Chapter 397: The Body of Fate (Combined Three Parts)

After causing a ruckus in the inn, the caravan suffered badly for hiring such unreliable guards.

The Wu Xiu was the leader of this guard team; when their leader was beaten, the rest naturally rushed forward…

And were all beaten too.

The caravan’s proprietor came out upon hearing the news, initially trying to “smooth things over”—he had some powerful backing.

But when he heard the words “Fu family,” he immediately settled their wages and dismissed the entire guard team.

Xu Yuan also wore a mask.

But it wasn’t made by Gao Wanli; it was made by his stepmother.

Xu Yuan would not use anything belonging to Gao Wanli.

This woman was utterly deranged—who knew what kind of poison or curse she might have slipped into her crafts to get revenge?

The inn staff naturally did not recognize Master Xu.

But the news that the Fu family had arrived in town spread quickly and effortlessly.

Beside Zhu Zhanlei were three Hejian officers, who, along with Xu Yuan, posed as Fu family’s vicious servants.

After beating the man, Xu Yuan grabbed the Wu Xiu by the neck and rifled twenty taels of silver from him.

He divided five taels among each of the three Hejian captains.

The three men nodded repeatedly, convinced that Master Xu’s actions were methodical, well-structured, and clearly demonstrated exceptional ability!

Then Zhu Zhanlei led them to the Quhui Office; Xu Yuan concealed his identity, and the office staff treated them with indifference.

They gathered some information about the mountains, but it was all common knowledge.

Gao Wanli grew impatient: “I told you from the start we didn’t need to come here—you’re wasting time!”

After leaving the office, Gao Wanli stared at Xu Yuan with suspicion: “You’re not unfamiliar with Ghost Witch Mountain—you could’ve led us straight in. Why come here?”

This is your jurisdiction…

Xu Yuan said: “And what if it is? I cannot reveal my identity.”

Of the three, only Gao Wanli appeared in her true face.

And Gao Wanli completely ignored her own position as Deputy Chief of the Quhui Office.

This office was also under her jurisdiction.

She knew well that the people inside would never obey any of her orders.

“As for your claim that I’m unfamiliar with Ghost Witch Mountain—precisely because I know it well, I dare not be careless! Conditions inside the mountain can change at any moment.”

Xu Yuan shook his head: “Explaining this to someone as foolish as you is a waste of breath.”

“You—” Gao Wanli fumed: “Are you plotting something else? You’re too treacherous, hiding malicious intent!”

Xu Yuan looked utterly exasperated: “If you have any suspicions about me, report them to Master Luo Gongqiao. This mission to Ghost Witch Mountain was only undertaken because Master Luo offered me a reward—I didn’t want to come.

You dare not speak out in front of Master Luo, but as soon as you’re out of his sight, you start causing trouble—you’re utterly unreasonable!”

The three Hejian captains who had just received five taels from Master Xu all nodded: This woman truly is unreasonable!

Gao Wanli’s verbal sparring was no match for Master Xu.

She calmed down instead: “Lead us into the mountains. I remember the way to Gao Family Village—follow me.”

“Fine.” Xu Yuan agreed at once.

Xu Yuan had come to the office precisely to secretly deliver messages to Bai Laoyan and Gao Guanzi.

And have them inform Jiao and Tian Jing.

Regarding the Dragon Transformation Method, Xu Yuan would not entrust it to anyone else.

Xu Yuan still led them into the mountains via the old path.

As they passed the same inn again, they saw two Fu family fourth-rankers, along with several other Fu members, checking in.

The two groups passed each other, exchanged silent glances, and both sides understood.

These two Fu family fourth-rankers were brothers: the elder was Fu Songyu, the younger Fu Bai Zhou.

They were disguised as merchants coming to collect mountain goods.

Since the office was established, the number of merchants in town had dropped sharply.

But a few villages, holding grudges against Bai Laoyan, occasionally sold mountain goods to other merchants.

The man exchanging glances with Xu Yuan was none other than Master Xu.

Fu Songyu felt a pang of discomfort.

That meant the small team acting as bait was being led by Xu Yuan.

The Fu family and Xu Yuan had a grudge.

