Chapter 104: Seven Arrows Book

Niubeiliang, with its strange peaks and rugged mountain terrain.

This place was the main peak of the southeast Qin Ling Mountains, the watershed between Guanzhong and Shangzhou, with majestic mountain ranges, yet distributed with large and small river gullies.

On the high mountains, there was even perennial glacier coverage, turning into streams that flowed through each river gully.

Once it rained, flash floods would erupt, and combined with the towering and dense trees, clouds and mist, outsiders who entered would often get trapped within.

Because of this, Niubeiliang gathered many bandits.

On the west side of a river gully, a wall stood a thousand fathoms high, with a huge cave hidden within, connected to the outside world only by a plank road; it was the location of White Tiger Village.

Inside the cave hall, torches blazed, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The air was filled with the smell of blood, and painful groans sounded continuously, with wounded people lying all over the ground.

Bai Yanhu sat on the chieftain's throne with a grand posture. His face was gloomy, his upper body armor had been taken off, and he was bare-chested, bloodstains constantly seeping through the thick white cloth bandages.

On the two rows of chairs below him sat the surviving Four Beams and Eight Pillars, as well as the leaders of various mountain villages.

Originally they were still shouting to kill, but now they had no heart for it, because it was through their concerted cooperation that they had escaped the garrison encirclement.

Pa!

Looking at the tragic scene before him, the man who had been clamoring with Bai Yanhu earlier became angrier the more he thought about it. He slapped the chair armrest, breaking it, and said angrily: "Fine, wanted to eat alone, now nobody gets to eat!"

A fierce light flashed in Bai Yanhu's eyes, "What, you still want to play?"

He was also holding a breath of evil fire in his heart.

If it weren't for these idiots blocking him, how could he have missed the opportunity to escape? What was even more unlucky was that military experts bit him hard halfway, and he had to throw away all the red goods he had robbed.

He escaped like a cicada shedding its skin, only then saving his life.

He had originally planned to take the money and go to the coast to get a boat, taking his brothers to continue making a fortune, but his painstaking planning had resulted in this outcome, and his relied-upon subordinates had suffered heavy casualties. At this moment, an evil fire was rushing straight to his forehead.

The man below still dared to talk nonsense, which had already made him want to kill.

"Play? How do you want to play..."

That man was also someone who didn't blink when killing and was equally extraordinary in skill, his right hand already slowly moving toward his blade hilt.

"Everyone is in such high spirits!"

Just at this moment, an old voice sounded.

Only to see an old man slowly walking toward the cave entrance, wearing a sheepskin coat and a dog-skin hat. His face and figure were thin with a hooked nose, and although he had a smile on his face, it was even more chilling.

As soon as he appeared, everyone stood up nervously.

"Old Ghost Long, what are you doing here?"

Bai Yanhu narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice.

The newcomer was none other than the chieftain of Old Dragon Village, Long Sanjiu.

Originally, Old Dragon Village had the strongest strength, and this Old Ghost Long was an expert who had entered the Transformation Strength for many years, with sinister methods that no one wanted to offend.

Some time ago, there were many mysterious experts in Old Dragon Village, and even sorcerers, who wanted to subdue the entire Niubeiliang bandit village.

Everyone didn't want to, which led to these troubles.

Now that he suddenly came to the door, it was definitely with ill intent.

"Why are you brothers nervous?"

Long Sanjiu gave a calm smile, "Things have reached this point, how could this old man add insult to injury? This time, I'm just here to plan a future for you all."

Bai Yanhu narrowed his eyes, "What future?"

"No rush."

Long Sanjiu smiled, "Let me introduce someone to you all first."

As he spoke, he turned, bent over, and arched his hands, "Welcome, Incense Master!"

Several figures appeared at the cave entrance and walked in with broad strides. The leader was none other than the Incense Master of the Maitreya Sect, Dugu Gan.

Only then did Long Sanjiu speak: "Everyone, this is Incense Master Dugu of the Maitreya Sect. With him protecting us, even if the imperial court sends more people, we have no need to fear."

Everyone looked at each other, and Bai Yanhu was even more vigilant, "Old Ghost Long, when did you join the Maitreya Sect?"

