Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 146: General's Tomb
The Ghost Lantern is truly remarkable; it emits light and is indestructible. Cao Qilong and I sat together, flipping through the pages of this book, growing more delighted with each turn. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is about paper crafting, featuring images that illustrate various methods for creating Paper Figurines, along with their uses. There are even a few Paper Figurines specifically designed to counter water and fire, as both elements are significant threats to Paper Figurines. The middle section discusses the drawing and application of talismans, filled with dense symbols before us, including a detailed arrangement of the Four Spirit Formation used by Yin Cheng. The final part covers formations, detailing various materials and the arrangements and uses of different formations in great detail.
By chance, Cao Qilong and I have truly stumbled upon a treasure. With this item, our strength will undoubtedly increase significantly. The series of thrilling events we just experienced faded from our minds as we immersed ourselves in reading thanks to the Lantern.
It’s not ideal for two people to share one book, so Cao Qilong suggested tearing it in half. However, I felt that acquiring this book was purely fate, so I let Cao Qilong read first while I went to craft a few more Paper Figurines to carry with me, ensuring that we wouldn't be chased like earlier.
Yet, Cao Qilong tossed the book into my hands, claiming my paper crafting skills were too poor and that he would go ahead and craft instead while I finished reading. With no other choice, I slowly turned the pages.
I lost track of time completely, engrossed in the world within the book until Cao Qilong tugged at me, prompting me to ask, "How long has it been?"
He replied that he had crafted several hundred pieces already and could no longer continue, which was why he called me. I quickly apologized and offered for him to read while I crafted more, but he said, "It's been a while since we’ve been running for our lives; I'm starving."
I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until he mentioned it. Now that I stood up, my entire body ached; my back hurt terribly, and my stomach was growling incessantly. I hadn’t noticed during our escape, but after taking a break to read, I could barely stand straight.
At Yin Cheng's house, we only found some flour. However, we dared not eat it; the flour was as ancient as the city itself. Out of caution, neither Cao Qilong nor I wanted to risk consuming it—who knows if it had been contaminated by those ghosts or tainted with Corpse Poison or something else entirely?
We had no choice but to leave Yin Cheng's house. Cao Qilong took a bedsheet and fashioned it into a bundle, packing many useful items inside before slinging it over his back and pulling me down the mountain.
The mountain wasn't high but offered a good view of the entire city. In the center of the city were numerous Ghost Lanterns, illuminating the streets brightly. From here, it looked like a winding spider web; the Youdou County Office was situated at the edge of these webs, resembling the center point from which all streets radiated outwards before gradually narrowing.
This scene felt familiar; it seemed like something I had seen before. A thought crossed my mind as I searched my memory for any recognition of this setting.
Seeing that I hadn’t moved, Cao Qilong turned back to me and said, "Let’s hurry down the mountain and ask the Hunchbacked Old Man where we can find something to eat."
I waved my hand at Cao Qilong, telling him not to rush me. After thinking for a long time, I had Cao Qilong bring over the Lantern and then found that book, Qian Zhi Ling Pu. I flipped to the section on formations and found the simplest Nine Palace Diagram, then compared it with the entire city.
If the Youdou County Office is the center, then that would be the Central Palace. The farthest point to the east should be Xun Palace, with the entrance facing due east being Zhen Palace. The lower left corner is Northeast, which is Gen Palace, and directly beneath is due north, which is Kan Palace. However, the northwest Qian Palace, due west Dui Palace, southwest Kun Palace, and due south Li Palace are all blocked by a mountain behind the county magistrate's office. What was originally the simplest Nine Palace Diagram became difficult for me to discern because half of it was obstructed.
The entire mountain divided the southeast and northwest into a straight line, with half of the Central Palace hidden within the mountain. The upper part of the palace represents heaven, symbolizing yang, which corresponds to the yang eye in the Yin Yang diagram; below is earth representing yin, corresponding to the yin eye.
Everything suddenly connected in my mind as I slapped my thigh and said, "When they called us fools, I wasn't convinced, but now I understand! I get it!"
Cao Qilong looked at me with frustration and said, "Big brother? Have you lost it?"
Ignoring Cao Qilong, I continued speaking to myself: "I wondered why ghosts have lingered here for a thousand years and why those seven coffins didn't break Yin Cheng. It turns out it's like this! That damn mysterious Taoist really is dangerous; he killed so many people because he wanted to enter the mountain!"
Cao Qilong asked, "What exactly happened?"
