Master of the Ancient Tomb

[26] Chapter 26: The Tomb Owner

At dawn, when the light was faint, the riverbanks were covered with stretches of green rice seedlings, and the distant mountains and forests were shrouded in a thin mist. This brief moment before the scorching summer sun rose fully was beautiful like a dream not yet woken from.

Zhu Shian, standing at the bow of the boat, was completely awake. The distinctive scent of Soul-Chasing Incense drifting from afar made her realize something was wrong.

Zhu Shian called Zhu Changfeng over and asked him directly: "I'm getting off the boat now. Go ask if they can stop."

Zhu Changfeng was startled by her calm tone: "Big Miss, what's wrong?"

"I smell Soul-Chasing Incense. Something must have happened."

Soul-Chasing Incense was something unique to the Zhu Family. Zhu Shian didn't know which people her elders had given the incense to, but no matter who received it, lighting Soul-Chasing Incense never meant anything good.

Zhu Changfeng didn't know what Soul-Chasing Incense was, but he understood this was no small matter. He immediately said: "There's no dock here, the boat can't stop. A few miles up the water route there's a town with a dock."

"Alright, I'll get off there. You don't need to come with me. Take the boat to Shanghai and wait for me there. As soon as I finish this matter, I'll come find you."

"That won't work." Zhu Changfeng disagreed: "You're going somewhere unfamiliar. Do you think Fengniang will let you go alone?"

Only then did Zhu Shian think of Fengniang. She changed her words: "You come with me."

Zhu Changfeng nodded: "I'll go, but I'm bringing Er Gupo too."

"Alright."

Zhu Changfeng's Er Gupo was named Zhu Fuzhen. By generation, she was on the same level as Zhu Shian's grandfather Zhu Furu, but she had a high generation rank despite her young age—she was not yet fifty this year.

Er Gupo had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a strong constitution. When she was around twenty, the Zhu Family's Medical Hall was still open, and she often traveled with her elders buying and selling medicinal materials. She had experience traveling outside, which was why she was invited to join the trip to Shanghai.

Zhu Shian certainly couldn't let Fengniang follow her off the boat. To put Fengniang's mind at ease, she could only trouble Er Gupo to go with her.

Zhu Changfeng went to make arrangements. As expected, when Fengniang learned Er Gupo would be going with her, she only said a few words reminding Zhu Shian to be careful and didn't nag her further.

Zhu Shian had already packed her luggage, which she carried on her back. At the dock, she said goodbye to Fengniang and the others, then quickly left with Zhu Changfeng and Er Gupo.

Er Gupo didn't ask where Zhu Shian was going, but regardless, they still needed to eat. Er Gupo went to Renmin Restaurant and bought a bag of steamed buns, and the three of them ate while heading into the mountains.

At this time, Ding Mao had been fighting those three Demonic Taoists from midnight until dawn. His pocketful of Talismans was exhausted, and one of his Action Team colleagues who came with him was seriously injured while another was on the brink of death. If Ding Mao made any mistake now that those three Demonic Taoists could seize upon, the three of them would die immediately.

While Ding Mao was struggling to hold on, A Hua, whose legs were injured and couldn't walk, called out to him: "Ding Taoist, only half a stick of incense remains."

If the half stick of incense in A Hua's hand burned out, Yin Qi would seep into Ye Dan's heart pulse, and she would die immediately.

Ding Mao's hand holding the Peach Wood Sword trembled. He was tormented by the choice.

"Little Taoist, surrender. Given that you're surrendering voluntarily, this old Taoist will leave your body intact."

"A Mount Shang Taoist, a grass turtle woman who raises蛊, and a martial artist—you three are all excellent materials for refining corpses, hahaha, not bad, not bad."

A Hua glared at him: "Refining corpses? You're a Black Witch!"

The speaker stepped out from the shadows—a sloppily shaved Taoist head, and hands that were all black at a glance, clearly a Black Witch.

A Hua raged: "Black Witches are condemned by heaven, everyone should kill them!"

That Black Witch coldly snorted: "A grass鬼 woman who releases curses and casts hexes—you think you have the right to shout about killing and fighting against this Witch?"

"Bah, I'm a righteous wizard, not like Black Witches who kill and harm people!"

The sun had risen. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves. Compared to the dimness under the moonlight at night, Ding Mao could now clearly see the three opponents. The one who had spoken was the Black Witch; the other two wore Taoist robes and held Ghost Banners—clearly Demonic Taoists.

"Stop arguing with a little girl. Kill her quickly, don't delay our business." The old Taoist leader who was missing his right ear scolded.

The Black Witch immediately retreated behind the two, forming an inverted triangle formation. Murderous intent spread.

After briefly catching his breath, Ding Mao coldly laughed: "Kill me? I'm afraid you don't have that ability."