Long Sanjiu laughed dumbly, "This old man has always been one."

Bai Yanhu gave a hum and shook his head: "Different paths, no common ground. We are just mixing for a meal in the Green Forest, with no ambition, so please forgive us."

They were mountain bandits, aiming for money. If they had enough savings, they might even hide their names and go to the prosperous Jiangnan to be a wealthy man.

The Maitreya Sect was always stirring up turmoil and rebellion. Now that the Great Xuan Dynasty was strong, how could following the Maitreya Sect have any good results?

Long Sanjiu's face lost its smile, and his voice became gloomy, "Bai, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit..."

Before he finished speaking, Dugu Gan beside him waved his hand to interrupt him and smiled: "Fellow travelers, you have no choice now."

"The imperial court is corrupt and incompetent. That Li Siyuan, to avoid gossip, will surely dispatch experts to wipe you all out. Niubei Ridge has high mountains and dense forests, but if a master uses troops and horses, not one of you will escape."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately turned gloomy.

They knew this person was right. Probably at this moment, Chang'an was dispatching elites to enter the mountains to encircle and suppress them.

Bai Yanhu gave a cold laugh, "What if I don't follow?"

Before the words fell, his expression changed drastically. He picked up the thorn-studded mace beside him and stared at the surroundings nervously.

Hu~

A fishy wind suddenly rose, and a black shadow suddenly appeared in the cave, circling rapidly along the dark corners of the stone wall.

"What is that?"

Many bandits were panicked and hurriedly stood up to check.

However, this black shadow was shockingly fast. They couldn't see its appearance clearly at all, only vaguely seeing it was a large snake.

Bai Yanhu's feeling was even more intense.

He only felt the hair on his back stand up, and a cold chill was staring fixedly at him, more terrifying than any fierce beast he had ever seen.

"Die!"

Bai Yanhu suddenly twisted his body, hidden strength erupted, his arm muscles swelled, blue veins popped out, and the thorn-studded mace whistled down.

What he practiced was the Eight Battle Styles of the military.

The moves were simple but extremely practical, straight and fierce, and combined with that chainmail, he had made a fierce name for himself.

Peng!

The thorn-studded mace hit the target.

But Bai Yanhu felt fear rising in his heart.

Behind him was none other than that cockscomb snake, which seemed to have shed its skin, its body growing another size, as thick as a sea bowl.

The thorn-studded mace was covered with thorns, but when it hit its body, it collided with the black scales, spraying sparks, and was then bounced away by a force.

This was the terror of the cockscomb snake.

Its speed was shocking, it was impervious to blades and spears, and combined with its terrifying snake venom, ordinary martial world experts couldn't do anything to it.

At the mass grave, if it weren't for Commandant Chang Xuan knowing its weakness and being prepared, they would have suffered heavy casualties and fled.

Sha~

Scales rubbed against the ground, making a rustling sound. The cockscomb snake raised its body high, already half a head taller than Bai Yanhu.

And at this moment, Bai Yanhu was already trembling all over, unable to move.

The cockscomb snake lowered its head, a pair of cold snake eyes seeming to carry some mysterious power, making Bai Yanhu's whole body stiff.

He roared desperately in his heart, but even though bloodshot eyes appeared, he couldn't move a bit, watching helplessly as the cockscomb snake coiled around him.

Kala la!

A bone-chilling sound of bones cracking rang out.

Bai Yanhu soon had all his bones broken, lost his life, and was swallowed into the belly by the cockscomb snake, which opened its fangs and big mouth, first the head, then the body, bit by bit...

Watching this terrifying scene, the mountain bandits all felt their hair stand on end.

Dugu Gan gave a slight sigh, "Everyone, this seat doesn't want to be like this either, but the imperial court's people will arrive soon, and there's no time to talk nonsense with him. Pack up your things and follow me."

"Go... go where?"

A bandit leader asked stutteringly.

Dugu Gan looked outside the cave, his eyes somewhat helpless. "Deep in the Qin Ling Mountains, this seat needs to dig up something, which requires a large number of people..."

