Chapter 256: Who Killed Long Youshui?

Abe Keiko said, “This is the most interesting moment. Professor Dai, there’s no need to rush. Think about it—if Donglingzi had taken the elixir of immortality, would I have brought everyone back to this island?”

Dai Hao replied, “Fair point.”

Abe Keiko continued, “After the ancestors of the Hua and Guo families killed Gu Qingqing, they returned to the Central Plains and instead told Gu Qingqing’s nephew that it was Donglingzi who had murdered her. The two of them wept so convincingly—they were truly masters of acting. Gu’s nephew had heard some rumors, but his hatred was directed at the Ghost Sect. Isn’t that right, Gu Xiulian?”

Gu Xiulian remained silent but did not deny Abe Keiko’s words.

Guo Jue flicked his sleeve and cursed, “Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!” Hammer Master even roared, threatening to teach Abe Keiko a lesson.

Hua Chongyang was so furious he stomped his feet—slandering the Hua ancestors was unforgivable, utterly unforgivable.

Gripping my jade ruler tightly, I prevented them from interrupting Abe Keiko’s speech and shouted, “Heaven does not shelter the wicked. Let her finish.”

Heaven has eyes. Even after a thousand years, the truth will eventually reveal itself. Those who betray their conscience, those who forsake their masters—there will always be eyes watching.

Abe Keiko sneered, “Guo Jue, Hua Chongyang, why keep up the act? One sentence from me will shut you up forever.”

Guo Jue snorted coldly and tugged at Sanjin’s sleeve, as if to remind everyone that Sanjin was no pushover—she had better watch her words, or else.

Abe Keiko’s delicate face was striking. After speaking so much, she paused to take a sip of water.

Then, in a grave tone, she said, “Guo Jue, Hua Chongyang. Did you two conspire to kill Long Youshui?”

The jade ruler in my hand blazed with light. Guo Jue’s forehead began to sweat. Hua Chongyang’s dark complexion made his expression unreadable.

Guo Jue spat, “Nonsense!”

“Still refusing to admit it? Have you no backbone at all? Must I continue?” Abe Keiko pressed.

By now, I was about 70 to 80 percent convinced of Abe Keiko’s claims. Hammer Master slowly raised his hand, ready to kill. I muttered, “Fall.”

The Three Corpses Worms in Hammer Master’s stomach activated, and he collapsed, foaming at the mouth, a pistol clattering beside him.

Dai Hao chuckled, “Truly, the guilty protest too much. The ending isn’t even here yet, and you’re already pulling out a gun. What an amusing story.”

Hua Chongyang admitted, “Yes. Guo Jue and I severely injured Long Youshui together.”

After searching far and wide for so long, I had finally found out who was responsible for my grandfather Long Youshui’s death. No wonder he had forbidden me from seeking vengeance—one was the Hua family, a powerful financial group in Shaanxi, and the other was the Guo family, masters of insect arts. Together, they had grievously wounded Long Youshui.

I was just a kid. Against these two monsters, I stood no chance of making waves.

Hua Changsheng panicked, crying, “Is this true? Xiao Qi, I—” I waved him off. “This doesn’t concern you. I believe that much—we are friends. But if I don’t avenge this, my conscience will never be at peace. I’m sorry, my friend. Whether we can remain friends depends on how this ends.”

Guo Jue scoffed, “Xiao Qi, you’re still too weak. Learning the truth too soon isn’t good for you—because knowing this means your end is near. Do you understand? Miss Abe, you’ve doomed an innocent young man.”

I watched Guo Jue warily. His killing intent surged, and his aura shifted dramatically. The Silver Armored Corpse reactivated, its clothes torn away, barefoot and shirtless, revealing black underwear, its hair spreading wildly.

Hua Chongyang’s bones cracked as his entire body transformed into something horrifying. I had only heard that Hua Chongyang could counter Silver Armored Corpses and absorb corpse qi like the Abe family. I never imagined he would become like this. I quickly pulled the Jade Corpse back, retreating several meters to the farthest corner of the stone chamber—just to prevent Hua Chongyang from draining the Jade Corpse’s qi.

Little Rascal followed me, barking furiously at Hua Chongyang. Having been threatened by him multiple times before, now that the façade was torn away, the dog’s eyes turned red, its courage growing as it faced the corpse qi Hua Chongyang inhaled.

