"Cháng Xīn's departure isn't as simple as it seems. Lao Gūng disappeared once before." Wu Jīluán's voice suddenly came into my ear, and I only realized that he had woken up, approaching me very closely and saying something.
I moved my lips slightly and spoke in a few concise sentences without letting others hear.
"That's why... Lao Gongye did that before... I guessed there was a reason, but we need to think about the bigger picture. Master Luo, you have a strong will."
"Just that, Lao Gongye couldn't find the person, I always feel that something might go wrong... Chang Xin's fate isn't good, Master passed away and devoted himself to the Liang family. Someone as straightforward and obedient is easily influenced, in terms of fate, good people like this either suffer very harshly or..."
Wu Jīluán didn't finish his sentence when he immediately stood up, a smile on his face, looking forward.
Liu Taixuan walked over.
"Hahaha, Mr. Wu, Mr. Luo, this place indeed has a completely different atmosphere. There are many animals around here. Some immortals have caught some mountain chickens and wild rabbits, the disciples have grilled them almost done, let's go over and eat some and discuss the action after we go in?" Liu Taixuan had a similar smile as a corpse seed, which he had already obtained within reach.
Fengshui, we have been in and out of it quite a bit.
Yun Du Mountain, it's a place that Ding Rui Pu knows about; it has suffered heavy casualties.
The ancient Qiang City, even with the disciples of Master Qiu Jí, still took several days to pass through.
In the mountains of the General, it was even nine to die and live once. That was when the fengshui itself was broken once.
Not to mention the Jü Shān (Twisted Mountain).
Places where the great corpse and ghost exist, with bodies that have undergone immortal transformation and climbed to heaven, are all dangerously packed. There is no exception. Compared to other places, this mountain is the lightest, without any casualties, we have reached the entrance.
The iron cross mountain should not have encountered such troubles. Plus, the current situation is indeed smooth, so Liu Taixuan is so relaxed.
Wu Jīluán woke up the other scholars, and then we went over.
There are several campfires on the ground, roasted rabbits and wild chickens, the surface of which is oily and fragrant all over.
Zhang Zhiyi distributed the meat to us, always with a warm and friendly expression.
Everyone had a bit to eat first. Liu Taixuan then took out a small iron pot, took a few sips, and gestured for a toast with Wu Jīluán, who then smiled and said, "It warms the body while climbing the mountain. In critical moments, if one isn't clear-headed, it could lead to trouble."
The other scholars did not get drunk either, they just finished their food and focused their attention back on the door.
"Before entering this place, I can't fully guarantee what it will be inside, but at least I can determine one thing," Wu Jīluán said with certainty: "Here, it's not a tomb, it's a home for the living."
"Residential house?" Zhang Zhiyi was slightly surprised, Liu Taixuan didn't interrupt with a word, and the other disciples listened attentively.
"Starting from the rumors here and a series of deductions and analyses, this place used to be inhabited by living beings, practicing alchemy with living beings, and accepting living being disciples. However, they were released just before they were about to reach their end of life, so this place must definitely be a residential house. No one would practice alchemy in an undead house. Although this residential house is rare and built in the mountains like a tomb."
Wu Jīluán's words were more decisive.
"Residential house, that at least ensures one thing, there are probably no traps."
"No one would set up traps in their own place of residence where they live and eat, otherwise, a small mistake could lead to their own death."
I listened to this, and my heart rate gradually increased.
"That means, once we pass through this door, we won't have any defenses?" Liu Taixuan's eyes were filled with surprise.
"Theoretically, it's like that. Without defenses, we can even find the room for cultivation here, and the elixirs left by the alchemist. We are heading north. This is directly to the north, facing south. There are peach and plum trees growing on the door of the residential house, which represents that this person has a destiny of having peach and plum trees all over the world." Wu Jīluán explained.
"Good! Very good! Hahahaha!" Liu Taixuan slapped his thigh heavily, overjoyed.
"If the alchemist is here, then the location he is in must be the one where he has the strongest attachment, a place where he didn't even realize he was dead when he died, a place where, as a zombie, he still believed himself to be alive, and where he continued to refine elixirs." Wu Jīluán spoke again.
These words made a row of fine goosebumps appear on my face, and my arm hair stood on end.
Died, but still believed he was alive?
The characteristic of an immortalizing zombie is that they cannot move.
"Mr. Wu, is there anything wrong with that? The state he described is what you call a living zombie, and zombies are also corpses, which can be subdued." Liu Taixuan still showed no signs of worry, but his urgency grew.
"The problem lies here. If he is such an existence, we will have to pack up and go back." Wu Jīluán said in a deep voice.
"How come I don't understand this?" Liu Taixuan squinted his eyes, his tone was somewhat heavy, which was completely opposite to joy.
"Born of attachment, transformed by attachment, making him unable to die and not stop even after death. He may become a bird of feathers if his vitality is aroused. If we interrupt him, he will be angry, resentful. If we want to dig the elixirs, he will be fierce and evil."
"If good zombies become evil, that is the evil of immortality, whose difficulty to deal with is beyond our capacity." Wu Jīluán explained very clearly.
"Therefore, if such a situation occurs in front of us, we should withdraw," He Lining spoke at the right time, his tone steady.
