Chapter 166

The Gu master died without ever seeing the mastermind behind the manipulation of these filthy things.

Originally, he felt that as a Gu master, hiding in dark corners all day controlling insects to harm people was insidious enough, but he never imagined there was an even more insidious path called the Underworld.

When the Gu master lay motionless in the ruins, Xu Qing still did not step forward.

For someone who refined and controlled Gu like this, the insects on his body were no fewer than the fleas on a beggar; Xu Qing was disgusted by it from the bottom of his heart.

Jin Luan, however, was not repulsed. It came to the Gu master's side, first using its claws to tear the man's robes to shreds, then began pecking at the insects inside to eat them.

Xu Qing watched from afar, seeing only that the insects on the Gu master were like a pot of freshly boiled noodle soup—pushing against the lid, wriggling and bubbling out.

If an unsuspecting person were to approach the corpse at this moment, they would surely fall victim to the Gu master's trap!

Once Jin Luan's crop was bulging and it could swallow no more, Xu Qing threw the Thousand-Insect Gu Jar over from a distance.

Having gained the advantage, Jin Luan worked with extra diligence.

After stuffing all the remaining insects into the Gu jar, Jin Luan held the jar in its beak and ran to Xu Qing as if asking for a reward.

"Are they all cleaned up?"

Jin Luan clucked in response; at this moment, its impression of Xu Qing had greatly improved.

Although this man sometimes did things that were quite inhuman, he was always generous when it came to food and drink.

In the days following Xu Qing, Jin Luan had gained at least ten pounds.

Just like today, Xu Qing even brought it to this restaurant to eat a top-tier meal.

Unlike when it was at the Five Elders Temple, where the people in the temple would only feed it rice and millet day after day; after a long time, its mouth would become so bland it could drive a bird crazy!

On this side, Xu Qing glanced at the Thousand-Insect Gu Jar. The small jar contained a world of its own; inside, various flying and crawling insects were biting and killing each other, and the entire jar was filled with poisonous malevolence.

After snapping the lid shut and putting the Gu jar into the Box Garden, Xu Qing turned to control the paper dolls to search the Gu master's residence.

During the process, he discovered an "insect shed" specifically used for refining Gu.

Taking out the Gu jar again and collecting the insects from that room into the jar, Xu Qing looked at his own Gu jar and pondered: if he used this jar to cultivate a cricket king, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways in the circle of cricket-fighting enthusiasts?

But that was just a thought; after all, what decent Gu master would have nothing better to do than refine a cricket for fun?

"I wonder which of these insects will survive to the end."

Xu Qing looked at the thousands of insects; the scorpions and centipedes inside were merely cannon fodder, chewed into fragments by other nameless poisonous insects in a matter of moments.

Crucially, those scorpions didn't look like ordinary scorpions, and even the centipedes were strange creatures with deep blue bodies, shimmering with a daunting matte luster.

With a click of his tongue, Xu Qing put the Gu jar away. By the time he returned to the courtyard, the only thing of value left in the entire residence was the Gu master's corpse.

Approaching it, the Gu master's belly had already been bitten open by the poisonous insects, leaving only a shell like a cicada's molting.

With the corpse ruined to this extent, it was hard to say if it could still be delivered to the afterlife.

Letting Jin Luan and the Chang General stand guard around him, Xu Qing reached out toward the Gu master's corpse. The next moment, the Scripture of Human Deliverance, which had been silent for several days, stirred once more.

The event occurred thirty years ago, at the Eight-Intersection Alley in Luojing City.

This was a place where the capital's enthusiasts tinkered with jade and antiques. On any given day, people from all walks of life and all corners of the country flocked here—some just looking for something fresh, others driven by the idea of a ten-thousand-fold profit, hoping to unearth a real treasure and make a fortune.

But you must remember, there are countless pits before a great fortune. Throughout history, how many who dreamed of getting rich overnight have fallen into these pits, never to climb out again?

Today, beside this great pit of the antique market, quite a crowd had gathered.

