Chapter 397: Fate Body Connection (Three-in-One)

After causing a huge disturbance inside the inn, that merchant caravan was simply unlucky to have hired such an unreliable group of guards.

That Wu Xiu was the leader of this guard squad; with their leader beaten, they naturally swarmed forward in a frenzy...

And then got beaten together.

The caravan's owner received the news and came out; at first, he still wanted to "settle the matter," as he had some backing himself.

But as soon as he heard the two words "Fu Family," he immediately settled the wages and dismissed this entire guard squad.

Xu Yuan also wore a mask on his face.

However, it was not made by Gao Wanli, but by his stepmother.

Xu Yuan would not use things made by Gao Wanli.

That woman was somewhat insane; who knew if she might have added something to the crafted object to take revenge on him?

The people at the inn naturally did not recognize Lord Xu.

However, once the Fu family arrived in the town, this news naturally spread very smoothly.

Beside Zhu Zhanlei were three people from the Shanhe Office, who, along with Xu Yuan, disguised themselves as Fu family evil servants.

After beating the man, Xu Yuan grabbed the Wu Xiu by the neck and searched him, taking out twenty taels of silver.

He divided five taels each among the three captains from the Shanhe Office.

Those three nodded repeatedly, feeling that Lord Xu's actions were logical, progressive step by step, and indeed demonstrated outstanding ability!

Then Zhu Zhanlei led them all to the Purification Office; since Xu Yuan did not reveal his identity, the people in the office treated them with indifference.

They inquired about some situations in the mountains, but all of it was common knowledge.

Gao Wanli became impatient: "I said long ago there was no need to come here; you insisted on wasting effort!"

Upon leaving the office, Gao Wanli looked at Xu Yuan with a puzzled expression: "You are not unfamiliar with Ghost Wushan, right? You could have led us into the mountains directly, so why did we need to come to the office?

This is under your jurisdiction..."

Xu Yuan said, "So what if it is under my jurisdiction? I cannot reveal my identity."

Among the three, only Gao Wanli appeared in her true form.

Yet Gao Wanli completely ignored her own status as the Deputy Master of Laws at the Purification Office.

This office was actually under her jurisdiction as well.

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

"As for you saying this official is not unfamiliar with Ghost Wushan, it is precisely because I am familiar with Ghost Wushan that I dare not take it lightly! The situation in the mountains could change at any moment."

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Explaining these things to a fool like you is truly a waste of breath."

"You—" Gao Wanli, furious and desperate: "Do you have some other conspiracy? You are too sinister, harboring evil intentions!"

Xu Yuan looked speechless: "If you have any suspicions about this official, you may report them to Lord Luo Gongqiao. This trip to Ghost Wushan was only undertaken because Lord Luo Gongqiao promised benefits; it was not my desire to come.

You dare not speak before Lord Luo, but as soon as you leave Lord Luo's sight, you start causing trouble; you are truly unreasonable!"

The three captains from the Shanhe Office, who had just received five taels of silver from Lord Xu, nodded together: This woman is indeed unreasonable!

Gao Wanli trying to win an argument with her mouth was no match for Lord Xu.

Instead, she calmed down: "You lead us into the mountains; I remember the road to Gao Family Village, so just follow me."

"Very well." Xu Yuan agreed at once.

Xu Yuan going to the office was, of course, to secretly pass a message to Bai Laoyan and Gao Guanzi.

And to have them inform Jiao and Tian Jing.

Since the matter concerned the Dragon Transformation Art, Xu Yuan would not entrust it to others.

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

When passing that inn once again, they saw two Fourth-Rank members of the Fu family, along with several other Fu family members, checking into the inn.

The two sides passed each other, silently exchanging a glance, and both immediately understood the situation.

These two Fourth-Rank members of the Fu family were biological brothers; the elder brother was named Fu Songyu, and the younger brother was named Fu Bai Zhou.

They had disguised themselves as merchants preparing to enter the mountains to collect goods.

Since the office was established, the number of merchants in the town had decreased significantly.

But there were still a few villages that, having grievances with Bai Laoyan, would occasionally sell mountain goods to other merchants.

The one exchanging glances with Fu Songyu was actually Lord Xu.

Fu Songyu felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

This also meant that the small squad ahead, serving as bait, was being led by Xu Yuan.

The Fu family and Xu Yuan had a grudge.

A consensus had basically been reached within the Fu family that the person secretly practicing the Dragon Transformation Art was not Xu Yuan.