Within the Fu family, a consensus had largely formed: the one stealing the Dragon Transformation Method was not Xu Yuan.

But Fu Shuanghui and Fu Chongjiu had both died at his hands.

Yet to catch the thief and avenge the Princess Consort, they had no choice but to cooperate with Xu Yuan!

Fu Songyu rented several rooms, settled in briefly, then immediately said: “Move now—follow those men.”

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan led the group out of town and immediately found a hidden spot to tell Zhu Zhanlei: “Use Hepinglu to contact Fu Songyu!”

Gao Wanli frowned, thinking it was too soon to make contact.

But she’d learned her lesson—she held her tongue, afraid of being mocked again by this treacherous bastard.

Zhu Zhanlei obeyed Master Xu without question and immediately pulled out the “Hepinglu.”

This artifact was stored in a copper box one foot square.

Its effect was similar to that of the Xingguozi.

Because the Hepinglu didn’t just allow communication—it often picked up strange whispers from unknown sources.

Hearing them could cause mild effects like fleshy tendrils or fangs growing in the ears; severe cases led to grotesque mutations or madness.

So when not in use, it had to be sealed.

The main component of the Hepinglu was a device resembling a well windlass.

Before each use, one had to turn the windlass three times clockwise, then three times counterclockwise.

Then bow and salute the device, and state the name of the person you wished to contact.

Fu Songyu was about to lead his men out when he suddenly felt a thudding vibration inside the copper box he carried.

He halted everyone: “Wait!”

They all retreated into the room; Fu Songyu retrieved the Hepinglu and heard Xu Yuan’s voice: “Elders, your aura is too strong—you don’t look like ordinary merchants. Anyone observant will see through you immediately.”

Xu Yuan gave them a detailed, precise analysis.

Merchants risk their lives in the mountains for profits of only a few hundred taels.

They are ruthless, not brimming with the aura of elite cultivators.

Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou reflected—perhaps it was true.

They were fourth-rankers, accustomed to being respected; their aura leaked out unconsciously.

But having this flaw pointed out by Xu Yuan made them resentful.

Yet he was acting for the public good, and his reasoning was sound.

The brothers exchanged glances; Fu Bai Zhou asked the others: “Is it really as Xu Yuan says?”

The subordinates thought: We noticed it long ago—we just dared not speak up.

So they remained silent.

The brothers understood.

Fu Songyu gritted his teeth: “Understood.”

Xu Yuan then kindly advised them on how to handle Meirenba and Mao’erzhong, then ended the communication.

The other Fu members couldn’t help but feel: This Xu Yuan isn’t so bad.

Setting aside their grudge for now, he was genuinely putting effort into this cooperation.

“Fine—tone it down,” Fu Songyu sighed.

Xu Yuan also stowed the Hepinglu, then passed through Meirenba and Mao’erzhong and entered Ghost Witch Mountain.

Not long after they left, Fu Songyu’s group followed them into the mountains.

Xu Yuan led them all the way to the place where he once chopped firewood, then gestured to Gao Wanli: “From here, it’s your turn.”

Gao Wanli stepped forward without hesitation and took the lead.

She had entered the mountain before with the Princess Consort; though the exit had been grueling, it had familiarized her with Ghost Witch Mountain.

Guided by memory, she led them through several loops in the mountains until they reached a familiar spot.

From there, they headed toward Gao Family Village.

But Gao Family Village was too far—if Master Xu were alone, he could reveal his Ruan Tianye’s permit, mount his Firewheel, and race there in half a day.

But this small team dared only move slowly; whenever they encountered a malevolent spirit, they had to tread carefully.

Naturally, progress was slow.

During this time, any low-level malevolent spirits were dealt with by Xu Yuan and his three “vicious servants.”

But anything above seventh-rank was handled by Zhu Zhanlei.

They played the part thoroughly.

For the first time, Xu Yuan saw the artifact Zhu Zhanlei had mentioned.

Until now, to conceal his true purpose, Xu Yuan had never asked Zhu Zhanlei a single question about the artifact.

The artifact was called “Long Ke.”

It was a piece of jiao flesh emitting a powerful stench.

