The Terror of the Heavens Begins with Gu

Chapter 184 The Shocked Xuan Gui Daoist and the Strange Things Beside the Mountain-Suppressing Seal
"The Wang family who raise corpses?" Old Taoist Xuan Gui asked in surprise. "What are they doing in Changshan?"

The Wang family has dealt with corpses for many years, and their personalities tend to be sinister. They don't have a good reputation in the southern region, and few people in the circle are willing to associate with them.

Changshan and the Wang family have never had much interaction, so when he suddenly heard that the Wang family had come to Changshan, the old Taoist Xuan Gui was naturally surprised.

The Taoist priest who came to report replied, "They claimed to be from the Wang family. They looked somewhat disheveled and their expressions were panicked. They had a heavy aura of yin energy on them, as if... as if they had encountered some trouble."

The old Taoist Xuan Gui asked curiously, "What are they doing at Changshan if they're in trouble? Did they say there was something wrong?"

"They didn't say that, they only said they wanted to see the sect leader as soon as possible."

"Do they think that if they come to Changshan looking for someone because they're in trouble, Changshan will help them?" Daoist Xuangui shook his head. "Don't even mention that the sect leader is barely hanging on; he might die at any moment..."

Upon hearing the conversation, Mingzhen Daoist, who had ordered the young Daoist to push him out of the room, coughed a few times helplessly: "Uncle-Master, I still have a few breaths left, I won't die anytime soon."

Old Taoist Xuan Gui glared at Taoist Ming Zhen: "Don't interrupt."

Master Mingzhen shut his mouth.

Looking back at the Taoist priest, the old Taoist Xuan Gui shook his head and said, "Even if they have the ability, would we in Changshan help the Wang family? You're overthinking it."

"Go tell them that the sect leader is having some health problems and cannot see them. Tell them to come down the mountain on their own."

"Take a few more fellow disciples with you. If they try to force their way into the back mountain, kick them off the mountain. Don't listen to their excuses."

The Taoist hesitated and said, "What if they are just pleading and don't want to come down the mountain? They seem to really want to see the sect leader."

Xuan Gui Daoist said ruthlessly, "Bomb down the mountain, and the sect leader is not seeing anyone right now."

The Taoist priest responded and called a few people from the main hall. Together, they ran towards the mountain gate at the back of the mountain.

Looking at the backs of those Taoists, Daoist Mingzhen said with some seriousness, "Uncle-Master, we have never had much of a relationship with the Wang family. The fact that they would take the initiative to come to Changshan means that this matter is quite serious."

Xuan Gui Daoist said, "This is a serious matter, but it's not our business. It has nothing to do with us."

“A lot has just happened in Changshan, and now something has happened to the Wang family, which makes me uneasy.” Daoist Mingzhen stretched out his right hand, pinched his other fingers with his thumb a few times, and suddenly coughed violently, which made his cheeks turn an unhealthy red.

The young Taoist priest standing next to him quickly patted him on the back.

"You're already like this, why are you still pinching me? Do you want to die? If you pinch me a few more times, you'll really be on your last breath."

With a worried expression, the old Taoist Xuan Gui rushed to Mingzhen's side and used a special technique to soothe Mingzhen's breathing.

His cultivation level wasn't very high, but he was very skilled in these little tricks.

Master Mingzhen stopped coughing, a wry smile on his face: "One big thing after another, it's really worrying. And I... cough cough..."

"There's no need to worry too much," said the old Taoist Xuan Gui nonchalantly. "Brother Li Xiangwen is actually a good person. As long as we handle our relationship with Li Xiangwen properly, those troubles won't affect us for the time being."

"However, the Wang family is not far from us, so we should indeed be wary of this."

He pulled out his phone from under his Taoist robe and dialed a number while speaking.

After making a few phone calls, his expression turned serious.

After exchanging a glance with the solemn-looking Daoist Mingzhen, Daoist Xuangui flipped through the phone book for a while before dialing a few more numbers.

