Chapter 54

"The Red-Haired Blood-Faced One?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Sha Lifei laughed. "Isn't that something used to scare children?"

Even Li Yan frowned slightly when he heard this.

In the countryside of every part of the Divine Land, there were always some strange tales: the black shadow behind one's back at night, the hand in the outhouse, the human face on the window, the Tiger Auntie...

The Red-Haired Blood-Faced One was one of them.

It was rumored that this thing wore a large green robe, had a head of red hair, and a face covered in blood. It often appeared at dusk or evening. If children were still playing at that time, they would be snatched away by it.

This thing often appeared beside old trees. The elderly would swear that the little brats from a nearby village had gone to the mountain to play and had encountered the Red-Haired Blood-Faced One.

The other children were so scared they fled for their lives. When they turned their heads to look, they could still see that terrifying green-robed, red-faced shadow under the tree at dusk, staring coldly at them. After returning, they would all fall into a great illness, and some even had their souls scared away.

Other elderly people said that at the time, one child didn't run back and was lost. Later, they invited a master from Chang'an to perform a ritual, and three feet under that tree, they found the child's bones.

At the same time, a coffin was discovered, but the master wouldn't let them open it, directly burning it to ashes under the scorching sun.

In short, the rumors were very vivid.

After Li Yan learned of the existence of the Mystic Sect, he believed in zombies and demons, but he felt that this thing was just a story made up by the elderly to scare children into returning home early for dinner.

Hearing it again now, he suddenly felt it was somewhat absurd.

Who would have thought that Wang Fu's expression would become solemn. "When did this happen?"

The waiter hurriedly said, "It's been these past few years. There have been masters invited to go up the mountain to check, but they found nothing. Oh right, there are also people who go up the mountain to gather herbs who often encounter it in the woods. Later, no one dared to go up the mountain anymore..."

After leaving the carriage and horse inn, Wang Fu still had a look of doubt on his face.

Seeing his expression, Sha Lifei felt a bit of trepidation. "Daoist, could it be that this Red-Haired Blood-Faced One really exists?"

Wang Fu shook his head slightly. "Let's talk after we get out. Regarding this thing, Brother Zhao should know more than I do."

…………

The treasure seeker Zhao Zhao Lu Zi did not enter the city but waited at the foot of the mountain.

The group was not surprised; he had already explained the reason on the way.

In the treasure-seeking trade, there was a conventional rule:

"Heaven as a quilt, earth as a *kang*, respect the spirits and revere the souls. Burn three sticks of incense when entering mountains or descending into water; light a lamp when entering tombs or exploring caves; do not enter residential houses."

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi even explained the reason to them.

A horizontal stroke for heaven, a horizontal stroke for earth, with a person in the middle—that was the character "Wu" (Shaman), indicating that treasure seekers did not forget their roots. It was also related to the time when the Immortality Seekers were wiped out and hunted down by the imperial court.

Shamans believed that all things had spirits, so naturally, they had to respect the spirits and revere the souls. When the Mountain-Driving and Sea-Exploring lineages entered mountains or descended into water, they certainly had to burn three sticks of incense first.

As for the Seclusion-Seeking lineage that drilled into ancient tombs and old caves, they had to light a "path-asking lamp." It was both for illumination and as a sign; if the owner inside was angered, they had to leave immediately.

As for not entering residential houses, there were two reasons.

First, they spent their lives in wild ancient tombs and would inevitably attract some inauspicious energy. If they entered someone else's home casually, they would bring disaster. If the family was worshipping some effective folk deity, it would directly trigger a conflict.

Second, it was still related to the Immortality Seekers of that time. It was rumored that the treasure-seeking lineage had sacrificed their lives for the Qin Emperor, traveling up mountains and down seas in search of the elixir of immortality, only to be liquidated along with the Immortality Seekers. Thus, this family rule was born.

"Red-Haired Blood-Faced One?"

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi scratched his head. "I have heard of this thing."

"My father once said that this was a method of the Immortality Seekers from the past. It was deployed near some imperial tombs, finding places where yin-evil energy gathered, sealing those who had been executed by dismemberment into coffins, and planting trees on top."

"After a long time, it would form a 'ghost-wall' (a maze), making it impossible for people to discover the ancient tombs in the mountains. It was popular for a while during the Qin Han Dynasties, but because the method was cruel and harmed the harmony of heaven, it was banned. However, in private, there were still powerful clans who would secretly hire people to deploy it."

"As time passed, the coffin seals were destroyed, and the vengeful souls of those executed by dismemberment would transform into Red-Haired Blood-Faced Ones. But having merged with the old trees, they could only be trapped in place."

"Where a Red-Haired Blood-Faced One appears, there must be a great tomb nearby. The Seclusion-Seeking lineage used this as a clue to find Qin Han imperial tombs. Since there were many Qin Han noble tombs in the Guanzhong area, this legend was passed down."

Sha Lifei's eyes lit up. "Are there noble tombs in the mountains?"

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi shook his head. "Even if there were, my Mountain-Driving lineage would never enter a tomb. Moreover, when I came before, I didn't discover any Red-Haired Blood-Faced Ones at all."

"As for why they appeared in these past two years, I have already guessed the reason."

"A few years ago, a gang of bandits hid on the mountain to avoid the court's pursuit. They must be the ones playing the ghost, not wanting the villagers to go up the mountain and discover their lair. This gang is powerful, and I can't beat them, which is why I need help."

Li Yan frowned. "Bandits, do they have a name?"

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi thought for a while and said, "I once overheard their conversation, saying their leader is called Yan Laojiu."

"The Skin-Peeling Yama?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Lifei felt his scalp go numb. "Why didn't you say so earlier? That guy is on the mountain; aren't we just seeking death by going there? Besides, if there are treasures, they've probably already been dug up by that guy!"

