[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-86":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},2310471,4514,"Chapter 86: Pianci Ghost, Dead Man","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>The Quhui Office’s team advanced northeastward, taking another path into the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the captains glanced and quietly reported to Fu Jingyu: “My lord, this doesn’t seem to be the usual mountain path used by the townsfolk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was just loud enough for Xu Yuan to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among this team, Fu Jingyu, Yan Lao, and Lu Zhengyan held no opinion whatsoever of Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most of these ordinary captains harbored some sense of rivalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An outsider giving orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And word had it the old lord had already promised him the post of “Jianxiao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These ordinary captains had risked life and limb for the Quhui Office for years, their sleeves bearing at most two cloud patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They called it “resentment,” but it was simply jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard, explaining to Da Fu: “The usual path has Meiren Dam and Mao’er Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today is a day forbidding burials—the corpse-woman at Mao’er Zhong is extremely ominous—don’t take that path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain didn’t believe it, but then saw several woodcutters and merchants trailing behind the team, entering the mountains along this same route, so he said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan, however, seemed intrigued, and asked the captain: “You know the town well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain replied: “I chatted with a clerk from Liu’s Village Wine Shop across the street yesterday afternoon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu went to meet Ying Taipo, these captains weren’t idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since that’s the case… Xu Yuan said upon entering the mountains: “Since you’re familiar, you lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several captains hesitated, all glancing at the one who had spoken earlier—his sleeve bore two cloud patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… we only have a basic understanding of the town’s situation, far less than Master Xu’s knowledge. You lead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captains resented it, but not to the point of irrational jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Witch Mountain is an extremely perilous “lawless land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on a few words exchanged with Ah Guang, you dare lead the way? That’s suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” Xu Yuan replied, “But the path I take may not be the one the townsfolk usually use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain’s face flushed red; he stammered, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan stopped there, saying no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But expecting him to swallow his pride? Impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the mountains meant a dense forest; Xu Yuan stepped in carefully, saying: “Every tree here is a debt-collecting ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you pluck just one leaf, it will visit your dreams every night to demand repayment—if you can’t pay, its branches will whip you until the seventh day, when it shatters your soul completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan avoided a thin branch and warned the others: “Stay away from me. Copy my movements—don’t make any mistakes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group fell back about two zhang from Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever Xu Yuan walked, they followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fallen leaves on the ground were fine, but if any leaf still held a trace of green, do not step on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Yuan walked, a branch suddenly snapped sideways toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several leaves were about to brush his body when Xu Yuan executed a sudden slide, skimming along the ground beneath the branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan turned back a zhang away, glaring at the branch—recognized it: “When did a Pianci Ghost sneak in?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The branch’s leaves trembled, rustling loudly, hurling vile curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go around.” Xu Yuan told the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just saying it—he had to circle back himself to scout the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasted considerable time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally emerging from the forest, Xu Yuan’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier captains couldn’t help smirking faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan was furious—deep in Ghost Witch Mountain, if the team was divided, the outcome was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just subdued those captains, only to have this “Pianci Ghost” ruin it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a muffled sound of entwining roots and colliding trunks came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It lasted a long time, then one tree was forcibly shoved out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan unleashed a blast of “Abdominal Fire” without mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire tree ignited instantly; flames roared as branches writhed, emitting piercing squeals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan extended his hand; the beast-sinew rope shot out, tightly binding the Pianci Ghost in the fire, preventing it from tumbling into the forest where other debt ghosts might blame him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Pianci Ghost? Xu Yuan wasn’t afraid—if not for the forest, he’d have turned it into firewood on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captains stared, bewildered: What happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said: “Even other debt ghosts look down on this trash—drove it off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captains fell silent—proving Xu Yuan hadn’t been wrong; this forest hadn’t contained such a creature before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.” Xu Yuan burned the uncouth Pianci Ghost to ash and led the group onward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead lay several more dangers; Xu Yuan knew them well—he’d walked this path recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The next stretch is called Guofeng Pass.” Xu Yuan stopped and turned to face everyone solemnly: “Remember this: don’t pick up anyone’s money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely don’t pick it up—whether it’s a copper coin or gold, silver, or jewels—don’t pick it up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Lao probed: “Dead man’s money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan nodded: “Pick it up, you owe the dead—pay with your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guofeng Pass flanked by steep peaks, the narrow pass was seven or eight zhang wide and five li long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the captains passed through, one accidentally kicked a gold ingot from the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Xu Yuan’s warning, everyone pretended not to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared the exit, everyone quietly exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pass was easy for them—the Quhui Office wasn’t ignorant mountain folk who couldn’t walk past gold and silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of mountain wind blew, and several objects drifted down from the sky; one landed with a slap right on a captain’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It slid perfectly into his chest lining!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same captain who had spoken earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face turned pale; nearby comrades instinctively stepped back a few paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan frowned toward the mountains: “You’re breaking the rules!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Lao and Lu Zhengyan rushed over, urging the captain: “Don’t reach in with your hands—take off your coat, quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain frantically shed his outer garment; a silver note fluttered out—five thousand taels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments after hitting the ground, it turned into a stack of yellow spirit money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain panicked: “I—I—I didn’t pick it up! It just fell on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan walked over, frowning: “Malevolent spirits don’t bargain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xu, please help me—I was wrong before, forgive this lowly man…” The captain bowed, pleading; he’d doubted Xu Yuan earlier, but now knew only Xu Yuan could save him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said nothing, gazing at the mountain peaks, murmuring in confusion: “Why are these malevolent spirits breaking the rules today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pianci Ghost slipped into a group of debt ghosts earlier; now, with no one picking up dead man’s money, they’re forcing it on you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once might be coincidence—twice… in Ghost Witch Mountain, it can’t be explained by chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1144,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0204d1f22a0f41b42df33ea4fd1a65ffe42f40a1441c6465149a3c5f07465bfe","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-87","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-85",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]