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Daoist Mingzhen and frowned, saying, "You heard it too, the Wang family has lost contact with the outside world. Could it be that they have chosen to seal off the mountain? I wonder what happened."

Master Mingzhen shook his head and said, "What talk of closing the mountain in this day and age? Since they've lost contact, something must have happened, and it's not a small matter. Maybe... cough... maybe the Wang family has already... cough cough cough..."

The old Taoist Xuan Gui finished speaking, saying what the Taoist Mingzhen hadn't finished: "Maybe they're all dead? Although the Wang family's foundation can't compare to our Changshan family, it's still a family that has been passed down for so many years. This... is a bit astonishing."

Master Mingzhen sighed, "Didn't we almost have a major disaster at Changshan as well?"

Recalling Changshan's ordeal, the heavy-hearted Taoist Xuan Gui was speechless for a moment.

A shout came from the gate.

Master Xuan Gui, who was still on the phone, ignored the commotion on the other end.

If you don't hear something from the person involved, you can pretend you don't know.

After a long while, the old Taoist Xuan Gui, his brows furrowed even deeper, put down his phone and said to Taoist Ming Zhen, "The Wang family must have encountered a big problem. The situation of the main family is currently unknown. Many people in the circle have noticed the abnormality over there. What is certain now is that a large number of Wang family members outside are dying."

"With such a huge problem, no wonder they came to our Changshan Mountain. They want us to shield them from harm; they've got a clever plan."

Mingzhen Daoist had clearly heard Xuan Gui Daoist's conversation with someone: "I think they are just begging for help everywhere. So many people on the outskirts of the Wang family have died. I guess not many people from the main family have escaped."

"I wonder who did it. The Wang family... what a pity."

“It might not be a person. The Wang family is extreme in their actions and likes to go to extremes. Maybe they encountered something strange.” Xuan Gui Daoist suddenly picked up his phone again and dialed Li Xiangwen’s number.

As soon as the call connected, a smile appeared on his face. He greeted Li Xiangwen first, and then asked casually, "It seems something happened at the Wang family's place?"

Li Xiangwen's puzzled voice came through the phone: "The Wang family? What Wang family?"

Xuan Gui Daoist was taken aback, then laughed and said, "I just received news that a lot of people have died at the Corpse-Raising King's family... I was thinking that the Corpse-Raising King's family is also in Dongming, so I came to ask you for some information."

Li Xiangwen replied, "It has nothing to do with me. I have never had any dealings with this Wang family who raises corpses. You... Oh, wait a moment, I'll go ask them."

After saying that, Li Xiangwen hung up the phone.

The old Taoist Xuan Gui put down his phone and said in a low voice, "Brother Li Xiangwen couldn't possibly be unaware of what happened in Dongming."

"Judging from that guy's tone, he may not have done it, but he may still be involved."

From the incident of the Blue-Faced Ghost being killed, they knew that Li Xiangwen was able to invite a terrifying being.

If such a being were in Dongming City, it would be impossible for them to be completely unaware of such a major event.

Perhaps it was the work of that mysterious being...

"These are truly turbulent times." Master Mingzhen sighed again. "If something really serious happens to the Wang family, the impact will definitely be significant... the social circle won't be peaceful... cough cough..."

"He came here before asking for a lot of records about the Wu Nu, and... records about his master. Judging from his tone, none of them were things he wanted himself..."

The old Taoist Xuan Gui naturally knew that the "he" that the Taoist Mingzhen was referring to was "Li Xiangwen".

Nodding, he said, "The Weaver Girl hasn't reappeared for many years. I didn't expect that after the Blue-Faced Ghost appeared, the Weaver Girl also sent people out. She's really mysterious... The information you asked for should be related to this."

"I wonder if your master has any plans in place. He likes to leave himself a backup plan, so be more careful in the future..."

A scream interrupted him as Wu Zhiling, covered in long hair and looking like a wild man, ran out of the opposite room.

Two Taoist priests caught up with Wu Zhiling from behind and tackled him to the ground. Wu Zhiling struggled and screamed, "You can't do this to me! I'm your martial uncle! I'm Wu Qiyuan's son! Let me go! Let me go!"

