and didn't bring any money."

"No problem," Shopkeeper Tie quickly replied, "this is a chance for the Tie family to repay our kindness. I'll prepare some more money for you; it's not easy traveling with a child."

Liu Jinmo didn't refuse; emergency rescues were common in the martial world.

That night, under a bright autumn moon, Liu Jinmo slipped out of their lodgings carrying the baby. Everyone in town was asleep; only two dim streetlights shone in the center of the street, and there wasn't a single pedestrian.

The baby, Shen Caihua, had been very picky about food throughout the journey, refusing both cow's milk and goat's milk. Liu Jinmo had never cared for a child before and was completely at a loss. Later, overwhelmed by maternal love, he exposed his chest and placed his tiny nipple, no bigger than a grain of rice, into the baby's mouth. Unexpectedly, Shen Caihua bit down, tearing off Liu Jinmo's left nipple... Blood gushed out, and the child eagerly drank the warm blood.

Liu Jinmo understood; this was a blood-drinking child. The rest was easier. He led Shen Caihua out at night to a farmer's chicken coop, letting the baby crawl inside while he stood guard at the door.

Strangely, once Shen Caihua entered the coop, not a single rooster or hen dared to crow; they all stood there trembling like leaves. Shen Caihua bit off the necks of each chicken, sucking their blood, killing over a dozen in one meal. Fortunately, he only ate one meal a day.

Tonight, they needed to find another farmer's house. Liu Jinmo touched the scar on his left breast, and with a few leaps, they arrived at the foot of the mountain, in front of a large house with high walls and a vermilion gate.

Liu Jinmo gently looked down at the child, Shen Caihua, whose dark pupils stared wide-eyed, his tongue constantly licking his lips.

Liu Jinmo leaped onto the wall, then swooped down into the farmhouse courtyard like a large black bird.

There were no lights in the courtyard, and everyone inside was fast asleep.

Looking closely by the moonlight, strangely, the courtyard was spotless, impeccably tidy, devoid of chicken coops or dog kennels—it was practically immaculate.

Liu Jinmo and Shen Caihua exchanged bewildered glances; it seemed they would have to find another place.

Just then, Shen Caihua suddenly sniffed the air warily, his dark pupils slowly dilating. He darted out of Liu Jinmo's arms, landed on the ground, and then crept stealthily towards the door of the main house.

Caught off guard, Liu Jinmo stared in confusion at the naked Shen Caihua crawling on the ground. What was he going to do?

The baby crawled to the threshold, pressed his ear to the ground to listen, and then tried to pry at a large bluestone slab with both hands. However, because he was too weak, the slab did not budge. He turned to Liu Jinmo for help.

Liu Jinmo stepped forward silently and gently lifted the slab with one hand, revealing a large vat buried underneath.

Under the moonlight, more than ten kinds of poisonous insects were visible in the jar: small green snakes, centipedes, toads, lizards, earthworms, scorpions, and large green caterpillars, and even a red-haired rat.

Shen Caihua was overjoyed and reached into the jar to grab them.

Liu Jinmo, not expecting the baby to try and catch poisonous insects, didn't stop him before Shen

Caihua had already grabbed the large red-haired rat by the scruff of its neck. The large red-haired rat bared its large teeth, ready to attack, but Shen Caihua bit down on its neck, his two rows of sharp teeth instantly severing the rat's carotid artery. Blood gushed out, which the baby sucked into its mouth.

Shen Caihua discarded the red-haired rat's carcass and then reached for a giant toad, biting it off its neck and sucking the red blood and white pus into his mouth. Next came the lizard. The brown lizard opened its mouth and flicked out its long red tongue, lunging at Shen Caihua. Unexpectedly, Shen Caihua bit off half of it, and then the baby's sharp teeth pierced the soft part under its jaw, rendering it motionless.

Shen Caihua continued scooping. He bit off the head of an earthworm, but the taste was off—earthy—so he tossed it aside. The centipede and scorpion were agile, but Shen Caihua's little hands were exceptionally quick and nimble. He easily caught them and bit off the centipede's head and the scorpion's tail, sucking them but finding not much juice.

The large green caterpillar was a favorite of Shen Caihua; the juice was sucked dry, leaving only two skins. Finally, only the small green snake remained in the tank.