………………

After passing Niubeiliang, the terrain gradually lowered toward the south.

Most of the time, it was a downhill road, so Li Yan and the others also accelerated, traveling for another two days before arriving near Fengyang County.

Arriving here, the mountain terrain gradually slowed down.

However, on the mountain cliffs on both sides of the road, honeycomb-like caves attracted everyone's attention.

"Hiss, Daoist, what is that?"

Sha Lifei looked suspicious, "It can't be wild beasts, being able to build nests on the mountain, and so many!"

"That's a cliff tomb."

Li Yan looked at it while riding his horse and explained with a smile: "People have been building them since the Han Dynasty, and even now, some people choose this burial method."

Master Zhou of the Spring Breeze Troupe praised: "Li Li Shaoxia has good knowledge."

!.

Li Yan shook his head: "I just heard people talk about it before."

In fact, he had been to this place in his previous life, and even visited a few of them,

don't look at how they appear ordinary on the outside, but the internal structure is quite complex.

Bedrooms, halls, kitchens, storage rooms were clearly divided, and there were even water pools, wells, toilets, stoves, and niches.

Clearly it was a tomb, but it seemed like someone had lived inside.

"Built on the mountain?"

Sha Lifei was speechless, "So obvious, the grave robbers wouldn't be happy to death. Daoist, what's the reason for building on a cliff?"

Wang Fu laughed dumbly, shook his head, and said: "The ancestors of the Divine Land worshipped dragons, believing that in some places, cliff burials could better occupy dragon caves. First, it could help ancestors ascend to immortality after death, and second, it could help descendants gather wealth and luck."

"This custom also flourished because of the Qin and Han Immortality Dao. The 'Book of the Later Han' records: 'Chisel the cliff stone into a room, entrust the high yang to raise immortals.'"

"The so-called burial is to ride the vital energy. Look at this place, with a front illumination, a back support, surrounded by mountains on three sides, and facing water on one side, with dragon veins, altars, all available, hiding wind and obtaining water, naturally it is a good cave."

Sha Lifei gave a sneer, "It's still being dug clean by people. Damn it, not to mention the wealth during life, even after death they want to become immortals, and still want their descendants to be wealthy, there's no such good thing!"

"Fool, one by one even greedier than me, Old Sha."

Wang Fu sighed: "Who says it isn't? The good fortune in this world has its own fixed number, but human greed is endless, and all kinds of killing calamities arise because of this..."

Just as he was sighing, a fork in the road appeared ahead.

Seeing this, Master Zhou hurriedly arched his hands: "Li Li Shaoxia, Daoist Wang. Hero Sha, we have to turn to Luonan, so we will part ways here!"

"Master Zhou, be careful on the road."

"See you again."

After saying goodbye to everyone, the Spring Breeze Troupe left along another road, gradually disappearing from everyone's sight.

Li Yan and the others continued forward.

Not long after walking, Li Yan rode his horse alongside Wang Fu and asked in a low voice: "Daoist, have you comprehended it?"

"Comprehending it is naturally impossible."

Wang Fu shook his head slightly and took out the old yellowed book from his bosom; it was none other than the "Seven Arrows Secret Spell" Li Yan had searched from Yu Laosi.

"Nail-Head Seven Arrows Book!"

Sha Lifei also happened to lean over, and seeing the name on the book, he gasped, "The Daoist actually obtained this powerful immortal art!"

Wang Fu was surprised, "You recognize it."

"Who doesn't know it..."

Sha Lifei's eyes lit up, "The opera talks about it; Lu Ya used this thing to nail the God of Wealth Zhao to death, I can even sing it!"

As he spoke, he sang: "The whip of the sea made him flee in the wind, and from overseas came the Immortal Lu Ya. This evil Daoist has seven arrows and his magic power is not shallow, setting up a grass doll and a magic platform to sacrifice to my Qishan..."

"Alright, alright, where did that go."

Wang Fu couldn't laugh or cry, "The Investiture of the Gods opera was compiled by later generations. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Mystic Sect did indeed have a great war, but there are only fragments of records, and later generations no longer know the true situation."

