When Ge Shuanwa saw the scattered talismans, he suddenly understood Liu Dashao’s intention and let out a soft chuckle. Yet he remained calm, wrapping the book again in yellow silk, securing it at his waist, and tightening his belt after fastening his loose clothes. Liu Dashao, momentarily confused and anxious, asked, “Was it you who removed the talismans from those infant corpse boxes? And was it also you who knocked over the yellow stone lamp?”
Huang Shitou, upon hearing this, felt as though struck by lightning. He immediately released Liu Dashao and stared at Ge Shuanwa, stunned. “Wa Ge,” he stammered, “you… you…” His mind raced with a thousand questions, yet he didn’t know where to begin.
Meanwhile, Fan Debiao and Hu Beikang had already regained consciousness, though they were still confused about what was happening. Hearing Liu Dashao’s accusations against Ge Shuanwa, they thought perhaps Liu had gone mad. They slowly stood up and approached. When they got closer and saw the talismans near Ge Shuanwa, they finally understood.
At this tense moment, Su Yougui, who was sitting on the ground suffering from the poison and feeling dizzy, suddenly said, “Hey, where’d that snake go? Didn’t we say we were gonna roast it and eat it?”
At this, all five couldn’t help but laugh. Liu Dashao quickly tried to suppress his smile and sternly asked, “Ge Shuanwa, I’m asking you now—what exactly do you mean by this?”
After chuckling, Ge Shuanwa’s laughter grew louder, echoing through the valley. Liu Dashao instinctively stepped back, startled by the powerful resonance in Ge’s laughter—something he knew he could never match. Clearly, Ge Shuanwa was no ordinary man.
Hu Beikang, having barely escaped danger, now found himself caught up in this bizarre drama, his heart filled with mixed emotions. After a long pause, he said, “Ge Shuanwa, if you were just scared out of your wits back then, why not just tell Liu Dashao the truth?”
Fan Debiao, being a cadre, quickly interjected, “Mr. Liu, let’s discuss Ge Shuanwa’s matter back at the base. There’s no need to argue here. Who knows what else might come out of this cursed place!”
Ge Shuanwa chuckled again and suddenly said, “Mr. Liu, what a fine ‘master’ you are! Haha!”
Liu Dashao, feeling uneasy, demanded, “Just what exactly are you laughing at?”
Ge Shuanwa abruptly stood up, hands clasped behind his back, lifting his head to gaze at the now partially lightened sky. The moment he stood, he seemed transformed—his every movement exuding grace and confidence, completely unlike the usually quiet and reserved Ge Shuanwa.
When Ge Shuanwa saw the scattered talismans, he finally understood Liu Dashao’s intention and suddenly chuckled. He calmly wrapped the book back in yellow silk, tucked it into his waist, tightened his belt, and secured his loose clothing. Liu Dashao, feeling a whirlwind of emotions, asked, “Was it you who removed the talismans from the infant corpse boxes? And did you extinguish the lamp on the yellow stone?”
Hearing this, Huang Shitou was as if struck by a bolt from the blue. He let go of Liu Dashao and stared blankly at Ge Shuanwa, stammering, “Brother Shuanwa, you… you…” His mind was flooded with countless questions, but he didn’t know where to start.
Fan Debiao and Hu Beikang, who had just regained consciousness and were unaware of what was happening, heard Liu Dashao interrogating Ge Shuanwa and thought Liu must have gone mad. They stood up and slowly walked over. Upon seeing the talismans near Ge Shuanwa, they finally understood the situation.
At this tense moment, Su Yougui, who was sitting on the ground, dazed from the poison, suddenly said, “Where’s the snake? Didn’t we agree to roast it and eat it?”
Hearing this, all five of them couldn’t help but laugh. Liu Dashao quickly composed himself and sternly asked, “Ge Shuanwa, I’m asking you now, what exactly is your intention?”
Ge Shuanwa’s laughter grew louder and louder, echoing through the valley. Liu Dashao nervously took a step back. The strength in that laughter was something Liu knew he could never match. This man’s physical prowess was extraordinary.
Hu Beikong, having just escaped danger and now caught up in this drama, felt a mix of emotions. After a moment of thought, he said, “Ge Shuanwa, were you scared out of your wits back then? If so, just tell Mr. Liu!”
Fan Debiao, being a cadre, quickly interjected, “Mr. Liu, let’s discuss Ge Shuanwa’s matter when we get back. If there’s anything unsaid, we can talk it over properly then. Let’s not cause a scene here. Who knows what else might come out of this place!”