It was a highly venomous bamboo viper, constantly swimming at the bottom, occasionally raising its head, extending and retracting its fleshy forked tongue, waiting for an opportunity to attack. Just

as Liu Jinmo was wondering how to help the baby, Shen Caihua had already flipped over and pounced into the vat, his hands tightly gripping the snake's vital spot. With lightning speed, he bit off the snake's head and began sucking the bamboo viper's cavity.

In ten minutes, the baby Shen Caihua had killed more than ten poisonous insects. Liu Jinmo watched, astonished yet delighted. Since this little guy was omnivorous, feeding him would be much easier.

The light in the room came on; someone had noticed the commotion outside and got up to investigate.

Liu Jinmo scooped up Shen Caihua and leaped over the high wall like a ghost.

The person who came out was shocked to find all the poisonous insects he was raising lying stiffly on the ground. The moonlight slanted across his face—it was Tie Zhanggui.

Liu Jinmo returned to his residence and gently placed Shen Caihua on the bed; the child was already asleep. Gazing at the baby's adorable face, Liu Jinmo couldn't resist kissing it a few times; the child's breath had an indescribable taste.

This place was Huang Gou Ya; further into the heart of western Hunan, the population would sparse, and unbelievable things would happen more often. If Han Sheng encountered danger, it would certainly be there.

Chapter Seventy-Eight

The next morning, Liu Jinmo had just opened his eyes when he heard a soft knock on the door.

Manager Tie bowed and walked in: "Great hero, oh, sir, I've come to invite you to breakfast."

Liu Jinmo politely replied, "Isn't that too much trouble?"

"No trouble at all, it's all prepared," Manager Tie said, pulling a bulging envelope from his pocket. "This is five thousand yuan for you. Please accept it; it's a small token of our Tie family's goodwill."

In those days, five thousand yuan was a considerable sum. Liu Jinmo, being a man of the martial arts world, didn't refuse; he simply nodded, took the envelope, and put it directly into his pocket.

"Please." Shopkeeper Tie patiently waited outside the door until Liu Jinmo came out carrying the child.

Breakfast was quite elaborate, consisting of porridge and various snacks and wild mountain vegetables.

"Does the baby want milk?" Shopkeeper Tie asked cautiously. Although he found it strange that an old man was out with a baby only a few months old, he dared not ask further; it was best to know little about matters of the martial world.

Liu Jinmo replied calmly, "He doesn't drink milk."

"Sir, our shop has been working overnight to process several Shadowless Armor pieces. Please take a look and see if they are suitable. If you are satisfied, they can be completed today," Shopkeeper Tie said.

Shopkeeper Tie took out several nails forged from fine steel from his pocket and placed them on the table. Liu Jinmo picked one up, examined its hardness after quenching, and then slipped it onto his own nail. He found it moved freely and was the same color as his own nail; to an outsider without careful observation, it would be absolutely indistinguishable.

"Not bad, process it like this," Liu Jinmo said with satisfaction.

"Sir, I have a small favor to ask of you. It's nothing more than a small matter for you," the shopkeeper stammered.

"Speak," Liu Jinmo frowned; he disliked people attaching conditions to their favors.

The shopkeeper smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Ten miles west of here, there's a Miao village. The village's shaman, Ma Du, has always been at odds with my Tie family. He keeps a blood louse that feeds on infants; it's a pest. I'd like to ask you, sir, to get rid of it and rid the people of this menace."

Liu Jinmo smiled faintly and said, "If it's a pest, why doesn't the government care? Why do the people have to step in?"

"The government has been there, but they can't find the blood louse. How can we common people possibly stand a chance against it?" the shopkeeper said.

"A blood louse? What exactly is it?" Liu Jinmo asked, puzzled.

"It's a very powerful Gu worm, about the size of a cat, with a huge belly filled with blood. It has a sharp sucker in its mouth and can drink a small bowl of a baby's blood at a time. It comes out at night and can fly, making it very difficult to catch. I think your Shadowless Armor will definitely be able to kill it," said Manager Tie.

"Tonight," Liu Jinmo said.

"You agree to help?" Manager Tie said happily.