Li Yan shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this.

There were many bandits in Guanzhong, and none of those who could make a name for themselves in the greenwood were easy to deal with. This Yan Laojiu was originally a butcher in Changancheng. He practiced a good sword technique and was quite famous on the streets. He had also married a beautiful wife, so although he was engaged in a lowly trade, he lived quite prosperously.

Later, his wife had an affair with a young master from a powerful family. Yan Laojiu endured it without a word until one night, taking advantage of the young master's guards being away, he caught the two of them and peeled their skin alive, hanging it in the bustling city streets.

If it had just been that, it wouldn't have been much.

But after he escaped Changancheng and became a bandit, every time he went down the mountain to rob, if he caught a young couple, he would peel their skin for fun without asking any questions. Gradually, he earned the bandit name "Skin-Peeling Yama," and his notoriety was truly infamous.

If Yan Laojiu was hiding on the mountain, it would be truly difficult to handle.

"They can't discover it!"

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi's face turned red, and he hurriedly said, "That lightning-struck jujube wood has already gained spirituality and only appears at specific times. Only I know the location."

"The bandit lair is on the old cliff to the east, and the lightning-struck jujube wood is in Leopard Gully to the west. As long as we take advantage of the night to cut the tree and throw it into the river, we can leave the mountain and salvage it downstream to transport it back to Xianyang."

As he spoke, he took out a sheepskin map to show the group.

Li Yan examined it carefully and nodded. "It's not that there's no chance. What other dangers are in Leopard Gully? Tell us early."

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi said, "Lightning-struck jujube wood can suppress evil, so ordinary yin-creatures dare not approach. It's just that there are a few leopards in Leopard Gully that are very fierce, and I can't handle them alone."

!.

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Then let's go up the mountain and investigate!"

"Also, Uncle Sha, go back to Chunhua County and make some meat *jili* (caltrops)."

…………

Caltrops can injure people upon contact; they are swift and sharp, hence the name.

In the *Songs of Chu*, caltrops are called "evil wood," used to metaphorically describe petty people. The image of the caltrop fruit is also the origin of the martial arts hidden weapon, the "caltrop seed."

As for meat caltrops, they are a sinister hunting method. The caltrop seeds are wrapped in small pieces of meat and soaked in pig blood to mask the scent. Fierce beasts like tigers and leopards cannot tear them apart and can only swallow them whole. Once in the stomach, they will slice through the abdominal cavity as the intestines and stomach move.

This item was not difficult to make. Sha Lifei quickly got a large bag, tied the sheepskin bag tight, met up with the group, and headed toward the mountain.

The terrain of Mount Yetai was not towering, but its area was not small. Looking out, the peaks were layered, and the mountain roads were winding and tortuous.

It was already afternoon when they entered the mountain. Not long after walking, the sky dimmed. The bright moon illuminated the black mountains, and the sounds of wolves howling and tigers roaring could be heard faintly in the distance.

Sha Lifei shivered upon hearing this and complained, "It would have been better if we came during the day. In the middle of the night like this, we can't see anything."

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi said in a muffled voice, "That lightning-struck jujube wood has absorbed the mountain's *gang* energy and has already formed a small formation. Of course, you can't see it during the day. Only at the midnight hour can we use the moonlight to discover it."

Having said that, he got up and walked forward, pushing aside the withered grass and vines under a rock wall. Inside was a small shrine.

The stone statue enshrined inside was ancient, its features already blurred, and one could only vaguely see that it was a person wearing a Confucian robe.

A tattered pottery basin served as an incense burner. Although there were traces of burnt incense and candles, it was clear that no one had come to worship for a long time.

Li Yan had already pinched the Yang Seal to activate his supernatural ability.

He could smell a faint scent of incense, carrying a certain sense of substantiality. Although thin, it had merged with the aura of the entire mountain range.

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi said in a muffled voice, "Herb gatherers and hunters who came up the mountain in the past would all come to worship. That gang of bandits made trouble, and the incense was interrupted because of it."

He took out incense and candles from his backpack, as well as melons, fruits, and steamed buns as offerings, burning incense and worshipping. Every movement carried a certain charm, and his eyes were full of piety.

Seeing this, Li Yan and Wang Fu also stepped forward to burn incense.

Sha Lifei even kowtowed several times. "Mountain Spirit, please protect us. If this trip goes smoothly, after we leave, I will definitely go to the government to report and have this gang of bandits uprooted for you!"

After the worship, the group continued up the mountain.

Of course, Zhao Zhao Lu Zi warned them again about the taboos of going up the mountain, such as not calling out the real names of wild beasts, and that some places could not be entered easily. Everything was to be arranged by him.

Li Yan gripped his Guanshan Dao tightly, guarding Zhao Zhao Lu Zi's side.

The treasure seeker Zhao Zhao Lu Zi had awakened the Eye Supernatural Ability, but it was not a Yin-Yang Eye; rather, it was the ability to observe *qi* and see in the dark as if it were daylight.

And Li Yan's Nose Supernatural Ability could detect any abnormal scent within hundreds of meters.

The two of them working together could be said to complement each other perfectly.

Not long after, the group arrived at a fork in the mountain road.

Zhao Zhao Lu Zi pointed to the east. "The bandit lair is over there. Further ahead, there will be their secret sentries. We'll avoid them and it will be fine."

Sha Lifei said in a low voice, "Then let's go quickly, so we don't get discovered."

"Wait!"

However, Li Yan twitched his nose, his expression solemn as he looked toward the east.

"Such a strong stench of corpses!"

Happy Children's Day to everyone. In this bustling world, we are all children. If you worry for a day, you lose a day; if you are happy for a day, you earn a day. So eat when you should, drink when you should, and don't keep anything on your mind.

(End of chapter)