Inside were mixed scales, broken horns, and white bones.

Zhu Zhanlei pressed this artifact against his chest, and it writhed, fusing into him.

Five pitch-black sinews appeared on Zhu Zhanlei’s chest, deeply embedded in his skin and connected inward to his five viscera.

From then on, Zhu Zhanlei constantly smelled that fishy stench through his nostrils.

And he would not become accustomed to it—“entering a room filled with orchids and no longer smelling their fragrance; entering a shop of salted fish and no longer smelling their stench.”

Instead, those beside him, even if they pressed their noses against him, could no longer smell the stench.

This left Zhu Zhanlei perpetually uneasy.

He always felt this artifact was unorthodox—surely it carried some terrible cost?

Although Xu Miao repeatedly assured him that this “Dragon Excrement” looked terrifying but would never truly harm him.

But Zhu Zhanlei utterly distrusted this woman.

Besides, just listen to the name—it’s called “Excrement.” How could it be anything good?!

After being enhanced by this artifact, Zhu Zhanlei gained several abilities.

First was “Dragon Body.”

His physical strength rivaled that of a Sixth-Rank Wu Xiu.

In the mountains, he encountered a blood-sucking tree; Zhu Zhanlei forcibly uprooted this monstrous thing, as thick as a water barrel!

The second was “Gale Surge.”

He could exhale a strange wind.

One blast stirred up dust and stones, blotting out sky and sun—and this wind eroded souls, capable of directly blowing the soul out of its body.

A ruthless technique against yin spirits and malevolent entities.

The third was “Fire Summoning.”

With a gesture, he could summon a green flame out of thin air.

Its power rivaled the internal fire of a Sixth-Rank Dan Xiu. Moreover, this fire could form a flaming ring hovering behind him, instilling fear in beasts and low-level malevolent entities, deterring them from approaching.

This artifact could be used to impersonate dragonfire.

The fourth was “Flying Stones.”

He could manipulate rocks, gathering them or dispersing them.

Gathered, he could lift a ten-zhang-high stone mound from nothing to crush opponents; dispersed, they became a sky-blanketing yellow sand—when combined with “Gale Surge,” their power multiplied.

This artifact was truly extraordinary!

Xu Yuan wasn’t sure if it was psychological, but he kept feeling the scent of the Dragon Excrement wasn’t fishy—it was sweet!

So he secretly drooled.

The craftsmanship level of the artisan who forged this artifact remains unknown, but the material was certainly high-quality!

It was meant to be devoured by my Skin Dragon!

The Dragon Excrement had directly elevated Zhu Zhanlei to Sixth-Rank status; though he couldn’t claim invincibility in the mountains, most malevolent entities were no match for him.

Every strike effortlessly crushed the malevolent entities.

These were the very things he had once fled from in terror.

Zhu Zhanlei, who had originally resisted this mission, now found himself growing fond of this feeling.

At dusk, Xu Yuan suggested: “We can’t go further today. The Ghost Witch Mountain at night is nothing like the day.”

Zhu Zhanlei nodded: “Fatty Gao, set up camp for this young master!”

Gao Wanli shot Zhu Zhanlei a sinister glance—this dog kept calling him “Fatty Gao,” “Scar Gao” all along the way.

When you argued, he switched to “Lili”!

You think I don’t know “Lili” is a courtesan from Luocheng!

If you make a scene, he’ll use it as an excuse to avoid being the bait.

Then I’ll be punished by Luo Gongqiao!

Today’s humiliation—I’ll remember it. I’ll repay you someday!

Gao Wanli’s chest ached with rage!

She deeply regretted: I shouldn’t have come to Zhan City!

Xu Yuan bullies me, his stepmother bullies me, his goose bullies me!

Now even this useless playboy dares to bully me!

Gao Wanli cursed inwardly as she unfolded two tents.

These tents were provided by Xu Miao—also Seventh-Rank artifacts.

When unfolded, they merged seamlessly with the surrounding boulders.

Externally, they looked identical.

And they were even harder than the rocks.

At night, if any malevolent entity accidentally collided with them, it would rebound like hitting stone.

