Chapter 144: The Corrupt Situation

Damn, isn't this guy crippled?

How come he's moving so fast?

Looking at Luo Faqing's cold face, Sha Lifei couldn't help but curse in his heart, while feeling vaguely worried.

Even the "tethering post" method had been seen through by others, so I'm afraid those methods of fooling people and getting away had no use.

The key is that they still don't know what happened.

Hearing Squire Du's inquiry, Wang Daoxuan hurriedly glanced at Li Yan, but saw that he had his eyes closed and his head lowered, as if he were asleep.

Even if the Daoist's cultivation of Qi is good, he couldn't help but panic in his heart, stroked his beard and frowned: "Squire Du, there are some situations that we still need to understand."

"Hahaha..."

Luo Faqing sneered: "Coming to the door without understanding the situation, and still being shameless, using Jianghu means to cheat."

"The face of the Mystic Sect is lost by people like you!"

Sha Lifei didn't lose his spirit, immediately mocked: "Yo, isn't this the Daoist Luo from that night? Why, just lost the Mystic Sect battle to us, and forgot it today?"

"Who is actually being shameless?"

"Bold

Luo Faqing was suddenly enraged and slapped the armrest of his chair fiercely, "What kind of things are you? Low-class trash, don't think that just because you have Shen Sanyou backing you, I wouldn't dare slaughter you!"

Provoked by the opponent's killing intent, Sha Lifei felt a chill in his heart, but still gritted his teeth, preparing to retort.

He understood that Luo Faqing was doing this on purpose. If they were scared away like this today, it would spread throughout the Chang'an Mystic Sects tomorrow.

Chang'an had the Enforcement Hall; killing people in broad daylight, even for the Shangshan Dharma Lineage, was not something they could do recklessly.

Just then, Li Yan suddenly opened his eyes, blocked Sha Lifei with one hand, and looked at Luo Faqing with a calm expression, "Daoist Luo, don't stir up trouble and sow discord here."

"Being unable to solve the problem yourself and resorting to petty tricks is what's truly low-class!"

"Heh, what a big mouth!"

Luo Faqing was amused by the anger, "What does a greenhorn who just entered the door know? Fine, why don't you tell me how this matter should be handled?"

"Sigh, it's hard to handle..."

Li Yan sighed and turned to look at Wang Daoxuan, "Daoist, you saw on the road that this marrow-dripping formation was tainted; why didn't you just say so directly?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Faqing and Squire Du changed their expressions simultaneously.

Wang Daoxuan had studied Feng Shui and disaster-averting methods for many years, seeking the Dao, and understood some things about other Mystic Sects, but he suffered from a lack of supernatural ability; when encountering things, he was like a blind man touching an elephant, often making mistakes.

Prompted by Li Yan and combining it with something he had heard before, he immediately had a guess; his heart felt bitter, but his face remained unchanged as he sighed, shook his head, and said, "Sigh~ it's not that this poor Daoist was hiding it."

"This Daoist Luo is right; our strength is insufficient, and this matter truly cannot be handled. We shall take our leave now."

Saying this meant they were retreating.

Although Li Yan had doubts in his heart, he did not refute it.

Since Wang Daoxuan had openly said he couldn't handle it and was willing to admit defeat, it showed that the matter here was truly difficult, and it was better to leave early.

"Wait!"

Just then, Squire Du suddenly stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply, "Everyone, I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; please forgive me."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head, "Squire Du, it's not that we are putting on airs; this matter truly cannot be handled."

"I understand."

Squire Du sighed, "But since it concerns the lives of my clansmen, please stay for a few more days and think of a way. Regardless of the outcome, there will be generous gifts, and I will never let you work in vain."

"Steward Wang, clean up Chong'er's courtyard for these gentlemen to stay in; you must treat them well..."

"Yes, Master."

Seeing that Li Yan and the others had real ability, Steward Wang also breathed a sigh of relief and said flatteringly, "Everyone, please follow me."

As he spoke, he gave Zhao Jiu a wink.

Zhao Jiu also advised, "Young Hero Li, look, it's already late; why don't we stay first and talk later."

Since the matter had reached this point, the three of them couldn't refute it and, led by Steward Wang, left the main hall.

Luo Faqing, standing to the side, already had an ugly expression; as soon as they left, he said, "Squire Du, these people truly have average ability; without a Dharma Lineage ancestral altar, they are just side-door heretics, their cultivation at most only two stories high..."

"I know."

Squire Du interrupted him directly and sighed, "They were able to see the problem at a glance, so they must have some ability. I am at my wit's end and can only treat a dead horse as a living one."

"Besides, Daoist Luo, there's no need to mince words; if Master Yue had a way to solve this, why would he hide and not see me, letting you handle this matter?"

"This..."

Luo Faqing's face flushed red, and he was speechless.