I pointed out the entire formation of the Nine Palaces to Cao Qilong and said, "The ancient city must have been built under a master’s guidance. Look at how the three malevolent stars—Greedy Wolf, Breaking Army, and Giant Gate—and Right Benefactor Star are all hidden in the mountain. The four auspicious stars—Lu Cheng, Wenqu, Martial Star, and Left Assistant—are designed within the city. The only downside is that Youdou County Office can only occupy the yin eye; the designer used royal energy from Yamen to stabilize the Central Palace. Yin Cheng must know this; that's why he didn't destroy those seven coffins. Because that place is originally a yin eye, as long as the gathering of yin formation isn't broken, there can't be any Yang Qi in the entire city. Those bastards' ghosts can't possibly dissipate; only then can those seven coffins become Corpse Spirits. That evil paper craftsman must have calculated that Yin Cheng wouldn't destroy this place's Feng Shui because there's no way to descend into Hell here! Ghosts can only wander; if those seven coffins are broken and the gathering of yin formation is removed, ghosts cannot reincarnate—they will simply vanish into thin air. Only in this way can we ensure that ghosts have been wandering here for hundreds of years!"
Cao Qilong rolled his eyes and said, "Please speak in plain language."
I thought to myself: Your paper crafting is better than mine; you're still lacking in formations. I could only quickly inform Cao Qilong: "Do you know about the Nine Palaces?"
Cao Qilong nodded. I continued: "There must be something strange in this mountain; there should be an entrance at its edge. This is a large formation; Evil Paper Craftsman wants to enter the mountain but fears something. So he altered this yin eye—Youdou County Office—thus changing the formation inside because of its connection to the same formation in the mountain. By altering this yin eye, he weakened certain things inside while entering the mountain. The altered yin eye also provided a benefit: it allowed this ancient city to maintain its original appearance for thousands of years. And Yin Cheng's family lives on this mountain; they surely understand this formation well. They wouldn't want to disturb those seven coffins set upon the yin eye because you know ghosts can't live forever in this world; if they don't reincarnate after a year or so, they will vanish into thin air. But since reincarnation isn't possible here, Yin Cheng can only use Four Spirit Formation to trap those seven coffins and give all those outside ghosts a chance to survive for a thousand years!"
Cao Qilong thought for a long time before understanding my words and asked, "Why can't they reincarnate here?"
I replied, "Because this place is originally Underworld! Remember Wong Tai Sin's words? Sanzu River has long been designated for Underworld; we should be right around Sanzu River now!"
Things have completely exceeded my imagination. The problems here are much more complicated than I thought. This ancient city must have been built during the Yin Realm, and there must be something buried in the mountains that caused the Evil Paper Craftsman to continuously kill everyone in the city to break the balance of the Nine Palace Formation and weaken whatever is inside the mountain. It is known that the three fierce stars—Greedy Wolf, Breaking Army, and Giant Gate—were designed by the creator to be in the mountains, and the dangers are self-evident. Yin Cheng must know something, which is why he set up the Four Spirit Formation to maintain the balance here. Whether it is the Evil Paper Craftsman or Yin Cheng, they are both experts beyond our reach. Every small action they take surely has its reasons, while Cao Qilong and I are like blind people causing chaos everywhere; it is truly a stroke of luck that we haven't died yet.
Cao Qilong became engrossed again after reading and said angrily, "What's the use of thinking so much? If we don't go find something to eat soon, we will join that Hunchbacked Old Man's team."
I calmly replied, "I hope the Gathering Yin Formation under those seven coffins hasn't been disturbed by us." Then I leaned against my hand and limped after Cao Qilong.
The ghosts in the city now seem friendlier towards us. I asked a few ghosts and found Hunchbacked Old Man. Upon seeing him, I asked, "Excuse me, where can we find something to eat? Ideally something that grows in the ground; we don't need dry rations."
Hunchbacked Old Man led us to the eastern side of the city, where several acres of farmland were located. There was a river beside it, about four or five zhang wide, slowly flowing towards the mountains. I asked Hunchbacked Old Man, "What river is this?"
He replied, "This river is called Sanzu River; it has already dried up quite a bit. Further down is the mountain, and on the other side of the mountain is Wangchuan River!"
I asked Hunchbacked Old Man again, "You are a storyteller and know many things. May I ask if there is anything strange in this mountain?"
Hunchbacked Old Man said, "There is nothing strange in the mountain; only a General's Tomb. As for whose General's Tomb it is, I do not know. I only know that it belongs to a General from the Tang Dynasty during the Zhenguan Era. There used to be a cave you could enter, but no one who went in ever came out. It is said that there are ghosts in the mountain. Later on, a county magistrate blew up the entire cave, and it has not been accessible since."