Liu Jinmo nodded, thinking that Shen Caihua's dinner tonight was settled. As the moon rose over the eastern mountains, Liu Jinmo, carrying the baby, rode off on horseback. Shen Caihua's two little eyes were fixed on the large red-maned horse, his mouth watering.

Manager Tie and the shopkeeper each rode a blue horse, traveling westward under the moonlight.

Manager Tie, on his horse, thought about how he had been fighting the Miao village shaman Ma Du for many years. If Ma Du hadn't relied on his blood lice, why would he fear him? Last night, all the Gu worms I raised died a violent death. It must have been that blood louse again. Otherwise, how could they all be drained of their bodily fluids and wiped out at once? I must avenge this; I must kill that blood louse.

"What exactly is a blood louse?" Liu Jinmo asked.

The shopkeeper, regaining his senses, said, "A blood louse is also a type of Gu worm. They are usually no bigger than a fingernail, with a flat abdomen and a thorn in their mouth. They suck the blood of people, cats, and dogs, and their abdomens swell up after they've had their fill."

Liu Jinmo chuckled and said, "Isn't it just a louse that lives on people? I have one right now. Here it is." Liu Jinmo casually reached into his underwear, rummaged around for a bit, and pulled out a small, grayish-white parasite, about the size of a grain of rice. He waved it in the moonlight, then popped it into his mouth and bit it to death with a "crunch."

Shopkeeper Tie clicked his tongue in amazement, flattering, "The ancients' refined guests killed lice with a resounding thud, truly the mark of a chivalrous hero!"

Liu Jinmo asked, "You said that blood louse was the size of a kitten?"

"Exactly," Shopkeeper Tie replied vividly, "I saw it with my own eyes. It had a rhomboid head, a red glow on its body, a white thorn protruding from its mouth, antennae on both sides, and six legs. It swooped down from the sky with a whistling sound, quite terrifying."

"So, it's a louse gu," Liu Jinmo said, having heard of a rare type of gu in Miao territory called louse gu.

Shopkeeper Tie quickly added, "It is a louse gu, but this blood louse in Madu is exceptionally large. I think it couldn't have grown to this size without at least ten years of cultivation, and it has definitely mutated."

Liu Jinmo thought to himself that Shen Caihua seemed unable to handle this blood flea, and he had to lend a hand.

A tall mountain appeared not far ahead, its shape menacing in the moonlight.

"That's it," said Manager Tie, pointing ahead. "There's a Miao village in the mountains, a square in front of it, and a huge banyan tree. Blood lice usually live on the top of the tree."

Liu Jinmo spurred his horse forward, the clatter of hooves particularly crisp in the night.

The tall banyan tree was already in sight.

Manager Tie reined in his horse and said, "Sir, it's inconvenient for me to show myself. I hope you understand."

Liu Jinmo said, "Alright, you two wait here." With that, he spurred his horse and rode straight towards the towering tree.

Before long, they arrived at the square. Looking up, the tops of the banyan trees were pitch black, impenetrable to all light. The Miao people in the village were already asleep, and the surroundings were desolate.

Liu Jinmo dismounted, walked to the center of the square, gently set Shen Caihua down, and then led his horse into the shadows of the trees.

In the moonlight, Shen Caihua, naked and chubby, stared with his dark eyes, sniffing the air. He knew it was dinnertime.

As the moon moved westward, Liu Jinmo, hiding in the shadows, flexed his fingers, his eyes fixed on Shen Caihua in the moonlight, concentrating his energy, ready to strike at any moment.

Shen Caihua slowly stood up. Hearing the sound of water splashing, Liu Jinmo looked closely and saw that the baby was urinating. His heart warmed, filled with love, and he longed to rush out and hold him. Just

then, he heard a slight rustling sound in his ears. He could pinpoint the source of the sound—it was coming from the treetops.

Under the moonlight, a pink object spiraled down from the treetop, making a hissing sound. The object shrank in circles, its center being Shen Caihua… What a shrewd man, Liu Jinmo! With a flick of his wrist, five white beams shot out like lightning. In the moonlight, the blood louse sensed the approaching wind and hurriedly stretched out its legs to block. Liu Jinmo's Shadowless Armor was incredibly powerful, ranking among the best in the martial arts world. With five muffled "thuds," the steel armor severed the blood louse's five legs, sending it plummeting like a broken kite, landing with a "thud" at the baby's feet.