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

And yet, to catch that person secretly practicing and avenge the death of the Heir's Wife, they had to cooperate with Xu Yuan!

Fu Songyu took several rooms, made brief arrangements, and immediately said, "Act immediately; follow those guys."

Meanwhile, after Xu Yuan led everyone out of the town, he immediately found a hidden spot and said to Zhu Zhanlei, "Use the Resonance Wheel to contact Fu Songyu!"

Gao Wanli frowned, feeling that contacting them this early was inappropriate.

But she had learned her lesson and did not immediately voice opposition, lest she be scolded by Xu Yuan again.

Zhu Zhanlei obeyed Lord Xu without question and immediately took out the "Resonance Wheel."

This crafted object was housed in a copper box one foot square.

The effect of this box was similar to that of the Xing Guo Zi.

This was because the "Resonance Wheel" could not only be used for mutual communication but would also frequently receive strange whispers from unknown sources.

If one heard them, the consequences could range from fleshly whiskers or fangs growing in both ears to, in severe cases, immediate demonic transformation and madness.

So when not in use, it must be sealed shut.

The main component of the Harmony Pulley is something resembling a well windlass.

Before each contact, one must turn this windlass three times clockwise, then three times counter-clockwise.

Then, bow with clasped hands to the treasure and simply state whom you wish to contact.

Fu Songyu was about to lead the group out when he suddenly felt a thumping sound coming from the copper-skin box he was carrying.

He immediately called out to stop everyone: "Wait!"

Everyone retreated back into the room. Fu Songyu took out the Harmony Pulley and heard Xu Yuan's voice emerge: "Two elders, your aura is far too imposing; you do not look like ordinary merchants at all. With such an appearance, anyone with a keen eye could see through you instantly."

Xu Yuan analyzed the situation for them with meticulous detail.

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

They are fierce, but they do not possess the aura of skilled martial artists.

Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou reflected for a moment and realized it was indeed so.

After all, they are fourth-rank figures; people respect them daily, so this aura naturally leaks out unconsciously.

Yet, having this flaw pointed out by Xu Yuan, the two brothers were very reluctant to accept it.

But the man acted purely for the public good, and everything he said made perfect sense.

The two brothers exchanged glances. Fu Bai Zhou asked the others: "Are we truly as Xu Yuan said?"

The subordinates thought to themselves that they had seen it long ago but dared not offer their opinion to you.

Thus, they remained silent.

The two brothers understood.

Fu Songyu gritted his teeth and said: "Understood."

Xu Yuan then very thoughtfully explained the countermeasures for Beauty Dam and Hat Mound before ending this contact.

The other members of the Fu family could not help but feel a certain sentiment: This Xu Yuan is actually a decent person.

Putting aside everyone's hatred for now, when cooperating together, he truly gives his all.

"Very well, let us restrain ourselves a bit," Fu Songyu sighed.

Xu Yuan also put away the "Harmony Pulley," then passed through Beauty Dam and Hat Mound to enter Ghost Wushan.

Not long after they left, Fu Songyu's group also followed into the mountains.

Xu Yuan led the way all the way to the place where he had previously chopped firewood, then raised a hand toward Gao Wanli: "From here on, it is up to you."

Gao Wanli stepped forward without hesitation and began to lead the way.

She had entered with the Princess Consort last time; although exiting the mountain was fraught with hardship, it allowed her to become familiar with Ghost Wushan.

Relying on her memory, she led the few people in circles through the mountains until they found a familiar spot.

From there, they set off toward Gao Family Village.

However, Gao Family Village is too far. If My Lord Xu were alone, displaying Master Ruan Tian's travel permit and riding the Fire Wheel with reckless abandon, he could arrive in half a day.

But this small group dares only to proceed slowly; if they encounter evil spirits along the way, they must handle them with caution.

Naturally, the speed cannot be fast.

During this period, when encountering evil spirits of low capability, Xu Yuan and his four evil servants naturally handled them.

But for those above the seventh rank, Zhu Zhanlei was the one to act.

The act was performed in its entirety.

Xu Yuan also saw for the first time the artifact Zhu Zhanlei had mentioned.

Before this, to avoid exposing his true purpose, Xu Yuan had never asked Zhu Zhanlei a single question about the artifact's condition.

This artifact is named "Dragon Affliction."

It is a piece of dragon-flesh emitting a strong fishy stench.

Mixed within are scales, broken horns, white bones, and the like.

Zhu Zhanlei pressed this artifact against his chest; the thing writhed and fused with him into one.