…………

"Everyone, it's just ahead!"

Steward Wang led the way diligently and said flatteringly, "That is the courtyard of the Second Young Master, He Chong. The Second Young Master has been following ships to sea for years, and the Master misses him very much."

"This courtyard is often cleaned, and the Master truly respects you all..."

He chattered on, but the three of them didn't take it to heart.

If it weren't for seeing that they had spotted the clues and having a need for them, this Squire Du would probably have already shown them a thing or two by now.

"Sigh, everyone."

Zhao Jiu, the disciple from the dental agency who had been following them, suddenly spoke up, his face full of apology, "My second uncle's third aunt is here, and since she's finally come, I must go visit the old lady, so I'll take my leave first."

Having said that, he cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Although he didn't know what had happened, he was accustomed to observing expressions and had already sensed the danger, so he slipped away early.

Sha Lifei cursed under his breath but didn't pay any attention.

This was the way of most old martial world people: take advantage when there's a bargain, bow to a big brother when there is one, and hide when there's danger.

Steward Wang also acted as if he hadn't seen it and led the three of them into the small courtyard.

Sure enough, the courtyard was very clean and elegant.

After arranging rooms for them, Steward Wang smiled flatteringly, "You have come from afar, so rest first; I will go order people to prepare hot water, wine, and food for you."

Having said that, he carefully closed the door and left.

As soon as he left, Sha Lifei jumped to the door and looked again and again, then made a gesture, asking if it was safe to talk.

Li Yan pinched a Dharma seal, took a deep breath, and after sensing that no one was eavesdropping nearby, turned his head and said, "Daoist, what's going on?"

"It's a bit troublesome."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head slightly, "Did you communicate with the divine just now? Tell me what you saw first."

He naturally knew about Li Yan's ability to communicate with the divine.

The Mountain God of the mass grave, the Tiger Daoist of the Medicine King Temple... all were found by Li Yan using the hook-tally to communicate with the divine to find a way to break the situation.

"This residence is indeed not simple."

Li Yan shook his head slightly, "The Feng Shui layout of the residential house is, as you said, quite remarkable; it can actually form a situation similar to a Daoist temple."

"Actually, before I even entered the house, the hook-tally reacted. Later, when I entered the main hall and saw the ancestral tablet, I immediately reacted and saw a scene..."

"It was a lotus-shaped Bagua bowl throne, with an old man sitting in it, wearing dead man's clothes, his face ashen, staring straight at me. That look... it didn't look like a human at all!"

"Also, some black mucus was dripping from his head, staining the whole person, and the jade bowl was no exception."

"I left in time, remembered what you said earlier, and so I gave a warning to take a gamble." "Sure enough!"

Wang Daoxuan tugged at his beard and frowned, "For the sake of wealth, this Du family really dares to do anything."

"Generally speaking, the formation of a marrow-dripping situation takes time; after all, it's dripping, and the blessings gather bit by bit, only benefiting descendants after ten years, but there is also a secret method that can accelerate the process."

"If I'm not mistaken, they must have secretly moved their ancestors' bones and buried them outside a large tomb around the city of Haojing; to be even bolder, they might have even occupied a magpie's nest and buried them in an ancient Zhou noble tomb."

Li Yan frowned slightly, "Is that useful too?"

"Ordinary ones naturally wouldn't work."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head, "But this is the Marrow-Dripping Heaven; they used the bones of their ancestors to accelerate this process."

Li Yan suddenly realized, "Did this method go wrong?"

Wang Daoxuan shook his head, "Not exactly. This method is dangerous, but there is a way to keep it stable, which is to perform rituals every seven years and every leap year to drive away the evil energy and resentment stained in the ancestor's tomb."

"It would have been fine, but it just so happened that a major event occurred recently, which you should be able to think of."

!.

A flash of inspiration struck Li Yan, "The ancient Zhou tomb was robbed!"

"Hmm."

Wang Daoxuan nodded, "These tomb robbers used a large amount of explosives, and the Du family's ancestral tomb must have been nearby, affected by it, causing the tomb energy to leak."

"Moving graves and disturbing the earth is always better left quiet than moved, let alone in such a dangerous situation. The ancestors' resentment erupted, inevitably harming descendants, starting with the youngest."

"Hiss! So ruthless?"

Sha Lifei gasped, "Can't they perform rituals to appease the ancestors' resentment?"

"Difficult!"

Wang Daoxuan sighed, "Their method is equivalent to placing their ancestors in an ancient Zhou tomb; no one would be happy about that. Moreover, they want to use the marrow-dripping situation to make their ancestors become Yin gods for protection."

"That's the one Little Brother Yan saw."

Sha Lifei cursed, "Really, for the sake of wealth, they tossed their ancestors around like this; no wonder they want revenge."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and shook his head, "This is a bloodline curse brought upon themselves; this poor Daoist doesn't have the ability to break it."