"However, this 'Seven Arrows Secret Spell' is a famous curse method, with ancient origins and widely known. Farm women sticking dolls to curse people comes from this art."

"Oh, is that so."

Sha Lifei was somewhat disappointed and asked: "Is this method powerful?"

Wang Fu nodded solemnly: "It is naturally powerful."

"Ancient curse methods are often simple and direct. This method has only two spell methods: one is the Soul-Hooking Spell, which can hook the living soul of a yang person and the yin soul of a yin person; the second is the Seven Arrows Divine Book Spell, which takes seven days to perform and can curse a person to death."

Sha Lifei said happily: "That's just right, with this method, the Daoist will be like a tiger with wings. Whoever provokes us in the future, we'll just bow to them seven times!"

However, Wang Fu didn't respond and was somewhat hesitant.

Li Yan's heart moved, "Daoist, is there a problem with this method?"

Wang Fu nodded: "It's not that this poor Daoist is pedantic, but this method is too fierce and hurts the harmony of heaven. If used too much, I'm afraid I'll be entangled by killing intent and fall into a demonic barrier."

Hearing this, Li Yan laughed dumbly, "Daoist, I've heard that the Buddha also has the Vajra's angry eyes. Whether a blade is evil or not depends on who is holding it."

"With your character, Daoist, this method won't be an evil art."

Wang Fu was silent for a long time, then nodded: "Very well, this poor Daoist was once hooked by a soul, and the only yin soldier I had died to a Soul-Hooking Spell; perhaps I really have a connection with this method."

As he spoke, he formed a seal with his right hand, pressed on the "Seven Arrows Secret Spell," and chanted: "This poor Daoist swears here: this spell will only be used on evil spirits and extremely treacherous and evil people; using it indiscriminately will surely lead to death!"

Li Yan was stunned, "Why must you do this, Daoist?"

Wang Fu was silent for a moment, then smiled frankly: "Everyone has seven emotions and six desires and will always do wrong things. This poor Daoist is a vulgar person, so naturally I'm no exception; it's better to have some constraints."

After speaking, he closed his mouth, seemingly not wanting to talk about this matter anymore.

Not long after, he was chatting with Sha Lifei again.

Li Yan looked at Wang Fu's back and shook his head slightly.

He knew that this Daoist must have experienced something; not everyone has such a firm heart toward the Dao from the beginning and is always kind and generous.

But Wang Fu didn't mention it, and he didn't want to ask more.

By sunset, the team finally arrived at Fengyang County.

Here, there were more pedestrians on the official road, especially mule and horse caravans, coming and going, far more than other county towns.

Wang Fu smiled: "South of Fengyang is the Chu region."

"This place has the Manchuan Pass, a famous water and land wharf, connecting Wu and Chu in the south and Qin and Jin in the north. During the Warring States period, it was Qin territory in the morning, with Qin flags, Qin clothes, Qin etiquette, and Qin language, but by evening it was under Chu jurisdiction, changing to Chu flags, Chu clothes, Chu customs, and Chu language, hence the idiom 'Morning Qin, Evening Chu'."

"These mule and horse teams should all be from the wharf mule and horse gangs. We've arrived, so we won't enter the city; let's hurry and send the senior home."

"I'll go ask for directions."

Sha Lifei immediately spurred his horse and went to find an old man driving a cart to ask: "Old man, how do I get to Wu Family Ditch?"

Wu Family Ditch was the hometown of the yin-crossing person Wu Laosi.

Unfortunately, this old man must have been from Ezhou, with a heavy dialect. He talked with Sha Lifei for a long time before they figured out the road.

"Ouch, that was really exhausting."

After Sha Lifei returned, he pointed to the southeast, "Wu Family Ditch is over there, we should be able to arrive before dark."

Everyone didn't talk nonsense and hit the road directly.

They didn't notice that the old man driving the cart suddenly turned his head, his eyes looking at them somewhat strangely.

Just as Sha Lifei said, when it was dark, they finally found a village, built against the mountain, beside a dried-up riverbed.

However, everyone was dumbfounded.

This village was already empty, with wild grass growing, like a ghost village...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 105 =====