This was a standard item Xu Miao used during missions in the Outer Wilds.

After setting up the tents, Zhu Zhanlei claimed one for himself without hesitation.

The others used the other.

Gao Wanli refused to share a tent with smelly men, yet she knew the Ghost Witch Mountain at night was too dangerous… Only after Xu Yuan and the other three servants entered did she reluctantly crawl inside.

But the moment she stepped in, Xu Yuan, repulsed, immediately crawled out and moved into Zhu Zhanlei’s tent!

Gao Wanli nearly exploded.

You’re doing this on purpose!

You crawl into Zhu Zhanlei’s tent—he won’t dare say a word! But you wait until I’m inside to do it!

Although Xu Yuan had left, Gao Wanli still felt uncomfortable inside the tent.

During the day, Zhu Zhanlei had slain several low-grade malevolent entities and obtained some mediocre materials; Xu Yuan had him distribute them among everyone.

The three Hejian Captains gained even more benefits.

Inside the tent, they spoke filthy words on purpose to make Gao Wanli uncomfortable.

After barely surviving the night, Gao Wanli, with dark circles under her eyes, led everyone onward the next day.

They walked until dusk, finally spotting the mountain of Gao Family Village.

“We’re here!” Gao Wanli pointed to the peak. “Gao Family Village is on that mountain. We storm up, capture Gao Guanzi—he must know where that villain is. Our mission will be complete.”

Zhu Zhanlei nodded, confidently: “Hold the base. Watch me go fetch that mountain runner!”

Everyone concealed their presence and arrived at the mountain’s foot.

Xu Yuan and the others secured the four cardinal directions; Zhu Zhanlei activated the Dragon Excrement and, with his Sixth-Rank Wu Xiu physique, raced up the peak at speed.

Gao Wanli gripped two artifacts in both hands, ready to strike if Gao Guanzi fled down.

But moments later, Zhu Zhanlei came rushing down even faster, furious: “Scarface Gao! What are you doing? There’s no one up there!”

Gao Wanli’s heart dropped: “No one?!”

She rushed up—and indeed, Gao Family Village was empty, not a single shadow to be seen.

Gao Wanli turned pale.

If not here, where else could Gao Family Village’s people be?

Gao Wanli knew—their absence meant they were still at Copper Coffin Cliff!

But could she go there? Of course not.

Copper Coffin Cliff was her lifelong nightmare.

She had always believed the malevolent entities atop Copper Coffin Cliff were too terrifying for Gao Family Village to remain there long.

After the Princess Consort was killed, they should have returned.

Villages in the mountains merely coexisted with mountain malevolences to some degree.

It didn’t mean the malevolences didn’t eat mountain folk.

But Gao Family Village was empty, and Gao Wanli dared not go to Copper Coffin Cliff… What now?

Zhu Zhanlei and Xu Yuan and the others climbed up too.

Zhu Zhanlei, seeing Gao Wanli standing dumbfounded, snapped: “What now? We brought you because you could find Gao Guanzi. If you can’t even do this, what good are you?”

Gao Wanli wanted to retort: I know where Gao Guanzi is.

But the terror of Copper Coffin Cliff clamped her lips shut.

“Xu my lord, any ideas?” Zhu Zhanlei turned to Xu Yuan again.

Xu Yuan said: “Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we find another mountain runner. I know one from Wangxiang Village—he can lead us to Gao Guanzi.”

Zhu Zhanlei sighed: “In the end, we still rely on Xu my lord.”

He cast another disgusted glance at Gao Wanli.

Gao Wanli lowered her head, silent.

“We’ll stay in the village tonight.”

Then everyone used the Hui Lü to contact Fu Songyu, who was secretly following behind.

Fu Songyu, of course, scolded them relentlessly, targeting Gao Wanli.

But after ending the contact, he said: “Please bring out Hongyu, nephew.”

The young ones brought out the birdcage.

Fu Songyu took it, waved to his brother Fu Bai Zhou, and the two Fourth-Ranks stealthily approached Gao Family Village.

Then he opened the birdcage and pulled out the golden nail driven into the puppet dragon’s tail.