Ge Shuanwa laughed a few more times and suddenly said, “Mr. Liu, what a fine gentleman you are! Haha!”
Liu Dashao, feeling uneasy, asked, “What exactly are you laughing at?”
Ge Shuanwa stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked up at the partially bright sky. As he stood, his entire demeanor transformed. His movements were natural and unrestrained, completely different from the usually silent and reserved Ge Shuanwa.
Ge Shuanwa said, “Newspaper talismans, singing to pacify souls, what a fine descendant of Zhang Tianshi you are! And what a set of ‘Zhengyi Talismans’ you have! A half-baked local Taoist managed to escape from this den of demons, leading a group without losing a single person. I, Xuan Zhenzi of Zhongnan Mountain, am truly impressed! Haha! If it were me, facing so many things alone, I might not have been able to retreat unscathed either!”
Liu Dashao, surprised, asked, “You’re from Zhongnan Mountain? Are you also a practitioner?”
Ge Shuanwa sneered, “You, a mere peasant, dare to call yourself a practitioner! I admire your luck, not your cultivation!”
Fan Debiao listened in stunned silence, “Ge Shuanwa, didn’t you say in Wuhan that you…”
Ge Shuanwa replied, “I bear the heavy responsibility of my sect. In these years, practitioners have either been criticized or found no peace. I had no choice but to humble myself and mingle with you fools. Even if you hadn’t seen through me today, I was about to leave on my own!”
Liu Dashao asked, “What is that book of yours? Did you find it in the cave?” Ge Shuanwa smiled, tacitly admitting it.
Liu Dashao, trembling with anger, asked, “When I was about to enter, was it you who extinguished the lamp?”
Ge Shuanwa looked quite pleased with himself, “Exactly. I had just obtained the book and discovered… haha, I didn’t have time to hide it, so I had to extinguish the lamp and let out a ghostly scream. Haha… You were quite concerned about me! I appreciate the sentiment!”
Hu Beikong suddenly realized, “No wonder you didn’t untie your belt or take off your clothes. You had something hidden on you!”
Ge Shuanwa merely smiled, seemingly unwilling to engage with these ordinary people. Fan Debiao angrily said, “You deliberately spilled Yougui’s blood on the ancient corpse, didn’t you!”
Liu Dashao, hearing this, had a flash of insight, “You knew about the insects, didn’t you? Didn’t you!”
Ge Shuanwa nodded with a smile.
Liu Dashao took a deep breath and said, “I, Liu, failed to recognize your true identity. I was blind. I just want to ask you one thing: Did you already know about this cave? Was this whole thing orchestrated by you?”
Ge Shuanwa replied, “I knew about the person who died in this cave, but stumbling upon this cave was a coincidence. To say I orchestrated this is giving me too much credit! Fan Debiao, I should thank you! If it weren’t for you inviting me to join, I might still be blasting rocks at the construction site. Haha, as they say, coincidence makes the story. This time, I’ll let you go as a gesture of gratitude. If we meet again, whether you live or die will depend on my mood!”
Fan Debiao roared, picked up a stone, and charged at Ge Shuanwa, intending to knock him down. Liu Dashao shouted, “Don’t, Captain Fan!”
Ge Shuanwa, however, didn’t even flinch. As Fan Debiao approached, he extended a finger and tapped Fan’s shoulder. Fan Debiao felt half of his body go numb, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with rage.
Ge Shuanwa, with a graceful motion, clasped his hands behind his back and said arrogantly, “I said I wouldn’t trouble you today, as I owe you some credit for obtaining this book. But if you trouble yourselves, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
With that, his eyes swept over the group like lightning. Everyone except Liu Dashao involuntarily took a step back. Liu Dashao cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, “Then I must thank you for showing us some mercy.”
Ge Shuanwa said, “No problem, no problem!”
By now, the sky was beginning to lighten, and it wouldn’t be long before dawn. Liu Dashao smiled faintly, “I suppose we’ll part ways at dawn, won’t we?”
Ge Shuanwa replied, “Indeed. You’re quite an interesting person. It’s a pity that the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect are like fire and water. Otherwise, I might have considered taking you as a disciple. But it seems your late master got the better deal!”
