Master Hammer had originally died, but now he stood up. Gu Xiulian saw through the situation and said, “This is a case of a soul possessing a corpse. The spirit of that black dog has taken over Master Hammer’s body.” Hua Changsheng shouted, “Master Hammer!”
But the Master Hammer before them clearly did not respond.
Guo Jue couldn’t help but remark, “That dog is no ordinary mutt.” I knew that although the voice came from Master Hammer’s body, it was undoubtedly Little Rascal’s voice. I never expected that Little Rascal could express human thoughts—and even call He Qingling “Qingqing,” as if they were two people. If they really were two, they must have been an intimate couple.
Little Rascal gave a cold glare and said, “Ungrateful descendants.” His gaze fell upon the Immortal Corpse and the Silver-Armored Zombie. Sensing an unusual aura, the two retreated several steps. This shocked me—and everyone else present.
Little Rascal looked at me and said, “Xiao Qi, you’ve truly disappointed me. You’re indecisive, lacking the resolve to act. You let small fry like Chong Lao Si bully you. Even a worthless scoundrel like Zhe Huaqiang dares to step on your head. That said, among all the ghost-school feng shui masters, you’re an anomaly. Despite your gentle nature, you genuinely help people.”
Hearing Little Rascal’s words, I was startled. Was this really my dog? It spoke just like a person—like the one who appeared in my dreams, claiming to be our ancestor, Donglingzi.
I asked, “Little Rascal, are you some kind of immortal?” The dog, which had been lying unconscious on the ground, struggled to stand, wobbling before curling up at my feet and licking my shoes. He seemed to have just woken up, confused about how he ended up here among so many people.
Looking at his expression, I was reminded of the first time we met a year ago in Bai Shui Village, at the old village chief’s house—that familiar gaze.
Even Gu Xiulian couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
“I am your ancestor, Donglingzi,” the standing Master Hammer—whom I had assumed was Little Rascal possessing the corpse—suddenly spoke.
I gasped, “Aren’t you supposed to be working in the underworld? How are you inside Little Rascal?”
Donglingzi glanced at the Immortal Corpse and the Silver-Armored Zombie and barked, “Kneel!” The two immediately dropped to the ground with a thud.
Guo Jue exclaimed, “Sanjin, why are you kneeling?” No matter how he tried to lift the Silver-Armored Zombie, it refused to rise, pressing its head to the ground in terror. The Immortal Corpse did the same, kneeling silently, not daring to utter a word.
Donglingzi’s soul had been residing in Little Rascal and had now entered Master Hammer’s body. My mind reeled from the lack of oxygen as I stared at the bizarre sight of Donglingzi’s spirit inhabiting the corpse.
“Ancestor,” I said.
Donglingzi replied, “On your first night in Bai Shui Town, when you took Little Rascal to explore Bai Jingren’s tomb, the dog was already on the verge of death. You brought him back and patched him up haphazardly. He should have died then, but I entered his body to nurture his wounded soul. Later, I met Xie Lingyu—your wife—and Qingqing.”
I recalled that day a year ago when Little Rascal had miraculously recovered from near death. It must have been because of the ancestor’s possession.
I nodded.
“Then who is Qingqing?” I asked.
Donglingzi sighed. “She was first known as Gu Qingqing, then He Qingling. But no matter the name, she was always Qingqing. I spent many years in the tomb, unaware that her soul resided in the black jade by my side.”
Hearing that the black jade contained Gu Qingqing’s spirit, Gu Xiulian immediately knelt and kowtowed nine times before it.
Reflecting on the past year, I realized that all the ups and downs between Little Rascal and the kitten were merely the ancestor inhabiting a black dog, seeking Qingqing’s forgiveness.
I asked, “Then in Thailand, why did He Qingling—why did Ancestress suddenly leave?”
Donglingzi hesitated before admitting, “I merely glanced at three Thai ladyboys, and she got angry and left.”
My jaw nearly dropped. I had assumed the kitten left for some profound reason, but it was just jealousy. No wonder philosophers say a woman’s jealousy is one of the most terrifying things in the world. Ancestress was truly a stubborn little cat.
In life, she must have been a woman of strong character.
Otherwise, the ancestor wouldn’t have gone to such lengths—possessing a dog—just to beg for her forgiveness. I couldn’t help but silently applaud: *Ancestress, you’re absolutely amazing. This is exactly how you should deal with this eccentric ancestor. I truly admire you.*
I asked, “Ancestor, what about the two times you appeared in my dreams?”
He scolded, “You fool, I was right beside you. Sending you dreams was child’s play.”
I scratched my head, feeling naive in the face of such a cunning ancestor. I quickly apologized, “This disciple is foolish. Please don’t take it to heart, Ancestor.”
Dai Hao, unable to bear it any longer, shouted, “Enough about cats, dogs, ancestors, and ancestresses! Where’s the tomb’s elixir of immortality?”
Donglingzi grew furious. “Hua Qianlou, kill him. This drug lord has long deserved death!” The Immortal Corpse, which had been kneeling with its head bowed, suddenly stood and lunged forward with lightning speed.
Dai Hao fired a burst of bullets into the Immortal Corpse, screaming, “Ancestor, save me!”
The Earth-Nurtured Corpse remained motionless. As a relic of national heritage, it naturally despised its descendants’ crimes. Strangely, it also seemed unable to move.
The Immortal Corpse, originally controlled by Guo Furong, now acted independently, obeying only Donglingzi’s command. Unfazed by the bullets, it seized Dai Hao.
Dai Hao tried to flee toward the cave entrance but was caught. The Immortal Corpse tore off his remaining arm, leaving him writhing in agony. It crushed the limb underfoot, ensuring it could never be reattached.
Dai Hao cursed, “Damn you!”
He still had a grenade. Biting the pin with his teeth, he prepared to take everyone down with him. But the Immortal Corpse kicked his jaw away, sending the grenade rolling aside.
The kick was so powerful it killed Dai Hao instantly. Had he not pulled the pin, he might have lived.
I glanced at the Earth-Nurtured Corpse standing nearby—tears once again streamed from its eyes. This was the second time I had seen it weep.
Hua Changsheng chanted, “Amitabha.” This was the second death in the cave—a drug lord from the Golden Triangle had fallen.
After killing Dai Hao, the Immortal Corpse returned and knelt before Donglingzi.
Hua Chongyang gasped, “Hua… Qianlou?”
Hua Changsheng asked, “What’s wrong?”
Abe Keiko interjected, “Donglingzi once took in a Hua family disciple. The eldest was Hua Qianlou. This Immortal Corpse is your ancestor.”
Hua Chongyang finally recalled the family records and pulled Hua Changsheng down to kneel. “Ancestor, forgive us. Ancestor, forgive us.”
I silently marveled at Donglingzi’s overwhelming presence. The situation had completely shifted. If nothing went wrong, Abe Keiko would be his next target.
Watching her serene smile, I wondered what she was truly thinking.
Donglingzi said, “The current head of the Abe family is Abe Kun, isn’t it? Show yourself.”
Abe Keiko’s face paled—she hadn’t expected Donglingzi to know.
From her entourage, a man in his fifties stepped forward, bowing slightly with a smile. “Greetings, Master Donglingzi. If you seek the elixir of immortality, why rely on others? If I leave now, you’ll be trapped on this island forever—just as you once were.”
This was none other than Abe Kun, head of the Abe family.
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