If they truly had the ability to kill him, he wouldn't have held on this long fighting three against one.

The one-eared old Taoist raised his Ghost Banner, his eyes showing killing intent: "Ding family boy, don't be smug. This old Taoist will let you taste his power now."

The windless grass and trees moved. The three opponents suddenly shifted, stepping on Gang Steps to quickly form a killing formation. Inside the killing formation, Yin Qi raged wildly. The Peach Wood Sword trembled as if it would fly out, but Ding Mao gripped it tightly.

Behind Ding Mao, because Yin Qi had suddenly increased, the Soul-Chasing Incense burned faster. A Hua didn't even dare breathe. Ye Dan, who was unconscious, was hanging by a thread.

Ding Mao knew clearly this must be the Demonic Taoists' ultimate killing move. If he survived this ordeal, he could live. But—

Ding Mao showed no fear on his face, but in his heart he was crying desperately: "Ancestors, ancestors, why does it have to be a formation—the one thing I'm worst at? The Talismans are gone too. I've used up almost all my strength fighting until now. How am I supposed to break through this killing formation?"

"Ding Taoist!"

The Soul-Chasing Incense burned faster and faster. A Hua panicked.

Ding Mao gritted his teeth, roughly guessed which direction was the life gate, raised his Peach Wood Sword and jumped to slash down. Suddenly, the killing formation deflated like a punctured balloon. The bone-piercing Yin Qi disappeared like wind sweeping through fields.

Ding Mao was stunned. Did his ancestors bless him for guessing correctly?

No, even if he guessed the life gate, Yin Qi couldn't just suddenly disappear. Did he not know his own abilities?

"Ding!"

The Soul-Suppressing Handbell rang beside his ear. The stunned Ding Mao suddenly jumped away: "Demonic Taoists, take this!"

Ding Mao turned sideways, and his Peach Wood Sword was snatched away. He茫然 looked for the sword and turned back, only to see all three Demonic Taoists lying on the ground, frothing at the mouth, kicking their legs and rolling their eyes.

Two Ghost Banners were stepped on by Zhu Shian. She had punctured the formation on the Ghost Banner with the Peach Wood Sword, then kicked the banners away. Before the evil spirits inside could escape, she threw a Five Thunders Talisman—evil spirits destroyed!

Zhu Shian glanced at Ding Mao: "Standing there stunned干什么? Has your brain been pickled by Yin Qi?"

"Wuwu~ Miss Zhu! Master Zhu! Thank you for saving my life!" Seeing Zhu Shian, Ding Mao's legs went soft and he collapsed to the ground.

A Hua panicked: "Ding Taoist don't collapse! Think about how to save Ye Dan! The incense is only one inch left!"

"Give me the Golden Needles!"

Zhu Shian reached out to Zhu Changfeng. Zhu Changfeng, who was holding the package far away, quickly took out the box containing the Golden Needles and ran to deliver them.

"You all step back." As Zhu Shian spoke, she pulled open Ye Dan's clothing. Ding Mao and Zhu Changfeng quickly turned away.

Er Gupo ran over to help and urgently asked: "Does it all need to come off?"

"No, I'll first give her a few needles to preserve her heart pulse."

The three inches of Soul-Chasing Incense remaining in A Hua's hand burned out. Her heart was trembling with panic. She only saw Zhu Shian insert a few needles, and the Yin Qi about to surge into the heart pulse receded. The bluish-black marks faded from the heart toward the limbs.

A Hua excitedly said: "It worked! These Golden Needles work!"

Ding Mao, with his back turned, said: "That definitely works. The Zhu family are Daoist Physicians—no one knows better than the Zhu family how to treat Yin Qi."

A Hua looked at Zhu Shian with shining eyes. This young lady who seemed even younger than her was amazing.

Zhu Shian monitored Ye Dan's condition. After another ten minutes, following the direction the Golden Needles were driving it, Yin Qi continued to recede. Ye Dan's blackened lips were showing a faint flush of blood.

"That's it for now. Once we leave this place, I'll give her another acupuncture treatment. She also needs to soak in medicinal baths to completely detoxify the Yin poison in her body."

"Yes, yes, we'll do as you say." A Hua agreed.

Zhu Shian looked at A Hua's legs and said: "Your legs need acupuncture and medicinal baths too."

"Okay, thank you for saving our lives."

"It was chance encounter. Consider yourselves lucky."

Zhu Shian removed the Golden Needles. Er Gupo quickly tied Ye Dan's clothing back on.

"Done?" Ding Mao asked.

"Done."

Ding Mao turned back and saw Zhu Shian collecting the Golden Needles. He cupped his hands with a smiling face and came forward: "How did Miss Zhu discover us?"