Shen Caihua was overjoyed and pounced like a hungry tiger, biting into the blood louse's soft abdomen. His sharp teeth pierced the louse's skin, and blood filled his mouth.

As the plump body of the blood louse gradually shrank, Shen Caihua's little belly swelled up, a scene under the moonlight that sent chills down one's spine.

Liu Jinmo leaned against the tree trunk, slowly admiring the sight; a mother's heart was filled with joy as her child ate.

The blood louse was finally drained, leaving only an empty sac. Shen Caihua's belly was now swollen and round. He tried to get up but failed, and sat down again with a thud.

Liu Jinmo walked over with a smile, touching his little belly, which felt like it was about to burst.

"Who are you, daring to harm my blood louse?" A tall, thin man stood in the moonlight, hands behind his back, speaking coldly.

Liu Jinmo was startled. Her mind had been filled with tenderness, and she hadn't noticed anyone approaching. Cold sweat instantly beaded on her forehead as she looked up.

The man wore a gray robe, his head wrapped in a turban, his face sallow, with a hooked nose and piercing, deep-set eyes.

Liu Jinmo, a seasoned veteran, smiled faintly and said, "Sir, you are mistaken. A newborn baby, barely a month old, was attacked by a monster and nearly died. It's only right that I intervene to save the child."

The man was speechless for a moment, not expecting Liu Jinmo's response.

"Who are you, and why have you come to my Miao village so late at night?" the man asked after a moment.

"I was traveling late at night and mistakenly entered this place. I intended to rest before continuing my journey, but this unexpected turn of events is truly unforeseen," Liu Jinmo's tone softened.

The man sneered, "An accident? A vampire baby visits in the dead of night, then calmly sucks dry a blood louse, and you call that an accident? I think this child is a ghost baby, isn't it?"

Chapter 79

Liu Jinmo was taken aback and slowly said, "You are..."

The man sneered, "Ma Du, a Miao sorcerer who walks the underworld."

In the Miao region of western Hunan, sorcerers have always held a very high status, divided into those who walk the underworld and those who don't. Sorcerers who walk the underworld not only perform rituals to ghosts but are also skilled in healing diseases of humans and animals, and are the most learned people in the Miao villages.

"So you are sorcerer Ma Du, it's an honor to meet you." Liu Jinmo had already guessed that this person was Ma Du, and pretended to be polite.

Ma Du said, "Since you've entered the Miao village, you are a guest from afar. Tomorrow is the Jiazi day, the day to slaughter the drum society pig, which is the ancestral worship ceremony of our Miao village drum society. How about inviting me to your humble abode tonight?"

Liu Jinmo knew that poison and curses were everywhere in the Miao villages, making it difficult to guard against. It was best to avoid such places.

Thinking of this, he said, "The child is still young, and we have to travel, so we won't have the chance to witness your village's grand ceremony. If there's an opportunity in the future, I will definitely come to visit."

Ma Du smiled faintly, "Traveling at night is not advisable, and besides, I want to have a long talk with you by candlelight."

"Talk about what?" Liu Jinmo asked, puzzled.

"Talk about the ghost infant," Ma Du said meaningfully.

Liu Jinmo glanced at Shen Caihua; the little guy had drunk too much and tried to stand up, but still couldn't.

"What's there to talk about with my child?" Liu Jinmo said coldly.

Ma Du also laughed, chuckling, "The ghost infant drank the blood of a highly poisonous blood louse. It can only last for three days at most. After three days, it will die from intestinal perforation."

Liu Jinmo was shocked upon hearing this. He knew that the shamans who traveled through Miao territory were skilled in medicine. If what he said was true, wouldn't Shen Caihua be in extreme danger?

Seeing Liu Jinmo's hesitation, Ma Du added, "Only I know the poison of the blood louse, and only I can cure it. Farewell." With that, he turned and headed towards the village.

"Wait! Fine, I'll believe you then. But if you lie to me, hmph, I'll wipe out your entire Miao village!" Liu Jinmo's voice was metallic and piercing.

Ma Du's eardrums throbbed as if pricked by needles, and he was utterly astonished. This man's skill was unheard of, unlike anything he had ever witnessed before.

