Chapter 539: The Mysterious Statue

"A woman crying?"

Sha Li Fei first froze, then suddenly understood, whispering: "Something unclean?"

He had also awakened his spiritual senses; though lacking great marvels, his five senses far surpassed ordinary people.

At this distance, if he couldn't hear it, there was definitely something wrong.

"Mm."

Lu San nodded slightly, signaling everyone to retreat to the wall's base, then pulled a dried yarrow stalk from his sleeve, formed a hand seal, murmured a few incantations against his lips, and blew gently.

Huh~

A light breeze stirred, and the dried stalk fluttered up and down.

As it neared the lifeless house, it twisted violently, rapidly covered in white frost, like a block of ice, then clattered to the ground.

This was using yarrow stalks to divine fortune or misfortune.

Lu San was not skilled in this art, but after studying the Lan Zhi Scripture, he could communicate with plants and flowers, so learning this method came naturally.

"Such thick resentment…"

Seeing this, Lu San frowned and turned to Wang Tianzuo: "What was this man's usual character?"

Wang Tianzuo knew exactly what he meant and quickly shook his head: "Brother Lu was upright—he would never use sorcery to harm others. When villagers asked for his help, he rarely took payment, and lived a very humble life."

"You can never truly know a man's heart…"

Sha Li Fei sighed, not believing it.

"Squeak!"

Before he finished speaking, the old weasel beside him grew agitated, hopping around, baring its claws, making all sorts of gestures.

Seeing this, Lu San pondered: "It says Brother Lu never harmed anyone and always forbade them from approaching the village."

As he spoke, a sudden insight struck him: "Something's off—someone must have set a trap inside the house, and it's almost certainly the one who harmed Brother Lu!"

"What do we do?"

"Use their own trap against them!"

After a quick consultation, the group devised a plan.

Lu San took a straw doll from his sleeve, plucked a few strands of his own hair, wrapped them in yellow cloth, stuffed them inside, then bound it tightly with red string.

After finishing, he approached the courtyard wall again.

This rural old house had a mud wall no taller than a man; Lu San reached out, pushed off, and leapt cleanly over.

He landed without a sound.

As before, the entire courtyard was pitch black; the gate was locked, staged to look like the owner had left on a journey.

Behind the gate, someone had drawn a massive talisman with white ash—step on it by accident, and you'd trigger it.

Worse still, the white ash emitted a foul, putrid stench of corpse.

Lu San had heard Wang Daoxuan explain: this was called "yin ash," burned from the coffins of ancient yin beings or zombies.

Folk Xiedao often used this to cast curses.

Lu San ignored it, his ears twitching as he listened intently.

Soon, he turned his head toward the large tree in the courtyard.

The woman's crying came from beneath the jujube tree.

Upon closer inspection, Lu San noticed a string hanging from the branches—woven from a woman's hair, tied to a thick hemp rope stained with blood, thick with yin energy.

Under the dark moon and howling wind, a faint white shadow seemed to hover beneath the jujube tree.

Indeed, this was a ghost-expelling curse meant to harm…

Seeing it, Lu San's eyes grew cold.

He had already guessed the opponent's method.

The thick hemp rope was the very object a suffering woman used to hang herself—her vengeful spirit clung to it.

Normally, such an object should be ritually laid to rest, calming the resentment—but someone had used dark sorcery to refine it, cultivating a vengeful ghost to cast curses.

In all xuan sects—Buddhist, Daoist, or shamanic—letting spirits rest is the rule.

This method was pure, unadulterated Xiedao.

Lu San did not approach; instead, he picked up the straw doll, chanted an incantation, then flung it with a wave of his hand.

Shhh!

The straw doll flew through the air and hung directly on the hemp rope.

Lu San could see with his own eyes that frost instantly coated the doll's surface, like a block of ice falling to the ground.

He quickly stepped forward, planted several yarrow stalks around the area, then blew a soft whistle toward the courtyard wall.

Sha Li Fei and the others leapt in immediately.

"Find clues first!"

Lu San whispered: "I'll keep watch here—if we find nothing, we leave and set the trap."

"Understood!"

Sha Li Fei wasted no time, charging into the house with Wang Tianzuo.

Wu Ba scratched his head and stayed with Lu San in the courtyard.

Sha Li Fei entered the house, lit a torch, glanced around, and cursed: "Damn coward."

The room was in utter disarray.

Lu Laohei's belongings were all ancient—decades-old, crudely made, no different from an ordinary peasant's household.

Blackened with patina, thick with dust.

Everything had been ransacked.

Seeing this, Sha Li Fei lost all hope.

Whoever searched here was definitely a sorcerer.

Even if something existed, it had surely been taken.

Wang Tianzuo searched the room thoroughly, his face grim.