Liu Dashao was momentarily stunned, realizing that this man was a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, the northern branch of Taoism. Keeping his composure, he asked, “One last question: What is the name of that book?” At that moment, a small gust of wind swept through the valley, causing Ge Shuanwa’s hair and clothes to flutter, making him look like an immortal.
Ge Shuanwa, upon hearing the question, pondered for a moment, then turned away, “Throughout history, everyone seeks it. Between heaven and earth, all things yearn for it. Tell me, is there anyone who doesn’t die, anything that doesn’t decay?”
Liu Dashao replied, “The cycle of life and death is a natural law. I believe there isn’t.”
Ge Shuanwa laughed heartily, “People may die, but they can be reborn. The name of this book is ‘Taiping Jing,’ created by Zhang Jiao of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Haha!” With a loud laugh, Ge Shuanwa strode away, and within moments, his figure disappeared on the opposite hill.
As soon as he left, Liu Dashao suddenly exclaimed, “Ouch!” and sat down heavily. Huang Shitou hurried over to help him, asking, “Mr. Liu, are you alright?”
Liu Dashao smiled bitterly, “That man is so fierce. Just one look from him made me feel weak. Fan Debiao, you really know some extraordinary people!”
Fan Debiao, gradually regaining feeling in his body, sat up and said resentfully, “Damn it, I don’t know that guy!” He then added, “Hey, do you think he’s a spy from Taiwan, here to sabotage our tunnel project?”
Liu Dashao couldn’t help but laugh. Fan Debiao, having just escaped from a den of ghosts, was now worried about class struggle!
Hu Beikong asked, “Mr. Liu, is that man even more ruthless than you?”
Liu Dashao angrily retorted, “How am I ruthless? But if that man had been angry today, he could have easily taken care of us quietly!”
Huang Shitou suddenly exclaimed, “I don’t think he was being kind. He might have been injured!” He pointed to the spot where Ge Shuanwa had stood, where there were two dark patches of blood.
Liu Dashao slapped his thigh, “Damn it! He talked like an immortal, but he was just putting on a show. He probably couldn’t kill us all at once, so he scared us and ran away!”
Fan Debiao picked up a kitchen knife, “Damn it, I’m going after him! How dare he scare me!”
Liu Dashao smiled bitterly, “Given his presence, even if he’s injured, Captain Fan, you’re no match for him.”
At that moment, Su Yougui groaned on the ground, muttering, “Ah… that… isn’t the snake roasted yet?” Only then did everyone remember the sick man and hurried over to check on him. In the daylight, they could see that his hand was swollen like a steamed bun.
Huang Shitou exclaimed in horror, “Even a small centipede is this poisonous. If that big centipede had bitten him, he’d be done for!”
Liu Dashao suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh no, your brother’s stomach…”
Liu Dashao was astonished. “You’re from Zhongnan Mountain? You’re also a cultivator?”
Ge Shuanwa sneered, “You dare call yourself a cultivator? I admire your luck, not your skills!”
Fan Debiao listened in stunned silence. “Ge Shuanwa, back in Wuhan you didn’t say you were…”
Ge Shuanwa interrupted, “I carry the heavy burden of my sect. In recent years, cultivators have either been persecuted or disturbed. I had no choice but to hide my identity and blend in with you fools. Even today, if Liu here hadn’t seen through me, I would have left on my own!”
Liu Dashao asked, “What book is that? Did you find it in that cave?” Ge Shuanwa smiled slightly, confirming it silently.
Liu Dashao’s voice trembled with anger, “So when I was about to enter, it was you who extinguished the lamp?”
Ge Shuanwa smirked proudly, “Exactly. I had just obtained the book and hadn’t yet had time to conceal it when you were about to enter. I had to put out the lamp and let out a ghostly scream. Haha… You really do care about me! I appreciate the sentiment!”
Hu Beikang suddenly realized, “No wonder you didn’t undo your belt or take off your clothes—you had the book hidden on you!”
Ge Shuanwa merely smiled, ignoring him, as if unwilling to even speak to such commoners. Fan Debiao angrily accused, “So it was you who deliberately splattered Yougui’s blood onto the ancient corpse!”
Liu Dashao’s mind suddenly clicked, “So you knew about those insects, didn’t you? Didn’t you!”
Ge Shuanwa simply nodded with a smile.
Liu Dashao took a deep breath. “I failed to recognize your identity as a master cultivator—I must’ve been blind. I just want to ask you one thing: did you know about this cave beforehand? Was all of this planned by you?”