"Sir, please." Ma Du became much more polite.

Liu Jinmo walked to Shen Caihua's side, bent down and gently picked him up. He seemed much heavier than before. Then, leading the large red horse, he followed Ma Du into the Miao village.

On the mountain path, Manager Tie had been waiting for news from Liu Jinmo. The moon was setting in the west, and two hours had passed.

"Let's go, let's go scout it out," Manager Tie said, spurring his horse forward. The two headed straight for the Miao village.

The empty square was deserted.

"Look, what's that?" The young shopkeeper, with sharp eyes, spotted a blood flea skin on the ground. He jumped off his horse, picked it up, and handed it to Manager Tie.

The shopkeeper took the blood flea skin in his hand, examined it closely, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Madu, Madu, you've finally met your match. Your blood fleas have been wiped out by the Tie family. From now on, Huang Gou Ya belongs to the Tie family."

"What about them?" the shop assistant asked, looking around.

"Never mind, their lives or deaths are no longer important to me. Let's go." The shopkeeper, holding the blood flea skin, spurred his horses and galloped towards Huang Gou Ya.

The shop assistant sighed and followed closely behind; the two horses quickly disappeared into the night.

The stilted house of the sorcerer Madu was exceptionally clean, without a speck of dust. Liu Jinmo knew this was a characteristic of those who raised Gu poison, as Gu worms were particularly fond of cleanliness, and small insects like spiders and mosquitoes would have long since fled in fear. The homeowner also had to clean daily so that the Gu worms would be willing to stay.

"Would you like to drink and admire the moon with Madu, sir?" Madu asked after they were seated.

Liu Jinmo replied indifferently, "I have no interest in drinking." Gu poison was easily added to wine and took effect quickly, so Liu Jinmo naturally had to be cautious.

Madu chuckled and said, "Sir, you have come from afar; how could I not offer you a welcoming drink? Are you perhaps afraid that I will use Gu poison?"

Liu Jinmo remained silent.

"Sir, you are overthinking it. Sorcerers never use Gu poison in their own homes; please drink with peace of mind." Madu offered Liu Jinmo a bowl of homemade Miao corn liquor.

Since that was the case, Liu Jinmo could not refuse and accepted the bowl, drinking it all in one gulp.

"Good wine," Liu Jinmo said. The wine was strong and spicy, burning like fire upon entering the stomach.

Ma Du laughed, "The liquor of the Miao people in western Hunan can dissolve things, can burn, and even freezes three feet deep without freezing. It remains fragrant even after ten years in the cellar. The Chenzhou Prefecture Annals once had a Miao quatrain that goes like this: 'Willows line the river city in green, at dusk the fisherman returns with wine, drunk and asleep in the evening pavilion, undisturbed, white-haired, with a straw raincoat as his pillow.'"

Liu Jinmo thought to himself, "The spirit medium is indeed a learned man.

" "Ma Du, my child..." Liu Jinmo asked anxiously, concerned about Shen Caihua's health.

Ma Du said, "No rush, sir, are you still unwilling to reveal your name?"

Liu Jinmo snorted and said, "I am burdened with a crime, there is no point in saying more."

Ma Du smiled dismissively, "It's fine if you don't say. Even if you have committed a great crime, once you come to Miao territory, you are a guest, and the Miao people will never betray their guests."

Liu Jinmo silently drank another bowl, put the bowl on the table, and said, "I am Liu Jinmo, from Qingtian in eastern Zhejiang. I came from Jiangxi and am heading to Tianmen Mountain in Wuling. I passed through this place and accidentally injured a blood flea. If what the shaman said is true, please save my child. Otherwise, I will take my leave." "

Tianmen Mountain? Why are you also going to Tianmen Mountain?" Ma Du muttered to himself.

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinmo became alert and asked, "Does the wizard mean that others are going to Tianmen Mountain?"

Ma Du nodded and said, "In the past two years, several groups of people have passed through this area on their way to Tianmen Mountain, but none have returned alive."

"What are they going there for?" Liu Jinmo sensed something amiss.

"Ye Fu," Ma Du said, looking at Liu Jinmo.

"Ye Fu? What's that?" Liu Jinmo asked, puzzled.