"Squeak!"

Just as the two were about to leave, the old weasel darted to a jujube wood cabinet, sniffed carefully, and squeaked frantically.

"Quick! Lao Huang found something!"

Sha Li Fei hurriedly asked Lu San to translate.

Listening to the weasel's chatter, Lu San spoke: "This jujube wood cabinet—I've seen it before, on the nearby mountain, originally growing inside an old temple, occupied by a nest of yin spirits."

"Brother Lu helped them transcend, cut down the jujube tree, then ordered them never to approach again."

Sha Li Fei pondered: "If they were already transcended, why forbid approach? There must be a clue."

"First catch the culprit—see who's behind this, then investigate."

"Agreed!"

Lu San wasted no time, pulled the red string, tied the straw doll's limbs with yarrow stalks, lifted it, and leapt over the courtyard wall with the others.

They left the village and hurried into the nearby mountains.

Lu San found a bamboo grove, buried the straw doll, then hid with Sha Li Fei and the others nearby.

To guard against surprises, Li Yan had entrusted the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl" to Lu San's care—perfect timing.

Lu San lifted the seal on the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl," and a moonlight-like power instantly masked their presence.

Even sorcerers could not detect their location.

Unnoticed, midnight passed.

The group remained motionless, hidden in the dense forest, waiting.

As dawn neared, Shu Da in Lu San's arms suddenly lifted its head and squeaked twice.

"They're coming!"

Lu San whispered a warning immediately.

Shu Da and Shu Er had followed him for years and had gained some cultivation.

Originally temple rats that had absorbed incense smoke for decades, if undetected, they might one day pass as rat gods.

In the wild, nearly all nearby rats obeyed their commands.

Any rustle or movement, they detected first.

Indeed, several figures appeared below the mountain.

Sha Li Fei narrowed his eyes and raised his Divine Fire Gun.

Wang Tianzuo also suppressed his killing intent, gripping his long blade—but Lu San's expression changed, and he whispered: "Something's wrong—there are more of them. Don't move yet!"

The shadowy figures wandered below, hesitating, taking forever to approach.

Their leader was a Daoist, disheveled, with a face full of coarse flesh, holding a Luo Pan that swung back and forth, eyes alert, scanning the surroundings.

His appearance clearly marked him as a heretical sect member.

More chilling still, dozens more trailed at a distance.

Standing at the center was the "Wuxiang Young Master."

The old bastard hadn't changed his appearance—still that flamboyant look, even in the bitter cold, fanning himself with a folding fan, chatting with someone beside him.

The man wore leather armor, his face grim, carrying a fire rifle—he was Tang Ling, a demon hunter from the Meishan Sect.

This demon hunter, for some reason, kept a cold face, ignoring the Wuxiang Young Master's chatter entirely.

Seeing this, Lu San's pupils contracted, and he immediately formed a hand seal.

Please... collect... 6... 9... Book... please...!

The grass effigy buried beneath the bamboo grove ignited spontaneously, first turning to char, then swiftly vanishing into ash.

He had decided to abandon the plan.

The opponent's numbers were too great; they were likely all skilled hands from Chengdu's underworld.

Even just the "Wuxiang Young Master," they might not be able to defeat—let alone the demon hunter Tang Ling.

Li Yan had spoken of this man's spear technique being terrifying.

As the grass effigies in the earth were destroyed, the scattered cultists froze, glanced at the compass in their hands, then looked around, coldly saying: "Forget it. The rabbit has run."

Even as he spoke, the others behind him caught up.

"Lin Dao you, didn't you catch him?"

The Wuxiang Young Master shook his folding fan and asked.

The scattered cultist shook his head: "The opponent is clever—likely a spy from the Shu Prince's Mansion. They spotted us and fled."

"What a pity…"

The Wuxiang Young Master sighed. "Let's go."

Saying this, he led the group away swiftly.

Watching their figures vanish, Wu Ba was about to rise when Sha Li Fei pressed him down with a hand, shaking his head slightly.

Sure enough, less than half a pipe of smoke later, the group returned again, scattering to search every corner.

"Nothing here!"

"No movement heard here!"

The daylight was dim, and fog had risen today—visibility was poor. The searchers used spiritual techniques to probe, yet naturally failed to detect Lu San and his group.

"Looks like they really ran."

The Wuxiang Young Master sneered. "The Shu Prince's Mansion suffered a loss at our hands. Before reinforcements arrive, they won't bother us again."

As he spoke, he turned to Tang Ling, smiling warmly. "Brother Tang, since you've already angered the Shu Prince's Mansion, why cling stubbornly? Join us—it'll give you protection."