Abe Keiko said, “The only reason they’ve kept you alive is because they still need you for certain tasks. If you want to tear into each other in this tomb now, I have no objections. But then we’ll never uncover the tomb’s deepest secrets.”

By revealing the truth now, Abe Keiko was clearly trying to divide the factions, leaving herself to reap the benefits. Guo Jue and Hua Chongyang suppressed their rage for the moment.

Guo Jue, forcing down his anger, asked, “How do we get in?”

Abe Keiko replied, “There’s a door to the west. Seven corpses must stand firm and push the stone door open. Only then will the tomb’s hidden secrets awaken.”

She pointed to the western mural, walked over, and gave it a light tap. A massive stone door was revealed, its mechanism adorned with seven strange handles meant for pushing.

Guo Furong declared, “I am a Fragrant Corpse. Though an imperfect creation, I still possess strength.” She took the first handle.

Guo Jue said, “Silver Armored Corpses are rare, appearing only once in centuries. Stronger than Bronze Armored Corpses, they are nearly the kings of zombies. Only the legendary Silver Jiang and Drought Fiends can surpass them.”

With that, he sent Sanjin forward—the Silver Armored Corpse, clad only in underwear, its youthful vigor long gone, a testament to its ancient existence.

Hua Chongyang said, “I was born with the Nine-Yin fate. Trained in the orthodox methods of absorbing corpse qi, I specialize in countering zombies. The qi I’ve accumulated over a century is formidable—I am both a zombie and their nemesis.”

He gripped the third handle.

Dai Hao, with his single arm, gestured and said, “As for the Earth-Nurtured Corpse, Master Xiao, you explain.”

Seeing no room for retreat, I called out, “General Dai Zhong, native of Baoding, Hebei. Fled south during the Japanese invasion, later joined the army to fight in Burma, died at the hands of Jin Sanjia. Raised by Ye Guyi into an Earth-Nurtured Corpse, drawing endless power from the earth—a rare spiritual entity among zombies.”

Dai Zhong moved slowly, taking hold of the fourth handle.

Gu Xiulian said, “My master, Gu Rechang, was a renowned Taoist, a righteous man who saved lives from suffering. He slew eleven zombies and captured the Hungry Ghost Mother. After enduring great tribulations, he retreated to the mountains to refine elixirs and raise insects.”

Gu Rechang had once been a good man, but after his trials, his temperament changed. He became a zombie through self-refinement, standing now at the fifth handle.

I said, “Xie Xiaoyu is a beautiful girl!” I guided her to grasp the sixth handle.

The last one remained—the Guo family’s Indestructible Bone. These beings were erratic—some nearly human, others lethally hostile, some righteous zombie hunters, others cruel and murderous. A Taoist from Maoshan once became one posthumously, continuing to exorcise demons before turning uncontrollable, leading to the deaths of five disciples.

The Indestructible Bone’s power was terrifying.

These seven corpses represented the pinnacle of the zombie world. My jade ruler had been humming for a while, agitated by the overwhelming corpse qi radiating from them.

Little Rascal’s eyes grew redder, blood seeping from the corners.

Abe Keiko praised, “These seven represent the zenith of China’s zombie realm. With their strength, opening this final door will be no issue.”

Even the mighty Dai Hao was sweating, bracing himself against the wall. Hammer Master whispered to Hua Changsheng, “Will the old master be alright?”

Among the seven, Hua Chongyang was unique—a living man standing among the undead, a testament to the monstrous power of the “Nine-Yin Corpse Absorption Technique.”

The group staggered back as the seven corpses gripped the handles. Suddenly, the door’s surface writhed with bizarre black patterns, unseen before, greedily drinking the corpse qi from the seven.

The zombies roared as the mechanisms turned. The final door creaked open. A freezing wind rushed out, carrying with it a crimson tide of corpse qi—thick, violent, and unlike anything I had ever encountered.

This was the true red corpse qi. In my travels, I had seen pale, wispy qi and black qi. The red variant had only appeared once—on Little Wu, possessed by the Yin Snake.

But this—this was something else entirely.

And it was pouring from the depths of the tomb.