Ma Du looked at Liu Jinmo suspiciously, seemingly not believing his words.

Liu Jinmo said seriously, "I, Liu, am not an ordinary person in the martial world. Would I lie to you?"

Ma Du glanced at the sleeping baby Shen Caihua beside him and nodded, saying, "Back then, after the Qing army entered the pass, Li Zicheng had a general named Li Guo, who became a monk and took the Dharma name 'Ye Fu.' "

Ma Du paused for a moment, then continued, "After the uprising failed, Li Zicheng and Ye Fu went into seclusion together at Jiashan Temple in Shimen, Hunan. After Li Zicheng's death, Ye Fu led 1... " More than 100 people, having hired nine large wooden boats, secretly infiltrated Dayong in western Hunan Province upstream along the Li River and quietly ascended Tianmen Mountain. After reaching the mountain, Ye Fu became a monk at Tianmen Mountain Temple. However, he remained vigilant, preparing to seize an opportunity to rise up and recover the Central Plains. During his time as a monk at Tianmen Mountain Temple, the Qing government repeatedly dispatched skilled assassins to capture him.

Shortly after arriving on the mountain, Ye Fu secretly explored Guigu Cave at night, where he discovered inscriptions on the cave walls that belonged to the pre-Qin philosopher Guiguzi, who had lived in seclusion there more than two thousand years ago. Through studying the Jiazi seal script, he mastered a set of internal martial arts techniques, which allowed him to repeatedly defeat the martial arts masters sent by the imperial court to hunt him down. As time passed, Ye Fu realized the situation was deteriorating rapidly and eventually fell ill with worry, never to recover.

When Li Zicheng retreated from Beijing, he looted the national treasury, intending to make a comeback. Ye Fu followed Li Zicheng until his death, only then seeking refuge at Tianmen Mountain Temple. He used nine large ships to transfer his belongings, leading to speculation that the looted gold and silver treasures he secretly transported to Tianmen Mountain were the vast sums available. Seeing his plan to rise again thwarted, Ye Fu, before his death, scattered and buried these treasures in several hidden locations on Tianmen Mountain.

It is said that for hundreds of years, countless people have come to Tianmen Mountain to search for the treasure, but most have never been found. "

Oh, I see. What is Han Sheng doing traveling all this way to Tianmen Mountain? Is he also here to search for treasure?"

Liu Jinmo nodded, lost in thought.

“Mr. Liu is taking an infant to Tianmen Mountain; surely not to search for treasure,” Ma Du said.

Liu Jinmo nodded, saying, “A friend of mine is going to Tianmen Mountain, and I’m here to protect him.”

Ma Du sighed, “People of the martial world truly value loyalty. Even burdened with guilt, you still protect your friend. I admire you. That person must be Mr. Liu’s confidante, right?”

Liu Jinmo shook his head, saying, “He’s a doctor, a renowned physician from the Central Plains.”

“A renowned physician? I have a deep understanding of medicine. Haha, if I could exchange medical skills with a renowned physician from the Central Plains, I would be incredibly fortunate. Could Mr. Liu introduce me?” Upon hearing that a renowned physician from the Central Plains was passing through, Ma Du couldn’t resist the urge to learn.

Liu Jinmo said, “He will definitely pass through here within a day or two.”

“Very well, I await your arrival, esteemed guest,” Ma Du said happily.

Chapter Eighty.

Under the hazy moonlight, in the stillness of the night, around 1 AM, a group of three walked along a desolate mountain path, their long shadows trailing behind them.

Leading the way was a young man dressed in a long blue cloth robe, a black belt around his waist, straw sandals, and a blue cloth hat. Behind him swayed two figures wearing wide black cloaks and tall felt hats, with several yellow paper strips inscribed with talismans pinned to their hats, obscuring their faces.

The young man carried a small yin gong and a soul-summoning bell.

"Ahead lies Huang Gou Ya; we're beginning to enter the heart of western Hunan," the young man said, pointing to the moonlit town ahead.

Han Sheng lifted the yellow paper strip hanging in front of his eyes, glanced at the small town ahead, and said, "Brother Can'er, shall we rest?"