On Zhu Zhanlei's chest, five pitch-black muscle tendons appeared, deeply embedded in the skin, connecting inwardly to the five viscera.

Thereafter, Zhu Zhanlei could smell that fishy stench in his nostrils at all times.

Furthermore, he would not suffer the fate of "entering a room of orchids and eventually smelling no fragrance; entering a fish market and eventually smelling no stench."

Instead, people nearby, even if they pressed their noses against him, would no longer smell that fishy stench.

This made Zhu Zhanlei feel constantly uneasy in his heart.

He always felt this artifact was not quite proper, fearing it might carry some terrible price?

Although Xu Miao repeatedly assured him that the "Dragon Affliction" only looked terrifying and would never truly cause him any harm.

But Zhu Zhanlei simply did not believe this woman.

Moreover, listen to the name: it is called "Affliction." How could it be anything good?!

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

First was "Dragon Body."

The strength of his physique was comparable to a sixth-rank Wu Xiu.

When encountering a Blood-Sucking Tree in the mountains, Zhu Zhanlei forcibly uprooted this strange, bucket-thick tree!

The second was "Surging Wind."

It allowed him to blow out a strange wind.

With one blow, flying sand and rolling stones obscured the sky and blocked the sun. Moreover, this wind eroded souls, capable of blowing the soul directly out of the body.

It was a ruthless method for dealing with yin-spirit type evil spirits.

The third was "Fire Drawing."

A mere wave of the hand could summon a streak of emerald fire from thin air.

Its power rivaled the abdominal fire of a sixth-rank Dan Xiu. Moreover, this fire could transform into a ring of flames hovering behind the user, causing beasts and low-level evil spirits to feel fear and dare not offend.

This item could be used to impersonate Dragon Fire.

The fourth was "Flying Stone."

It could manipulate rocks, gathering them together or scattering them apart.

When gathered, it could pull up a ten-zhang-high stone mound from thin air to suppress an opponent. When scattered, it could turn into a sky-full of yellow sand; if combined with "Surging Wind," its power would naturally double.

This artisan object was truly extraordinary!

Xu Yuan didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that the scent of that Dragon Excrement was not fishy, but rather sweet!

So he secretly drooled.

The skill level of the Wu Xiu who forged this artisan object was unknown, but this material was certainly a fine one!

It was meant to be eaten by my skin dragon as bait!

The "Dragon Excrement" was equivalent to directly elevating Zhu Zhanlei to the sixth rank; in the mountains, he couldn't claim to be invincible, but the vast majority of evil spirits were no match for him.

Every time he struck, he easily crushed and killed evil spirits.

And these evil spirits, in the past, he would have had to flee at the mere sight of them.

Zhu Zhanlei, who had originally been very resistant to this mission, now actually began to love this feeling.

By evening, Xu Yuan suggested, "We cannot travel any further today. The Ghost Wushan at night is on a completely different level from the day."

Zhu Zhanlei nodded: "Fat Gao, set up camp for this Young Master!"

Gao Wanli gave Zhu Zhanlei a sinister look; this damn thing had been calling him "Fat Gao" and "Scar Gao" nonstop along the way.

If you argued with him, he would change it to "Lili"!

You damn thing, don't think I don't know "Lili" is a famous courtesan in Luo City!

If a real fight broke out, Zhu Zhanlei would have an excuse not to act as the bait.

I would still have to be punished by Luo Gongqiao!

I have recorded this humiliation of today! There will be a return in the future!

Gao Wanli's chest ached with anger!

She already regretted it immensely: I should never have come to this Zhan City!

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

Now you, a useless prodigal son, come to bully me too!

Gao Wanli cursed continuously in her heart as she unfolded the two tents one by one.

These tents were provided by Xu Miao and were also seventh-rank artisan objects.

Once unfolded, they merged with the surrounding giant rocks.

From the outside, they looked exactly the same.

Moreover, they were even harder than those rocks.

Even if an evil spirit accidentally bumped into them at night, it would be bounced back just like hitting a rock.

This was a common item Xu Miao used while executing missions in the lands beyond the borders.

Once the tents were set up, Zhu Zhanlei shamelessly took one for himself.

The rest of them used the other one.

Gao Wanli was unwilling to squeeze in with the stinky men, but she also knew the Ghost Wushan at night was too dangerous... After Xu Yuan and the other three evil slaves entered the tent, she reluctantly crawled in.

But as soon as she entered, Xu Yuan crawled out with a look of disgust and went to share a tent with Zhu Zhanlei!