"Perhaps, when the people from the Taixuan Orthodox Sect return, they will have a way."

Having figured out the cause, the three of them stopped thinking about it.

After all, even the Shangshan Dharma Lineage was helpless in this matter, so naturally, they were even more helpless.

Not long after, Steward Wang sent hot water, wine, and food.

Sha Lifei dragged him aside and pried for information, both openly and secretly.

Sure enough, it was the same as what Wang Daoxuan had said.

"This poor Daoist may not have enough ability to solve it, but I can offer some ideas."

Squire Du naturally knew what was going on and even went to the old tomb specifically to take a look, getting so angry he nearly passed away on the spot.

He hired witches and shamans, but none could make his grandson wake up.

Not long after, the grandson suddenly disappeared and never appeared again.

Just one day later, the granddaughter fell into the same situation, running a fever, falling into a coma, and talking nonsense.

Squire Du's eldest wife loved her granddaughter dearly and often accompanied her at night to check on her, but two days ago, she didn't know what she saw and died on the spot from a ruptured liver and gallbladder from fright.

For days, the entire Du residence had been in a state of panic.

After Steward Wang left, the three of them looked at each other, shook their heads in silence, and then went to bed.

They had already made up their minds to explain this to Squire Du tomorrow and let them hire someone more capable...

…………

In the mourning hall, paper money and ingots burned endlessly in the fire basin.

Squire Du's eldest son, Du An, was absent-minded, his eyes blank and spiritless, occasionally looking toward the direction of the backyard.

Logically speaking, with such a big thing happening, he should be presiding over the situation, at least not letting his father worry.

But in a short period, first his son disappeared, life or death unknown, then his daughter also had an accident, and before he could react, his mother left him too.

Repeated blows had brought this middle-aged man to the brink of collapse; all he could do now was keep vigil for his mother.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him.

Du An's hair stood on end, and he turned around suddenly like a startled rabbit. After seeing who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief and stammered, "G-Greetings, Daoist Luo."

The person who came was none other than Luo Faqing.

Luo Faqing nodded, scanned the surroundings expressionlessly, and then said, "It's nothing, I just came to take a look."

Having said that, he turned to leave.

But halfway there, he turned his head to look at the dejected Du An and felt an inexplicable sense of unbearable pity, so he said, "Don't worry, it's not your turn yet..."

Before he finished speaking, he felt awkward himself, lightly slapped his own mouth, and turned to leave.

He walked quickly and soon arrived at a small courtyard behind the Du residence.

In the side room of the small courtyard, a young girl in the prime of her youth was lying on the bed, her face flushed red, sweat soaking her hair, her teeth clenched, and her eyelids trembling constantly, as if she were having a nightmare.

The bed the girl was lying on was a "babu" bed, something only wealthy families had, with exquisite carvings and decorations inlaid with jade, tortoiseshell, and other ornaments, making it extremely precious.

And this babu bed was now densely wrapped in red ropes, with not only copper coins and copper bells hanging on it, but also many talismans pasted on it.

Squire Du held a long blade and sat outside the side room; although the servants around him held blades, spears, and sticks, everyone was trembling with fear.

Seeing this, Luo Faqing shook his head, "Squire Du, these things are useless; bloodline curses originate from within."

"I know."

Squire Du gripped the hilt of his blade fiercely and gritted his teeth, "I just wanted to see him again. Back then, he nearly destroyed the Du family; how many years has he been dead, and he's still causing trouble!"

"He wanted my life back then, so today I'll pay him back!"

Although his words were harsh, his spirit had already deflated, as if he had aged significantly in an instant. He turned and entered the room, his right hand trembling as he touched the exquisite patterns on the babu bed, murmuring:

"This was built by a craftsman when Wan'er was little, thinking that one day in the future, I could personally send her out of the house..."

Having said this, his lips were already trembling: "Daoist Luo, tell me, did I do something wrong back then, leading to today's retribution?"

Luo Faqing was silent, not knowing how to answer.

He thought of Du An just now.

He was proficient in many powerful killing techniques, but when it came to averting disasters and dispelling evil, it really wasn't his strong suit.

That day, the words Shen Sanyou said before leaving inexplicably welled up in his heart.

Having techniques but no Dao, having techniques but no Dao...

Could it be,

that the path is truly crooked?

Just as Luo Faqing's thoughts were in chaos, he suddenly discovered that Squire Du was staring at the space above his back, his face full of terror and turning pale.

Luo Faqing's scalp went numb, and he turned around immediately, a talisman appearing in his hand.

He saw that in the corner of the roof beam, a black shadow had appeared at some point, blurry and indistinct, like a large bird.

Under the black wings, there was a vaguely visible pale human face...

(End of chapter)