But from his sleeve he drew a thin golden chain and fastened it to the hole where the nail had been.

“Nephew, begin.”

The puppet dragon glared at them with venomous hatred as Fu Songyu finally pulled out the human hair sealing its mouth.

“You’ll die a miserable death!” the puppet dragon immediately screamed.

Fu Songyu frowned: “It wasn’t us brothers who turned you into this. We’re all your uncles—you know we understand the resentment in your heart. One curse to vent your anger is enough; we won’t hold it against you.

But if you still refuse to see sense, don’t blame us for abandoning kinship and making you suffer.”

Fu Hongyu still glared at them with venom, but dared not curse again.

These two old devils were cruel and ruthless.

“That’s better,” Fu Songyu said, satisfied. “Besides, your current state isn’t necessarily bad.

So many in our family await ‘Rebirth,’ but our clan only receives one ‘True Dragon Whisker’ every ten years—and only by holding the whisker can you travel back and forth on the Yellow Springs Road!

Your parents are long gone, and no one speaks for you. Do you really think such a scarce Rebirth slot would ever fall to you?

At least now you can go out and see things...”

Fu Hongyu no longer wished to hear his blathering; he rose into the air and soared upward.

The golden chain in Fu Songyu’s hand rattled as it unraveled.

The secret technique Fu Hongyu was subjected to was called “Soul-Body Link.”

It was not invented by the Fu family alone, but jointly refined over decades by all families who inherited the “Dragon Transformation Art.”

Long ago, each family realized the “Dragon Transformation Art” risked leaking.

No one wanted it leaked—another practitioner meant another rival for the imperial clan’s privileges.

And if someone stole and practiced it, the River Dragon King would surely punish all the families.

So they united to devise a method to detect those who secretly practiced the “Dragon Transformation Art.”

That method was the “Soul-Body Link.”

Yet after thirty years of collective effort, the technique remained incomplete.

The method used human skin and human hair to craft a special vessel—the puppet dragon.

Then a “Dragon Soul” was sealed inside.

The so-called Dragon Soul was in fact the soul of a descendant who had practiced the Dragon Transformation Art and died.

When Fu Shuanghui and Fu Chongjiu died, their souls, if pulled back by the Thread-Linking Method, became usable Dragon Souls!

Then they were refined by secret rites.

Once successful, releasing the puppet dragon allowed it to sense all living beings within a certain range who practiced the “Dragon Transformation Art.”

The more perfected the refinement, the wider the sensing range.

Fu Hongyu was not fully successful; his sensing range was about five li.

The technique’s principle exploited the dead soul’s yearning for a physical form—the Dragon Soul naturally craved a Dragon Body.

This craving generated the sensing ability.

But why had no family ever truly used it? First, each “Dragon Soul” was in fact a family member.

Once turned into a puppet dragon, it was eternally imprisoned—too cruel for “family.”

Even after practicing the “Dragon Transformation Art” and growing cold and heartless, some still could not bring themselves to do it.

Second, the method had flaws: once refined, the Dragon Soul became filled with hatred and resentment, constantly generating “Mind Flaws,” and no one had yet found a way to permanently suppress them.

But this time, after deliberation and voting among the elder Fu members, they decided to risk crafting one puppet dragon.

They chose the unfortunate Fu Hongyu, whose entire family had perished.

Fu Hongyu, high in the sky, activated his sensing ability.

He felt three bodies within five li tugging at him with invisible threads.

Two of them pulled with exceptional strength—naturally, Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou.

The third came from Gao Family Village.

Fu Hongyu carefully discerned—it was Zhu Zhanlei!

But Zhu Zhanlei had not practiced the “Dragon Transformation Art”; it was the artifact he carried that drew him.

Fu Hongyu’s mind stirred: Could this artifact serve as a vessel for my Dragon Soul?

He descended and told Fu Songyu: “The one who secretly practices the ‘Dragon Transformation Art’ is not near here.”

The puppet dragon, forged with Daoist techniques, could not lie to its controller.

Fu Songyu detected no anomaly in Fu Hongyu and, slightly disappointed, locked him back in the birdcage: “We never expected to find him on the first try.”

(End of Chapter)