Gao Wanli was so angry she almost exploded.

You did it on purpose!

You crawled into Zhu Zhanlei's tent; he wouldn't dare fart! Yet you had to wait until I was inside to do this!

Although Xu Yuan had run away, Gao Wanli was still uncomfortable inside the tent.

During the day, the evil spirits Zhu Zhanlei had hunted yielded some low-grade materials, which Xu Yuan had him distribute to everyone.

Those three Captains of the Shanhe Bureau gained quite a few benefits as well.

They were inside the tent speaking filthy words, deliberately making Gao Wanli uncomfortable.

After barely surviving that night, the next day Gao Wanli, with two dark circles under her eyes, led everyone to continue the journey.

They walked until evening and finally saw the mountain of Gao Family Village.

"We've arrived!" Gao Wanli pointed at the Shanfeng and said, "Gao Family Village is on that mountain. Let's charge up, capture Gao Guanzi, and since Gao Guanzi must know where that villain is, our mission will be complete."

Zhu Zhanlei nodded, speaking quite self-satisfiedly: "You guard the foot of the mountain; watch as this Young Master goes to capture that mountain runner!"

Everyone concealed their tracks and arrived together at the foot of the mountain.

Xu Yuan and the others guarded the four directions at the foot of the mountain, while Zhu Zhanlei activated the "Dragon Excrement," relying on his powerful body comparable to a sixth-rank Wu Xiu, and rushed to the summit at high speed.

Gao Wanli held an artisan object in each hand, ready; if Gao Guanzi escaped down, she would strike immediately.

However, in no time, Zhu Zhanlei rushed down even faster, furious and scolding Gao Wanli: "Scar-faced Gao! What are you doing? There isn't a single person up there!"

Gao Wanli's heart skipped a beat: "Not a single person?!"

She hurriedly rushed up, and indeed, Gao Family Village was empty; not even a ghost shadow was to be seen.

Gao Wanli's face turned pale.

If the people of Gao Family Village are not here, where else could they be?

Gao Wanli knew in her heart—if they hadn't moved back, they were still at Copper Coffin Cliff!

But did Gao Wanli dare to go there? Of course not.

Copper Coffin Cliff was her lifelong nightmare.

She had originally thought the evil spirits atop Copper Coffin Cliff were extremely terrifying, and that the people of Gao Family Village should not remain long beneath it.

After the Princess Consort was killed, they ought to have moved back.

The village in the mountains merely coexisted with the evil spirits within the mountains to a certain extent.

It was not that the evil spirits truly did not eat the mountain villagers.

But there was no one in Gao Family Village, and Gao Wanli dared not go to Copper Coffin Cliff... What should be done next?

Zhu Zhanlei, Xu Yuan, and the others followed up as well.

Seeing Gao Wanli standing there foolishly, Zhu Zhanlei asked in a bad mood: "What should we do now? I brought you here because you could find Gao Guanzi. Now you cannot even manage this small matter; what use are you?"

Gao Wanli wanted to retort that she knew where Gao Guanzi was.

But the moment she thought of the terror of Copper Coffin Cliff, she clamped her mouth shut tightly.

"Does my lord Xu have any method?" Zhu Zhanlei could only ask Xu Yuan again.

Xu Yuan said: "Rest for one night first, and tomorrow we will seek other mountain runners. I am familiar with the mountain runners from Wang Xiang Village; he should be able to lead us to find Gao Guanzi."

Zhu Zhanlei sighed: "In the end, we must rely on my lord Xu."

Saying this, he glanced disdainfully at Gao Wanli once more.

Gao Wanli kept her head down, saying not a word.

"We shall stay in the village tonight."

Afterwards, everyone used the Resonance Lute to contact Fu Songyu, who was secretly following behind.

Fu Songyu, of course, also repeatedly rebuked, his accusations pointing directly at Gao Wanli.

But after ending the contact, Fu Songyu said: "Please bring out my honorable nephew Hongyu."

The juniors then lifted out that birdcage.

Fu Songyu took it, beckoned to his younger brother Fu Bai Zhou with a wave, and the two Fourth-Rankers quietly crept closer to Gao Family Village.

Afterwards, they opened the birdcage and pulled out the golden nail driven into the tail of the leather puppet dragon.

Yet they took a thin golden chain from their robes and fastened it to the hole in that golden nail.

"Honorable nephew, begin."

The leather puppet dragon glared at them with venom, and Fu Songyu finally pulled out the human hair sealing the leather puppet dragon's mouth.