In the past, the liveliest spots at Eight-Intersection were the stalls where people hired shills to sell fakes.

The bigger the fake, the livelier the stall.

Today, there was a man setting up a crude stall. There was nothing else on it, just a small clay jar containing a golden, turtle-like insect.

The stall owner claimed that the current Son of Heaven was pursuing the art of longevity and was holding a Water and Land Ceremony, inviting talented and extraordinary people from all over the world to help him extend his blessings and life.

He, being of shallow learning, had just arrived outside the venue and was queuing for inspection by the officials when someone asked him what skills he possessed.

He said he didn't know the art of longevity, only how to raise insects.

"I am an honest man from the mountains and don't know how to lie. As for those who claim to know the art of longevity, I haven't seen many people in this world who don't grow old."

"The official thought I was filthy and that my insect was not presentable, so he kicked me out of the venue. To think I traveled thousands of miles from Nancuo to get here, using up all my travel money, only to be unable to even enter the Water and Land venue."

The vendor cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, my heart is cold and disappointed. Now I just want to sell this treasure-seeking insect to exchange for some travel money to go back. Other than that, I have no other requests."

Among the onlookers was a master and apprentice from Nancuo. The older master was named Mu Dian, dressed in a gray robe wrapped tightly around him, and the younger one was named Li Acuo, only twelve or thirteen years old, also wearing a long robe and a face covering.

Mu Dian was a true Nancuo Gu master; he saw at a glance that this vendor was a fraud posing as a Gu master to sell fake goods.

You must know that the southern states had a nickname in the Great Yong: "Southern Barbarians," and their way of speaking was different from the people of the Yong Dynasty, carrying a hint of a barbarian flavor.

Yet this person claiming to be a Nancuo Gu master spoke with a full-blown capital accent. If this wasn't a fraud, what was?

However, although that insect wasn't some "treasure-seeking insect," it did have some other tricks.

There was no lack of smart people among the onlookers. Before the vendor could finish his lies, someone pointed out his flaw.

Since you say you are from Nancuo, then speak a few words of barbarian language; don't try to get close to us by speaking the local dialect.

The vendor didn't know the barbarian language, so he simply stiffened his neck and didn't even bother to act anymore: "Go, go, go! Buy if you want to buy; if you don't want to buy, don't disturb my business! I say this is a treasure-seeking insect, so it is a treasure-seeking insect. If you don't buy it, that's because you don't have the luck to recognize a real treasure!"

After the crowd dispersed, Mu Dian stepped forward and confidently asked in awkward official language: "I am a native of the capital. We are fellow countrymen. Can you sell me this insect for a cheaper price?"

"."

The vendor had been swindling for many years; as soon as he heard the accent, he knew this person was a real barbarian.

A barbarian, and you're here acting like a local with me?

"Oh my! So we really are fellow countrymen. Let's do this: I'll be honest with you. I only cheat outsiders who don't know the trade, but I never cheat fellow countrymen—that's too immoral! You're a capital native, and I'm a capital native too. I'll sell you this treasure insect for ten silver taels, just to make a friend. How about that?"

The honest Mu Dian showed a satisfied smile and nodded: "You are very good, I appreciate you. Then ten silver taels..."

"Done! This treasure-seeking insect is yours now!"

Mu Dian took out his money bag and was just about to pay when a person wearing a small melon-skin cap and a date-red, large-sleeved square jacket arrived at the stall.

"Whoa! Such a big turtle insect, and it has golden skin too."

"Quick, quick, quick, Old He, get the silver! That child Shucheng runs around blindly all day and broke his arm. It's just right to take this turtle back, soak it in water, and nourish his body."

The turtle is the most commonly used insect medicine for those with bruises and injuries.

This insect can not only relax tendons and mend bones, break blood stasis, but also has the effect of relieving pain, reducing swelling, and nourishing the body.

This golden turtle, which was two sizes larger than an ordinary turtle insect, was even rarer.

The servant called Old He immediately took out his money bag and asked the vendor: "What's the price for this turtle?"

