[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-50":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310435,4514,"Chapter 50: Soul Snatching","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-50",50,"\u003Cp>Xu Yuan returned to his room to sleep, waited a while, listened closely, and found no sound from his stepmother’s side—she must have fallen asleep—so he quietly rose and slipped out of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanmo stood behind the bed, watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes carried deep concern: What audacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her first impulse was to go out immediately, grab the boy by the nape of his neck, and drag him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after a moment’s thought, she did not do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan left the courtyard and headed straight for the eastern mouth of the alley, gently knocking on the door: “Uncle Mao Si.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si was clearly still awake; he asked in a muffled voice: “Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me, Uncle, Xu Yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si opened the door; just as Xu Yuan was about to step in, he saw a gleaming chisel pressed against his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si swiftly pulled the chisel back: “It really is you, kid—I thought some malevolent spirit had the nerve to use this kind of call-and-response trick to trick me into opening the door.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan chuckled and stepped inside: “If a spirit used this trick to fool you, it’d be signing its own death warrant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si shut the door and scolded: “It’s the middle of the night—why aren’t you sleeping at home? Running around like this is too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said: “I need your help, Uncle. Just now, Lin Wanmo and I killed someone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si glared: “You call her Mother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan grimaced: “Fine, fine—let’s hurry. If we wait any longer, I’m afraid the soul will be seized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si asked: “Who did you kill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan: “We don’t even know who he was—that’s why I need you to interrogate his soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si hesitated—not because he refused to help, but because he feared dragging Xu Yuan into danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan pleaded: “Uncle, you’ve always been the kindest to me since I was a child—you used to let me ride on your shoulders to the temple fair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si grunted: “Funny thing—every time you rode on my shoulders, you’d piss all down my neck. Shen Daye and your father never had that problem…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s face flushed: “That proves how close I am to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile broke across Uncle Mao Si’s weary face; he grabbed a few carpenter’s tools: “Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, they returned; Uncle Mao Si clutched a ghost by the neck—it was “Ghost Ding Qian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si was a Spirit Cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, Uncle Mao Si lit an oil lamp, then blew gently on the flame—suddenly, the orange glow turned deep blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire small room grew icy cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si held the ghost up to the light—the spirit of Old Qian wore a cold, indifferent expression, as if utterly unconcerned by his fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si shook his head: “No need to ask. This kind of soul is rare—no matter how much you torture it, it won’t say a word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan nodded: “Then follow your method, Uncle. I only want to know who’s behind him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si nodded, rubbed his fingers against the ghost—Old Qian’s soul shattered, his vast memories fragmenting into countless “snippets” and “images.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they vanished rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could capture so vast yet fragmented a collection of images at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si merely made a swift judgment, then his hands flew, snatching out a few fragments closest in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He displayed them to Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan saw a large, sprawling back garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Old Qian diligently refining ghostly essences and forging ghost soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Old Qian go to Seven Li Pu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Old Qian cook his own dinner in a row of secluded houses, eat, then head straight for River Worker Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough,” Xu Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen clearly enough where Old Qian came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan thanked Uncle Mao Si: “I’m heading back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si waved his hand, dispersing all lingering soul fragments: “I’ll see you home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just a short walk…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Uncle Mao Si insisted, gripping his arm and escorting him back to his house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan crept quietly into his room, listened again—his stepmother’s side remained silent, undisturbed—relieved, he took off his clothes and slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Xu Yuan home, Uncle Mao Si returned; just as he reached the door, he suddenly realized something—he turned and saw Lin Wanmo standing beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si grinned sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he’d just helped Xu Yuan hide something from Little Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanmo was indeed annoyed, her face tense—but she wasn’t here to confront him: “Shen Daye wants everyone to gather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si nodded and followed Lin Wanmo to Shen Daye’s house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the corner stood a well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they passed, something clung to the well’s edge, suddenly opening a pair of blood-red eyes—then quickly shutting them, letting go with a plop as it fell back into the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Shen Daye’s, sure enough, Wang Shen was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye leaned against his pillow, smoking his pipe; seeing them enter, he said: “Everyone’s here—let’s begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Wanmo interrupted: “Grandpa, let me ask something first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned straight to Uncle Mao Si: “You just helped Xu Yuan take the Spirit Cultivator’s soul?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si grunted, thinking: I didn’t betray you, Yuan—your stepmother scares you, but this fiery girl scares me too…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si explained the situation; Lin Wanmo’s eyebrows shot up: “He’s trying to…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye waved a hand: “It’s actually the same matter we’re about to discuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanmo fell silent, crossing her arms and leaning back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye said: “Just now, the Purification Office sent word—they want Xu Yuan to join them. This is a major matter—I, an old man, dare not decide alone. I called you all to discuss it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shen shook her head violently, as if her head might fly off: “Too dangerous—I oppose it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si hesitated: “Xu Yuan’s Life Cultivation and Pill Cultivation weren’t inherited from our alley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shen glared: “What are you implying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since he didn’t inherit our tradition, he’s not truly one of us—he has a chance to escape…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re no longer treating Yuan as family!” Wang Shen was truly angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si stepped back: “When have I ever stopped treating him as family? I mean—what’s so good about being stuck in this alley? We’ve been trapped here for generations. It’s risky, yes—but this is Yuan’s chance. The Purification Office is actually a good path—if he rises to an official rank, he can completely shed his status as a convict of River Worker Alley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shen snorted: “Easy to say—but with our status, what future could he possibly have in the Purification Office?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Mao Si didn’t argue further—he’d made his point clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shen Daye,” Wang Shen asked, “what’s your view?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye puffed his pipe; Wang Shen waved away the smoke drifting toward Lin Wanmo: “You’re smothering the child—speak up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye stopped smoking: “When Ma Tian Shou first mentioned it, I instinctively refused. But after thinking it over, since Yuan has become a Life Cultivator… it feels like fate. He should try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were vague, but everyone understood what he meant by “try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanmo blurted: “I sent him to Qihe Tai Town to keep him away from family troubles—not to burden him with this! I never expected him to become a Life Cultivator!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Daye sighed: “But he became one—coincidentally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s assignment to Qihe Tai Town had been arranged by Xu Huan Yang before his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanmo was merely the executor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could a few grains of “Old Year Grain” really draw the June Worms from across the vast Ghost Witch Mountain? Xu Huan Yang probably didn’t even expect it to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It inevitably made one think… of the Xu family’s “fated destiny!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Shen Daye spoke again: “Two in favor, two opposed—then we follow the old rule: [85] Let the elders decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please let the elders decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Requesting monthly votes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1363,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e03019caa9b2e70f2fc29f3c8656a9216bf56d33f1195bd8f44db5100144b5b1","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-51","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-49",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]