"I can't agree with that. I have been to this place, I have prepared the early work, and we are about to see the corpse. You tell me that if he can move, we can't touch him? There is no such reason."
"Then let me make him unable to move, and that's it?"
"You, Mr. Wu, might think that on the day at the White Wolf Cave, I fell as well, but actually it wasn't like that. The strength of those white-eyed wolves was by no means weak, especially the most powerful one, who was as formidable as two black old ladies back then. That's why they were so resolute and did such things. Over these years, with the progress of the Chief Monk, only one person and one black old lady have been able to guard the mountain gate."
"My skills are absolutely sufficient."
Liu Taixuan's tone was firm and certain, full of confidence.
Zhang Zhiyi nodded to the side, and without exception, all the spiritual horse immortals had a reverent expression.
Wu Jīluán put down the wooden stick in his hand, and took out a piece of paper, wiped his mouth with it before saying: "If that's the case, it's time for us to part ways. The vice-chieftain, you can lead the disciples in, and we will wait outside. After all, there is no danger inside."
"If you come out safely, with the corpse elixir, that's good, I would like to congratulate you."
"If you meet with an accident, that's fine, Wu Jǐng will set up a gravestone here, may you rest in peace."
"I didn't expect Wu Jīluán to speak in such a calm manner and say such absolute things."
We know that Lao Gong's and their ideas were to get the corpse elixir first, so we didn't have any disputes with Liu Taixuan on the way, which would affect the subsequent discussion.
His words can only mean one thing: if the situation he has judged does occur, it will be particularly dangerous and there will be a risk to life and death.
Liu Taixuan doesn't speak anymore, he seems to have become unpredictable.
Zhang Zhiyi was silent for a moment before saying, "Basically, it's just what Mr. Wu judged it to be. Do we still need to go in?"
"If you follow my arrangements, then yes. There is a method to the study of fengshui. If he is like that, it means he is not at peace, which is not good for him himself. As an alchemist with cultivation, I would rather believe that he has already fallen asleep in his peaceful slumber. Therefore, beneath this residential house, there must be a place where yin and yang are balanced, and where he lies in eternal rest at the acupoint of meeting yin and yang in his place of life," Wu Jīluán spoke of another possibility.
Zhang Zhiyi looked at Liu Taixuan and said, "I promise on behalf of Master Liu."
"Good, this is the first thing. We also need to discuss the second matter. Even for close brothers, we must be clear about everything. So the words should be said in advance."
"The corpse elixir, if there is only one, we will take it."
"I never expected Wu Jīluán to directly mention our goal!"
The atmosphere in the scene suddenly changed, Liu Taixuan squinted his eyes and said: "It was me who drank just now, not Mr. Wu. How can you still say drunk talk?"
"Iron Monastery has gone to great lengths to gather books for you to use. We've exhausted all our connections and inquired everywhere. I even disregarded the safety of the mountain gate and went along directly."
"So after all this effort, you want me to be the one to take the prize?"
"Mr. Wu, take back your words, we are still friends."
The other disciples in the room, without exception, all of them showed a cold expression.
I can roughly understand the reason why Wu Jīluán is making it clear now.
Once the matter is clarified, it will not cause any issues.
If things are not made clear, and the division of the corpse elixir is delayed until after it's obtained, there will definitely be disputes and contention. That would inevitably lead to injuries and deaths.
It's better to come clean first and risk a breakdown in talks, as long as the relationship doesn't become too strained. There will be no major harm.
"Liu Deputy Director, you've misunderstood one point. The dress? It's not the Iron Monastery that makes it for us. This is a complementary matter. The Path of Ascending to Immortality will not idle away and stay at Iron Monastery. What is our goal, we all know."
"The corpse elixir will not be taken in just one piece. Today, it is our turn because today is more important. Tomorrow, it will be Iron Monastery's turn. And before I take the corpse elixir here, I will first treat Zhang Xiaoguan's injuries and cure the poison left by his lingering illness." Wu Jīluán did not back down.
"The words are indeed spoken candidly. The corpse elixir does not have to be taken in just one piece, but why should it not be us who use it first? You know, Iron Monastery also faces problems." Liu Taixuan still had a hint of coldness in his eyes.
"It's your own problem, and it has been going on for decades."
"The problem I'm talking about is also closely related to Iron Monastery," Wu Jīluán said firmly.
He is hinting at the matters of the eight residences!
I took a deep breath, indeed, it was almost the right time to say it.
Therefore, I nodded in agreement with Wu Jīluán.
"Luo Dao Zhang needs the corpse elixir as a breakthrough to attempt to break through the obstacle. Only in this way, can he be sure of leading various temples and Iron Monastery to seek justice from the eight residences." Wu Jīluán's gaze fell on Zhang Zhiyi and said: "Zhang Xiao Master, do you still want to continue losing your soul? Do you want your face to be covered in these wounds?"
The moment Wu Jīluán finished speaking, Liu Taixuan's face turned pale in surprise, astonishment, and shock.
"Do you know where they are? Why didn't you say so earlier!?" Liu Taixuan's tone grew suddenly colder.
"Humph, those rural temples don't need Lu Xian to eat corpse elixirs. Moreover, humans can't even eat corpse elixirs. The eight residences and Iron Monastery will take care of it, and you don't need to worry about it." Liu Taixuan's words were still unwilling to compromise.