The vendor looked at the master's attire—a date-red Ning silk square jacket—and could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary family. Combined with what the two had just said, it was clear the young master of the house had fallen and was in urgent need of medicine to nourish his body!

The vendor thought for a moment and knew his chance to get rich had come!

"Saving a life is urgent; treating an illness cannot be delayed! How about this: fifty silver taels, a cheap price for you two..."

"Fifty taels?" The servant surnamed He frowned. Just as he was about to say something, the master beside him spoke:

"Take out a banknote for him." After the vendor excitedly took the money, the master added: "In the future, if you have any more good things, come to my Feng family residence at Eight-Intersection. I definitely won't treat you poorly."

Beside them, Mu Dian kept raising his hand, anxious to interject, but was interrupted by the vendor every time.

After the generous master and servant left, he finally caught the opportunity to chase after the vendor, who was packing up his stall and heading back.

"Fellow countryman, we must be trustworthy. Since you agreed to sell it to me, how can you go back on your word!"

"Who's a fellow countryman with a barbarian like you? Without silver, you're not even a person, and you still want others to talk to you about trust? Get lost, get lost, don't block my way!"

Mu Dian said anxiously: "I also need that insect to treat my apprentice's leg. You already agreed the insect belonged to me; how can you change your mind just like that?"

The insect vendor turned his head upon hearing this and only then noticed that the boy following Mu Dian had been limping all along. Looking at that leg, one high and one low, he was a natural cripple!

Whoa, so he was also someone desperate enough to seek any medical help.

This was truly a gift from the ancestors.

The Jianghu has eight major sects. Let's not mention the bright eight for now, but among the dark eight, there is one called the "Ma" sect.

The Ma sect refers to swindlers who walk the Jianghu alone. These swindlers often disguise themselves as monks, Daoist priests, or reclusive experts to swindle money from wealthy families.

This insect vendor was actually a Ma sect swindler. Today, he was using the guise of a treasure-seeking insect, but in reality, he was conducting a swindling business.

Ordinary families couldn't afford a treasure-seeking insect; anyone interested in buying one must be a wealthy patron.

The Ma sect swindler had intended to use the name of a treasure-seeking insect to swindle money, but he never expected to encounter two people seeking medicine to treat illnesses in succession.

Looking at the limping appearance of Mu Dian's apprentice, the Ma sect swindler felt an indescribable joy in his heart.

A broken insect he had picked up had suddenly become a medicine primer that others were scrambling for. This was truly a case of "the east is dark but the west is bright"—Heaven was beating drums and gongs to send him money!

"Fellow countryman, I was just joking with you. Do you really want this insect?"

Seeing Mu Dian nod, the Ma sect swindler smiled and said: "To tell you the truth, this golden turtle insect was originally a pair. I have another one here, but..."

"But that one has already been reserved by someone else. If I resell it to you, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to them. If I break the contract, I'll have to pay them triple the deposit."

Mu Dian's apprentice had been lame since childhood and dreamed of curing his natural disability. Now that he heard there was another treasure insect, Mu Dian, as his master, felt a sudden joy in his heart.

"How much is the deposit? I'll help you pay it."

"Not much, ten silver taels. Plus the money for buying the insect, it's fifty taels in total."

Mu Dian thought to himself, isn't this a coincidence? When he intended to buy the insect earlier, he had just counted out ten taels of broken silver, which was exactly enough to pay.

The Ma sect swindler collected the silver, and his gaze toward Mu Dian softened significantly: "You stay here and watch the stall for me. I'll go back and get the insect for you right now!"

"I'll go with you."

"That won't do. This is an industry secret; how can I let others see it? Besides, my stall is set up here; are you afraid I'll run away? Just wait, I'll be back in a flash!"

Leaving the stall and stool on the ground, the Ma sect swindler turned and left Eight-Intersection Alley.