"No," Can'er instructed, "corpses cannot pass through towns and villages. We'll take the small roads outside the town. If you encounter anyone, just keep your heads down and don't make a sound. After a few miles, find a secluded place to rest." He glanced at Yi Qing at the back, sighing. "If only Mingyue could turn back into Yi Qing."

Since leaving Can'er's house, following Can'er's advice, they had disguised themselves as corpse drivers, traveling by night and hiding by day to avoid unnecessary trouble. Han Sheng and Yi Qing, both disguised as corpses, followed behind the corpse driver Can'er westward. Han Sheng and Mingyue found it very amusing, but Yi Qing grumbled a little.

The disabled boy led the way, recognizing only the mountain paths he had taken before at night. The Xiangxi mountain area was crisscrossed with trails, and in the past, corpse-transporting was done by night and hiding during the day, so he didn't know the way during the day, as the scenery was completely different then and there. Actually, the disabled boy's main goal was to see the moon at night; during the day, Yi Qing's bitter face was truly unbearable.

Under the moonlight, a farmer's courtyard lay ahead. The disabled boy became alert; if a dog suddenly appeared, he would immediately use his "silent dog technique"—a kind of powder that dogs would avoid at all costs.

They passed by the courtyard's high wall when, just then, the clatter of hooves came from the path ahead.

"Be careful, someone's coming," the disabled boy whispered.

Under the moonlight, two fine horses galloped up the path, and the riders spotted the disabled boy and his companion from afar.

"Oh my god..." Can'er started banging his small gong, chanting a work song.

The two horses stopped, and the riders jumped off and moved aside to the side of the mountain path—this was customary, and everyone in western Hunan knew it.

Can'er led the way, banging his gong and shaking his soul-summoning bell, while Hansheng and Yiqing hurriedly followed with their heads down.

As the saying goes, the weather is unpredictable. Just as Yiqing was hurrying past, the blue stallion suddenly spread its legs and began to urinate on the spot. A thick stream of urine shot onto the ground, and the foul-smelling urine splashed onto Yiqing's trousers.

"Ugh, so filthy!" Yiqing exclaimed.

"Stop! You're alive!" the Iron Shopkeeper by the mountain path shouted sternly.

Before the Iron Shopkeeper finished speaking, he lunged forward and grabbed at Yiqing; it turned out he was also skilled in martial arts.

Before Yi Qing could react, the tall felt hat, along with the Chenzhou talisman affixed to it, was snatched off by the Iron Shopkeeper. In the moonlight, Yi Qing's ugly face startled the Iron Shopkeeper.

"Who are you? How dare you play tricks on me in Huang Gou Ya!" the Iron Shopkeeper demanded.

"We're dead," Yi Qing stammered.

"Bah! Confess the truth now, or don't blame me for being impolite," the Iron Shopkeeper roared.

Seeing this, Can'er rushed forward, but the blacksmith's apprentice drew a gleaming long cleaver with a "whoosh" and forced Can'er to submit.

Han Sheng removed his hat and, facing the innkeeper, said politely, "We disguised ourselves like this for convenience on our journey. We apologize if we have offended you in any way."

Seeing Han Sheng's refined manners and proper speech, the innkeeper softened his tone and asked, "Where are you from, and where are you going after passing through Huang Gou Ya?"

Han Sheng replied, "We come from Jiangxi and are heading to Tianmen Mountain in Wuling."

Upon hearing this, the innkeeper's heart stirred, his expression changed slightly, then he smiled and said, "Oh, so you've come from afar, fellow villagers. Since you've come to Huang Gou Ya, please rest here for a while and have some hot tea before you continue your journey."

The innkeeper pointed to a farmhouse and said, "This is my humble abode."

Han Sheng looked at the man wielding a long broadsword, knowing he couldn't escape even if he went, and decided to play it by ear.

"Alright, then we'll be in your way," Han Sheng said calmly.

Entering the high-walled courtyard, they sat down in the living room, and soon tea was indeed served.

Just as Yi Qing was about to pick up his teacup and drink, Han Sheng quickly stopped him with a wink. The room was exceptionally clean, with not a single cobweb on the ceiling. He remembered what his uncle Shanren had said: this was a characteristic of a family that raised Gu poison.

Shopkeeper Tie, noticing their wariness, chuckled dryly and said, "My surname is Tie, and I run a blacksmith shop in Huang Gou Ya. May I ask your names?"