Tang Ling's face was already dark; hearing this, a flash of fury crossed his eyes. "Isn't it your doing? You deliberately leaked my whereabouts—how could the Shu Prince's Mansion have found my name?"

"Unfair!"

The Wuxiang Young Master wore a look of grievance. "It was my subordinates acting recklessly. Had I known, I would've sent Brother Tang away directly."

"Hmph!"

Tang Ling gave a cold snort—he clearly didn't believe a word.

After the incident at the Wu Hou Temple, he had secretly followed the Wuxiang Young Master into Chengdu.

Relying on his hunting experience, he observed for a long time, confirmed the Commandery Prince's movements, laid an ambush, and shot him dead outright.

Originally, after revenge, he would have left Chengdu.

But someone deliberately leaked the news—the Shu Prince's Mansion launched a massive manhunt. With no local connections, he had no choice but to temporarily stay with the Wuxiang Young Master.

The leak enraged him, yet he was powerless to act.

"Let's not mention this for now."

Seeing this, the Wuxiang Young Master quickly changed the subject, coaxing: "Brother Tang, you're naive. What is the Shu Prince's Mansion? Even if we made no mistakes, do you truly believe they wouldn't find you?"

Seeing Tang Ling remain silent, he rolled his eyes and smiled. "If you look down on us, that's fine."

"But now you're wanted by the Shu Prince's Mansion. From now on, you'll be stuck in deep mountains and wild forests, unable to enter the city for jobs—let alone build a mountain temple."

"I've heard the Dragon Palace's treasure vault holds countless treasures—and cultivation artifacts, each priceless."

"This cannot fall into the hands of the Shu Prince's Mansion."

"If we obtain it, you take your share—even returning to the old forests of Xiangxi, you can build a temple and altar."

"Capturing ghosts isn't skill—money can make ghosts turn the mill!"

"Hmph!"

Tang Ling grunted. "I fear you'll betray me again when the time comes!"

"Hahaha, Brother Tang, you worry too much."

The Wuxiang Young Master flicked his paper fan, smiling. "We follow the code of the Jianghu—everyone who sees gets a share. If I betray you, my reputation is ruined—who'd ever work with me again?"

"Brother Tang, rest assured!"

Hearing this, Tang Ling no longer pressed the matter. He said gravely: "Those brothers from Meishan hold the Second Son True Lord in deep reverence. If they truly possess Dragon Palace artifacts, they must be hidden in the temple."

"If you truly want them, follow this lead."

The Wuxiang Young Master pondered. "This region has many worshippers of the River Lord Second Son. Almost every village has a Second Son Temple, and there are many along the riverbanks—finding one won't be easy."

"Fine. A clumsy method is still a method. Let's proceed this way!"

Saying this, he led his men away from the place.

Sha Li Fei and the others remained motionless. When daylight fully broke and eagles scouted overhead, confirming the group had left, they finally exited the dense forest.

"So they're searching for the Dragon Palace's Water Mansion!"

Wang Tianzuo said gravely: "This rumor—no one knows who started it—but since last year, many have secretly searched for it."

"Lu Laoge must have been ambushed because of this!"

Seeing this, Sha Li Fei quickly comforted: "Brother Wang, don't rush—we'll find our chance to avenge him."

"First, go to that temple—maybe there's a clue."

…………

Half an hour later, the group arrived at a mountain hollow.

Before them, dense forest grew thickly; deep snow blocked the path. Without approaching closely, one could never spot this hollow.

"Squeak!"

The old weasel pointed ahead and shot off with a flash, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow.

"It's just ahead—let's go see."

Lu San raised his hand, releasing the falcon into the sky to scout, then led the group through the dense forest and snow.

Inside the hollow stood an ancient temple, jarringly out of place.

The ruined temple was ancient; its outer walls were reduced to broken ramparts, entangled with withered vines and covered in snow, shape unrecognizable.

Inside, the side halls and auxiliary pavilions had collapsed; even the main roof was overgrown with weeds and partially caved in.

Sha Li Fei stepped forward, pulling a large wooden plank from the snow at the entrance, brushing off the snow.

Four characters were clearly carved upon it: "Guan Kou Divine Temple."

"This must be it!"

Seeing the characters, Wang Tianzuo pondered. "I once heard Lu Laoge say that before the Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built, locals here worshipped the River God of Guan Kou. Only later did the title 'Second Son True Lord' emerge."

"Let's go inside!"

Sha Li Fei pulled out his flintlock pistol and stepped first into the main hall.

The main hall was equally in ruins. A stone statue lay overturned on the ground—nothing like the Second Son they had seen before.

The statue's face was blurred, but its eyes bulged outward.

Sha Li Fei and Lu San exchanged a glance.

This statue was identical to the one they had found in the Ghost Qiang Ancient Village…

(End of Chapter)