Mu Dian and his apprentice waited for a long time. Seeing that the person wouldn't return, Mu Dian took out a tracking insect. The master and apprentice followed the insect all the way, finally finding the swindler who sold the insect in a brothel.

"Where is my insect?"

"Where did this barbarian come from? Who took your insect? Don't look for trouble!"

The Ma sect swindler was startled when he saw Mu Dian, but remembering the other's barbarian status, he became arrogant again.

Two barbarians, what kind of waves could they stir up?

Calling over the bouncers who watched the place, Mu Dian and his apprentice were pushed and shoved out by the crowd.

The Ma sect swindler opened the window, poked his head out from upstairs, and said to the master and apprentice on the street: "In the capital, I am the master. You barbarian, if you dare to make trouble again, be careful that I don't break your legs too!"

Isn't this bullying an honest man!

Mu Dian was so angry that his temper flared. At the moment, the Water and Land Ceremony was being held in the capital, and there were many talented and extraordinary people. He didn't dare to cause trouble at the feet of the Son of Heaven, but he really couldn't swallow this anger.

That night, while the Ma sect swindler was enjoying himself in the brothel, he suddenly suffered a stroke during intercourse. By the time others reacted, the Ma sect swindler was already foaming at the mouth and had completely stopped breathing.

At the same time, outside the brothel, Mu Dian shook his bell and walked downstairs. A lust-insect happened to bite through the window paper and fell into the cloth bag he had just opened.

Leaving the brothel, Mu Dian turned and came to the Feng residence.

The butler who opened the door asked him what he wanted, and he said he came to find the golden turtle insect.

The butler heard this and said bluntly: "Then you're too late. During the day, the young master heard he had to eat an insect to treat his illness, felt disgusted, and threw the insect into the birdcage to feed the birds."

A priceless insect, and you fed it to the birds?

As soon as the butler finished speaking, Mu Dian was so angry his eyes turned red.

Why are the people in this capital all such beasts?

Fine! Since you made me unhappy, then don't think about being happy yourselves.

Mu Dian turned his head and scattered quite a bit of bamboo-splinter Gu on the road at the entrance of the Feng family.

What is bamboo-splinter Gu?

Placing bamboo splinters coated with Gu medicine on the road; after pedestrians step on them, the Gu insects will attach to their feet and legs, causing abnormal pain, eventually leading to foot deformity, and they won't live more than four or five years. This is called bamboo-splinter Gu.

It was also at this time that the Feng family was not destined to die. Just as Mu Dian was scattering the bamboo splinters, a monk riding a donkey backward stood at the entrance of the alley, staring at him.

After Mu Dian finished scattering the splinters, the fat monk who had been watching ran out driving his thin donkey.

After the thin donkey came out, it trampled all over the bamboo splinters on the ground. Mu Dian was dumbfounded. Is Luojing City incompatible with his horoscope, or what? Why does someone always oppose him every time?

Inside the Feng residence, Master Feng heard from his servants that a monk was wandering at the door, so he came out to check.

Just after coming out, Master Feng took one look and saw a fat monk blocking a barbarian, urging him to do good.

Master Feng didn't know what was going on. The butler on the side said that the barbarian had cast Gu at their door to harm them, and it was this master who stepped in to break his magic and help them once.

As he spoke, the butler pointed to the broken bamboo splinters on the ground, where many crushed insects were still sticking.

After the monk lectured Mu Dian for a while, he finally came to Master Feng.

"This poor monk lost a golden insect a few days ago. That insect has some history; it was a turtle insect that lived under my meditation cushion when I was meditating, and it had already gained some spirituality. When I came out of seclusion, I didn't expect it to follow me out..."

Butler He heard this and said embarrassedly: "Master, that golden insect was fed to the birds by our young master yesterday..."

"No matter, you just bring that bird here."

After Butler He brought out the birdcage, the fat monk caught the bird, sliced open a cut on its crop, reached in and searched for a while, and a sticky golden turtle insect saw the light of day again.

"This bird is an ordinary bird. As long as it hasn't been more than twelve hours, the insect will be fine."