Zhu Shian pointed to the burned-out Soul-Chasing Incense: "It's my family's thing—wouldn't I know it?"

Ding Mao slapped his head: "Oh, that really was coincidence. If I hadn't been carrying your family's Soul-Chasing Incense, not only would Ye Dan be dead, but A Hua and I would have gone to see King Yama."

Zhu Shian handed the Golden Needle box to Zhu Changfeng. She tilted her chin toward the three people lying on the ground who had died from the backlash and asked Ding Mao: "What's going on?"

Ding Mao sighed: "Men die for wealth, birds die for food."

About two miles up the mountain path from there was an Ancient Tomb. The tombstone inscription stated that the tomb owner was a Xuan Sect person. The Ancient Tomb had mechanism formations and traps—anyone who entered would die. But the tomb owner was also an interesting person. Although they clearly stated there were mechanism formations, they also claimed there were countless gold, silver, jewels, and Magic Implements inside, available to the first to arrive.

"This Ancient Tomb was discovered over forty years ago. Since then, righteous Xuan Sect people have always sent someone to guard the area, to prevent unknowing people from accidentally entering and losing their lives. But, good words can't convince those destined to die. These three not only wanted to die themselves, but also arranged a formation outside the Ancient Tomb, trying to draw out the Yin Qi from the tomb to destroy the formation inside before breaking in to steal the treasure."

Ding Mao angrily said: "Just looking at that Ancient Tomb's layout, the tomb owner there was no third-rate character. If that Ancient Tomb is really opened, the Yin Qi and poisonous Qi that escape have no idea how many people they could kill."

Zhu Shian smiled and asked: "Since this place is so important, why are there only you three here?"

Ding Mao was also helpless: "There's no help for it. All the Action Team personnel originally managing the Ancient Tomb were transferred away. I, as someone from the Southwest Action Team, was temporarily assigned to guard the Ancient Tomb."

Ding Mao introduced to Zhu Shian: "The unconscious one is called Ye Dan. She has not Entered The Dao and is not a Xuan Sect person. She's a Central Action Team member, mainly responsible for clerical work."

A Hua introduced herself: "I'm called A Hua, a member of the Central Action Team. I'm a wizard."

Zhu Shian nodded: "Hello, I'm Zhu Shian, the head of the Zhu Family in Zhenshan County."

After understanding the situation, Zhu Shian asked Ding Mao what he planned to do.

Ding Mao said: "Trouble you to take us down the mountain first. Save Ye Dan's life first, then treat A Hua's legs. Then we'll wait for the Action Team to respond. Yesterday when we discovered someone breaking into the Ancient Tomb, we sent a pigeon message in advance. The people replacing us should arrive soon."

Zhu Shian agreed. She gave Ding Mao many Talismans for protection, and also gave him three sticks of Soul-Chasing Incense: "I have matters to attend to. As soon as we send you down the mountain, we must leave immediately."

Ding Mao quickly put the Talismans and Soul-Chasing Incense into his bag. After putting them in, he happily patted the bag: "What matter are you going to handle? Can I help?"

"Going to Shanghai. You can't help with that."

"Oh."

Since she said that, Ding Mao didn't ask further.

Er Gupo carried the unconscious Ye Dan on her back. Zhu Changfeng carried A Hua, who couldn't walk, down the mountain. Zhu Shian and Ding Mao walked behind. The two of them first went to check the Ancient Tomb before leaving.

The formation arranged by those three outside the Ancient Tomb had all been destroyed by Ding Mao using Five Thunders Talismans. When Zhu Shian went over, she saw the opened tomb door. When she saw the inscription on the stone tablet at the tomb entrance, she laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Ding Mao asked.

Zhu Shian pointed to the inscription: "Mountain Moving Daoist, you don't know?"

"I know, Mountain Moving Daoist—those are tomb robbers who take the crooked path, digging into people's graves. That title is outdated. People don't call themselves that anymore. They put gold on their own faces. Now they call themselves Gold Detector Captains."

Zhu Shian was stunned, then laughed again. Indeed, times change. A thousand years have passed. Mountain Moving Daoist is no longer one person's name—it has become a term for a group of people.

Mountain Moving Daoist was a person from Zhu Shian's era. She knew him. This person's other abilities might not be reliable, but his skills at crooked schemes were top-notch—a treacherous, greedy person.

Zhu Shian arranged a formation around the Ancient Tomb to hide the tomb. She said to Ding Mao: "Next time if you want to dismantle the Ancient Tomb, you must call me. The Taoist who took you to the Mountain Valley last time can't unravel this formation either."

Ding Mao exclaimed: "Is this formation that powerful?"

It had to be powerful. In the Mountain Moving Daoist's tomb, there must be many treasures. If they didn't set up a powerful formation, people would keep coming in endless streams—nothing but trouble.