Han Sheng could only reply, "So you're Shopkeeper Tie. My name is Han Sheng, this is Yi Qing, and that's Can'er."

Shopkeeper Tie nodded and said, "Han Sheng, Tianmen Mountain is far from here. What are you going there for?"

Yi Qing interjected, "We're going to find..."

Han Sheng coughed, interrupting Yi Qing, and said, "To visit relatives. We're going to visit relatives."

Shopkeeper Tie thought to himself, these people have come all the way from Jiangxi, disguised as corpse drivers to avoid suspicion. They must be heading for the treasure of Tianmen Mountain. Their secretive behavior suggests they might have come prepared and perhaps know the location of the treasure.

"Haha, at this rate, when will you reach Tianmen Mountain? How about this? I happen to have business to attend to at Tianmen Mountain as well. You can stay here tonight, and I'll prepare a few fast horses for us to travel together tomorrow. It'll be good to have company, what do you say?" Manager Tie generously suggested.

Seeing the current situation, Han Sheng, though unsure of Manager Tie's true intentions, had no good excuse to refuse, so he agreed, as it would save some time.

"Alright, but we can't afford the horses," Han Sheng said.

Manager Tie smiled amiably and said, "Leave it to me."

The three of them were settled into guest rooms.

Han Sheng paused at the door, then whispered a warning, "This family probably raises Gu poison. We need to be careful tonight. Although I don't know if Manager Tie's intentions are good, it's better to be vigilant." After turning off the lights

, the three lay down on the bed, but were still not sleepy.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted in from under the door. Han Sheng heard Yi Qing and Can'er make a gurgling sound in their throats, then simultaneously begin snoring and fall asleep.

At that moment, Han Sheng heard the door open, followed by the manager's voice: "They'll be unconscious for an hour or two. Be careful to search thoroughly; don't miss a single piece of paper."

"Understood, manager," came the shop assistant's voice.

Han Sheng understood; it must be some kind of sleeping potion. But strangely, he was perfectly lucid, as if the potion had no effect on him.

Han Sheng didn't know that the White Lotus in the ancient tomb in front of Linggu Cave was a holy antidote. A small amount had entered Han Sheng's nose, so his body already possessed some kind of antibody. Therefore, even the most potent plant and biological poisons in the world would likely be ineffective against him. Of course, the White Lotus couldn't counteract the chemically synthesized poisons or radioactive substances of today.

The manager was in charge of searching their belongings, while the shop assistant searched them.

When Han Sheng touched his body, he felt a ticklish sensation and barely managed to suppress a laugh.

"Manager, we haven't found anything suspicious," the clerk told Manager Tie.

Manager Tie found a small, emerald-green gem in Han Sheng's travel bag and was immediately excited.

"Look, an emerald! This could very well be something from Ye Fu's treasure. Otherwise, if they were just visiting relatives, they would only bring some national food stamps and money. Why would they carry such a valuable item? I haven't found any treasure maps or anything like that either. It seems the location of the treasure is all in their heads," Manager Tie said.

The clerk looked at the three of them and said doubtfully, "Such a secret wouldn't be known by all three of us."

"That's for sure. I think only this Han Sheng knows. He's young, but calm and collected, and speaks with great eloquence. If he's not from a noble family, he's certainly exceptionally talented. We should focus our attention on him, understand?" Manager Tie instructed.

"Yes, Manager," the clerk replied.

They put everything back exactly as it was, then left the room, closed the door, and their footsteps faded into the distance.

Han Sheng remained lying still. He finally understood: Manager Tie had mistakenly thought they were searching for a treasure hidden by a man named Ye Fu at Tianmen Mountain. After searching and finding no treasure map, he assumed he knew the treasure's location—it was utterly ridiculous.

Lan'er had secretly hidden the green stone she'd given her in her luggage, but Manager Tie had discovered it. Could that green stone used for lighting actually be an emerald? If it was really valuable, wow, wouldn't there be plenty near the Heavenly Silkworm Cave? I'll go back next time and cut off a bigger one, and also visit the chieftain's family.

Han Sheng knew that Manager Tie wouldn't harm them for now, so he fell asleep peacefully.

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