After speaking, the fat monk let the golden turtle insect crawl to the pet bird and spit black foam onto its crop.

Once the black foam touched the crop, the pet bird's wound healed visibly to the naked eye.

Master Feng found it strange. He hadn't played with insects much in his daily life, but he had never seen such a powerful insect. Just by spitting a little saliva, it was actually more effective than top-quality golden sore medicine.

Putting the golden turtle insect into his bosom, the fat monk looked at Mu Dian again: "This person's heart is not upright. He couldn't harm me, but I'm afraid he will hold a grudge against your family in the future. How does the benefactor plan to deal with him?"

Master Feng heard this and said without hesitation: "Why keep such a harmful person? Better to take him to the officials."

The fat monk nodded and said: "If you send him to the government office, you can only send him to the Demon Suppression Division. If you send him elsewhere, I'm afraid they won't be able to control him."

With the monk in charge, the Feng family went to report the case. Before long, people from the Demon Suppression Division arrived with hooks and ropes, pierced Mu Dian's shoulder blades, and escorted him to the prison of the division.

In the alley, twelve or thirteen-year-old Li Acuo happened to see this scene.

Mu Dian never came out after entering the Demon Suppression Division. The lame Li Acuo lost his master and had to fend for himself.

After the Water and Land Ceremony ended, and another five years passed, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old lame young man came to the Feng residence again...

The subsequent events were roughly the same as what Master Feng the Second said. The dozen or so members of the Feng family all died of Gu insect harm overnight. The only survivor was Master Feng the Second himself.

And the reason Master Feng the Second survived was because of the bird he raised five years ago.

Li Acuo hated the Feng family to the extreme. Master Feng the Second, this hard-to-kill lone survivor, had always been a thorn in his heart.

Master Feng the Second was timid. At that time, Butler He's son happened to be helping manage the family business outside, so he went to seek refuge and traveled all the way to Jiangnan.

After staying in Jiangnan for a while, Master Feng the Second had a stomach upset and was vomiting and having diarrhea. He mistakenly thought that the filthy thing had caught up with him, so he took the newly appointed "Butler He" and went everywhere to seek ways to subdue the evil spirit.

By the time the tracking Gu raised by Li Acuo finally sensed Master Feng the Second's trail again, he discovered that this person had already entered the Yin trade and become a "Phoenix Fairy" medium.

Chickens naturally restrain Gu insects, and the white rooster newly raised by Master Feng the Second was passed down by an expert. Even the bird that had been blessed and enlightened by the fat monk back then was not as powerful as this white chicken.

Seeing that he couldn't get close, Li Acuo returned to Nancuo to cultivate for nearly twenty years, until he came to Jinmen again not long ago...

In his eyes, how many years could a white chicken live at most?

But when he truly arrived in Jinmen, he discovered that the white chicken ate fine rice and fat insects all day long, and drank water boiled with cordyceps and ginseng.

There were even people specifically serving that chicken.

Li Acuo felt that if this continued, he might not live as long as that chicken!

Until one day, one of the path-finding insects sent out to deliver food every day finally returned alive.

Li Acuo felt a joy in his heart; Heaven does not disappoint those who try, and he had finally caught his chance.

Without the immortal bird guarding him, Master Feng the Second was a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in his eyes.

And then, it was the scene where Li Acuo saw Jin Luan fly out of the paper sedan.

He died without ever understanding where this big rooster, which couldn't even fit into two pots, had popped out from.

After the revolving lantern finished running, the Scripture of Human Deliverance gave an assessment of the corpse: Earth-grade, middle quality.

The reward was a secret technique for cultivating Gu insects, a method for controlling Gu insects, and a pair of golden cicada molts.

The function of the cicada molt is very simple: whenever you encounter danger, leave behind one cicada molt, and you can use the method of "golden cicada shedding its shell" to transfer to the place where the other cicada molt is buried, breaking through the soil to be reborn.

However, this cicada molt also has a limitation, which is that it can only be used once.

(End of chapter)