I felt delighted; it was indeed as I had imagined. Just as I had speculated, due to changes in the Nine Palace Formation, there was an alteration here—a formation where all buildings and plants have been preserved for a thousand years without change. In the fields, many plants were still growing: rice, corn, potatoes, and a large number of crops.
Cao Qilong dug up some potatoes and sweet potatoes, casually gathered some firewood, started a fire, and threw both potatoes and sweet potatoes into it. Before long, an enticing aroma wafted through the air.
Without salt or sugar, but Cao Qilong and I enjoyed these thousand-year-old potatoes and sweet potatoes immensely. We devoured them ravenously; I nearly choked while swallowing them down. After finishing our meal, Cao Qilong and I planned to find a house to stay for the night because Yin Cheng had not broken the formation largely due to these ghosts, and Hunchbacked Old Man's stories seemed credible enough.
Cao Qilong was already snoring like a cow on his bed while I couldn't fall asleep no matter what. Part of it was due to my injuries; my entire back was bruised from being hit, and my internal organs throbbed painfully—I didn't even know which organ was injured.
The main reason was that I didn't know what to do next. Hunchbacked Old Man mentioned there was a General's Tomb in the mountain from the Zhenguan Era. It should be noted that during Zhenguan Era, chaos reigned throughout the country: first there was the Xuanwu Gate Incident, then there were major campaigns east and west, followed by Fang Yiai's rebellion case involving numerous characters. To set up such a Nine Palace Formation could not have been done by an ordinary person; it was very likely created by some prominent figures from Zhenguan Era like Yuan Tiangang or Li Chunfeng. But how could this General summon such big shots?
On the other side of the mountain is the Wangchuan River. The result is right in front of me, yet I cannot seek it out. There are still seven Corpse Spirits waiting in the Youdou County Office. A significant reason the Underworld has not managed this place is because of these seven gentlemen or the General's Tomb in the mountain. What should I do? What exactly is in the mountain? That bastard, the Paper Effigy Maker, surely did not go to the Wangchuan River but entered the General's Tomb. What could be in the General's Tomb that would make him risk divine punishment or descend into Hell to kill everyone in the city to search for?
All of this feels like a riddle I must face. Why is it so difficult for me to find Lin Xiaoqi? Wong Tai Sin also said the time is not right. What reason do I have that makes heaven drive me here? Do I really have to resolve these troubles before I can find the Ming Ship? Am I really like the Golden Cicada reincarnated?
My mind was filled with one question after another, and before I knew it, I fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept, but suddenly in my dream, I saw Grandfather and Master Ma. Grandfather and Master Ma were smiling at me. I hurriedly asked them what was going on here, but they did not answer; each recited a line of poetry and then vanished.
When I woke up, I found Cao Qilong still sleeping, hugging his blanket, no longer snoring, drooling all over the bed, and smacking his lips as if he had dreamt something. I remembered Grandfather and Master Ma's poem: "Before Wangchuan River, feelings linger; life and death on a thread, hard to meet."
These two dead old men have no sense of propriety at all! Since they died, they have been so pompous; damn it! Next year during the Ghost Festival, if I don’t burn anything for them, let’s see how they strut around!
Walking down the street, my mind was a mess; I felt nothing at all. Suddenly, I encountered a Hunchbacked Old Man. Seeing my troubled expression, he asked me what was wrong. I told him that I wanted to go to Wangchuan River, but things here were overwhelming.
The Hunchbacked Old Man then asked if I was thinking about the General's Tomb. I nodded.
The Hunchbacked Old Man revealed a strange smile: "If you want to fully understand this place, you must look for the county annals. The county annals record the history of a county; you can start from there!"
Of course! The county annals must contain everything about this place! Turning around, I realized what this old man was scheming. The county annals are stored in the Youdou County Office’s archives! If I go in there, won't that be asking for trouble? Aren't those Corpse Spirits and Ghost Infants just waiting for me?
As I felt the Yin Wind blowing, I sighed that this is what they call fate—a chasm you cannot cross! Even so, I still need to discuss with Cao Qilong before deciding whether to go to Youdou County Office; after all, others are just brothers in arms; I can't recklessly endanger his life.
Cao Qilong heard that I wanted to enter Youdou County Office to find the county annals and looked at me as if I were crazy: "Did you eat too many potatoes yesterday or do you think your life is too long?"
I said nothing and just sat quietly at the table staring at its surface. Maybe I really did eat too many! Cao Qilong slammed down yesterday's leftover cold potatoes: "Damn it! It's just Corpse Spirits! Let's go take a look!"
Comment 0 Comment Count