Ge Shuanwa replied, “I did know about the corpse in this cave, but I just happened to stumble upon this place. Saying I orchestrated all of this is giving me too much credit! Fan Debiao, I should thank you, actually! If you hadn’t invited me to join the team, I might still be blasting rocks at the construction site. As the saying goes, nothing happens without a reason. I’m sparing you lot this time as a favor. But if we meet again, whether you live or die will depend entirely on my mood!”
Fan Debiao roared in anger, grabbed a nearby rock, and charged at Ge Shuanwa, aiming to smash him. Liu Dashao shouted, “No, Team Leader Fan!”
But Ge Shuanwa remained indifferent. As Fan approached, Ge casually extended a finger and tapped Fan’s shoulder. Fan immediately felt half his body go numb and collapsed to the ground, his eyes burning with fury.
Ge Shuanwa elegantly clasped his hands behind his back and declared, “I’ve said it before—I owe you all a share of today’s success. I won’t harm you now, but if you provoke me yourselves, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
After saying this, he swept his gaze over the group like a bolt of lightning. Everyone except Liu Dashao instinctively took a step back. Liu Dashao bowed slightly, “Then I must thank you for sparing us.”
Ge Shuanwa replied casually, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome!”
By now, the sky was beginning to brighten, and daylight was approaching. Liu Dashao smiled faintly, “Looks like our parting will come with the dawn.”
Ge Shuanwa nodded, “Indeed. You’re quite an interesting fellow. Pity the Zhengyi and Quanzhen sects are like fire and water. Otherwise, I might have considered taking you as a disciple—what a shame it is that your dead master got to you first!”
Liu Dashao was momentarily stunned, realizing now that Ge was a disciple of the Quanzhen sect of Northern Taoism. Keeping his composure, he asked, “One last question—what book is it?” At that moment, a sudden breeze swept through the valley, fluttering Ge Shuanwa’s hair and robe, making him look like a celestial being.
Ge Shuanwa paused thoughtfully before turning away and saying, “Throughout history, all have sought immortality. In the world, all things are filled with sorrow. Tell me, is there any man who does not die, or any object that does not decay?”
Liu Dashao replied, “The cycle of youth and age is nature’s law. I think there is none.”
Ge Shuanwa burst into laughter, “Men may die, but they can be reborn. This book is called the Taiping Jing, created by Zhang Jiao of the Yellow Turban Rebellion! Haha!” With a final booming laugh, Ge Shuanwa strode away, disappearing over the hill in no time.
As soon as he was gone, Liu Dashao suddenly cried out, “Oh no!” and collapsed onto the ground. Huang Shitou hurriedly helped him up, asking, “Mr. Liu, are you alright?”
Liu Dashao gave a bitter smile. “He’s that terrifying! Just one look from him, and I felt weak all over. Fan Debiao, you actually knew someone like this—impressive indeed!”
Fan Debiao’s numbness was gradually fading. He sat up, furious. “Damn it, I don’t even know this guy! Hey, wait—could he be a spy from Taiwan, trying to sabotage our tunnel project?”
Liu Dashao chuckled bitterly. Fan Debiao had just escaped a ghostly ordeal, yet he was already back to thinking about class struggle!
Hu Beikang asked, “Mr. Liu, is he tougher than you?”
Liu Dashao snapped, “Tough? Me? But if he had really wanted to kill us today, he could’ve wiped us out without a trace!”
Huang Shitou exclaimed, “I bet he wasn’t being kind—he must’ve been injured!” He pointed to the ground where Ge had stood, revealing two dark bloodstains.
Liu Dashao slapped his thigh, “That sly fox talked like a god, but he was just pretending! He must’ve been too weak to kill us all, so he just scared us off!”
Fan Debiao raised his cleaver, “Damn it, I’ll go chase him down! How dare he scare me!”
Liu Dashao sighed, “Even injured, he’s still a force to reckon with. I’m afraid, Team Leader Fan, you’re no match for him!”
Just then, Su Yougui groaned from the ground, muttering, “Ah… that snake… we didn’t even get to roast it yet?” Everyone suddenly remembered the injured man and rushed over. In the morning light, they could clearly see his hand swollen like a steamed bun.
Huang Shitou exclaimed, “If just a tiny centipede could be this deadly, what would a big one do? We’d be done for!”
Liu Dashao suddenly remembered something and shouted, “Oh no! Your brother’s stomach…!”
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