"May you all die a wretched death!" the leather puppet dragon immediately began to curse.

Fu Songyu said angrily: "It was not us brothers who turned you into this state. We are all your uncles and elders; we understand you harbor resentment in your heart. Cursing once to vent your anger is acceptable; we will not hold it against you.

But if you remain ungrateful, do not blame us for disregarding family bonds and making you suffer some hardship."

Fu Hongyu continued to gaze at them with venom, yet dared not curse again.

These two old things were ruthless and cruel.

"That is more like it," Fu Songyu said with satisfaction: "Furthermore, your current state may not be so bad after all.

So many people in the family are waiting for 'Rebirth', yet the family can only be allocated one 'True Dragon Whisker' every ten years; only by holding the Dragon Whisker can one travel back and forth on the Road of the Yellow Springs!

Your parents are long gone; with no one to speak for you, do you think you could ever be allocated such a scarce Rebirth spot?

Now, at the very least, you can come out and look around..."

Fu Hongyu did not wish to listen to his noise any longer; he soared into the air, ascending straight to the high sky.

The golden chain in Fu Songyu's hand was pulled out with a clatter, clatter, clatter.

The secret method Fu Hongyu was subjected to is named "Life-Body Connection".

It was not created solely by the Fu family, but was jointly deduced and gradually perfected by all families in the Imperial Ming that inherited the "Dragon Transformation Art", working together in secret.

Long ago, the various families discovered that the "Dragon Transformation Art" carried a risk of leakage.

Naturally, no one wished for the "Dragon Transformation Art" to leak; every additional practitioner meant one more person to compete with the Imperial Ming's royal relatives.

Moreover, once leaked, if someone secretly practiced it and the Canal Dragon King learned of it, he would certainly bring punishment down upon all the families.

Thus, the families united to devise a method to identify those thieves who secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Art".

This method is the "Life-Body Connection".

However, despite all working together for thirty years, the technique of this "Life-Body Connection" remains imperfect.

This technique uses human skin and human hair to create a special container—that is the leather puppet dragon.

Afterwards, a "Dragon Soul" is sealed within it.

The so-called Dragon Soul is actually the soul of a descendant who practiced the Dragon Transformation Art after death.

After Fu Shuanghui and Fu Chongjiu died, if their souls were pulled back by the Thread-Pulling Method, they would also be a usable Dragon Soul!

Then, it is refined using a secret method.

Upon success, once the leather puppet dragon is released, it can sense all living beings within a certain range who have practiced the "Dragon Transformation Art".

The more successfully it is forged, the broader the range of sensing.

Fu Hongyu is not considered successful; the range he can sense is approximately five li.

The principle of this technique actually utilizes the dead soul's longing for its physical body; naturally, a Dragon Soul longs for a Dragon Body.

Thus, a connection is generated.

But none of the families have truly used this method. Why? Firstly, every "Dragon Soul" is actually a member of the family.

Once forged into a leather puppet dragon, they are sealed within it for all eternity; for "one's own people," this is too cruel.

Even after practicing the "Dragon Transformation Art" and becoming cold and ruthless, some still could not bring themselves to do it.

Secondly, this method still has some issues: once the Dragon Soul is refined in this manner, it is inevitably filled with hatred and resentment, constantly generating "Thought-Sins"; currently, no method has been found to completely seal the Thought-Sins for a long duration.

But this time, after the Fu family elders deliberated and voted, they decided to risk forging a leather puppet dragon.

Finally, they selected the unlucky Fu Hongyu, whose entire family had been wiped out.

Fu Hongyu emitted a signal from the high sky.

He then felt that within a five-li range, three bodies in the mysterious void were drawing him in.

Two of those attractions were exceptionally strong, naturally Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou.

There was another one, coming from Gao Family Village.

Fu Hongyu scrutinized carefully and realized it was Zhu Zhanlei!

But Zhu Zhanlei was not attracting him because he had cultivated the Dragon Transformation Art, but because of the craft artifact on his person.

Fu Hongyu's heart stirred: Could this craft artifact also serve as a vessel for my Dragon Soul?

He descended back down and said to Fu Songyu, "That villain secretly practicing the Dragon Transformation Art is not nearby."

The leather puppet dragon refined through the Life-Body Connection technique incorporated some methods of spell cultivation, so the leather puppet dragon could not lie to its controller.

Fu Songyu did not detect anything unusual in Fu Hongyu; feeling slightly disappointed, he locked him back in the birdcage: "I never expected to find that person in one go."

(End of this chapter)