The two Taoist priests who were pressing down on Wu Zhiling were wary of his identity, so they held back and were unable to subdue him for a while.

An annoyed Taoist priest said irritably, "Don't hold back, bring a rope and tie them up!"

One of the Taoist priests rushed back to the room, grabbed a rope, and tied Wu Zhiling up tightly. Then, he and another Taoist priest dragged the struggling and cursing Wu Zhiling back into the room.

Master Mingzhen sighed, "Although Junior Brother Zhiling's body has been barely saved, the effects cannot be reversed, and even Junior Brother Zhiling's personality has been affected."

Xuan Gui Daoist snorted coldly: "What impact? His personality has always been terrible. We have already paid a considerable price to preserve his physical body. What happens next depends on his own fate. If he dies, consider it as him reuniting with his father ahead of time."

Master Mingzhen smiled bitterly.

The Taoist priest who had come to report earlier from the main gate ran back in a panic: "Grandmaster Uncle, something terrible has happened... something terrible has happened, those two people are dead!"

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist Xuan Gui's eyes widened immediately: "Dead?! He was perfectly fine just now, how could he be dead?!"

The Taoist priest wiped his sweat and said, panting, "We don't know either! Following our master's instructions, we chased them away... but as soon as they came down the mountain, they suddenly vomited blood and collapsed on the ground. When we looked, they were already dead... bleeding from all seven orifices!"

"Take me to see!" Xuan Gui Daoist couldn't stand it any longer, so he grabbed the other Daoist and headed towards the gate.

Daoist Mingzhen weakly reminded him, "Uncle-Master, take some people with you. This matter... is not simple."

Xuan Gui Daoist immediately stopped, called five or six people from the main hall, and together they rushed towards the gate.

Finding an excuse to drive people away won't have much of a negative impact on Changshan.

But now that those two people have died on Changshan, things are different. If not handled properly, it will inevitably affect Changshan's reputation.

……

As dusk grew dimmer, the not-so-thick fog appeared even more eerie than usual.

Investigator Li sensed the eerie atmosphere permeating the fog, but he felt no fear and continued to approach the five mountain peaks.

To his surprise, there was a small village next to those five mountain peaks.

This village is very different from many rural areas today. The houses inside are very primitive and are built with wood or locally sourced stone.

Each room seemed to be inhabited, and the dim yellow light emanating from the windows could be seen from afar.

Lights are usually meant to create a warm atmosphere, but in this fog, they appear rather eerie, as if a pair of eyes are peering out from every room with a light on.

Li Zhen walked towards one of the rooms.

Vampires and banshees followed behind Li Zhen.

The ghost fetus and the red-eyed bat were huddled in the basket on the banshee's back, while other materials and props that might be needed were placed behind the vampire.

This time, Li Zhen didn't bring the Mahjong Ghost with him. Instead, he left the Mahjong Ghost in the car to guard the Big-Headed Little Ghost and the Rotten Cat.

Bringing a mahjong enthusiast here wouldn't be of much use.

The little devil who was merging with the demon infant was naturally left in the car by Li Zhen.

Suddenly, a series of coughs came from behind, as if someone was standing behind Li Zhen.

Li Zhen stopped, turned around, but saw nothing.

He turned his head and looked around.

He could only see a thin mist, with no one in sight.

A series of light footsteps suddenly sounded from his right.

Li Zhen turned to the right, but still saw nothing.

The red-eyed bat climbed onto the banshee's shoulder, poked its head out from the tear in her black robe, and looked in the direction Li Zhen was looking.

It seems that the commotion over there has also caught its attention.

Li Zhen withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

Strangely, the house in front of him didn't seem far away, but no matter which way he went, he could never reach it.

Li Zhen frowned slightly.

The strangeness here did not surprise Li Zhen, but the strangeness of the situation was somewhat unexpected.

He changed direction, heading to his left, and walked parallel to the village.

Suddenly, a series of fragmented conversations came from ahead.

Li Zhen stopped in his tracks.

The voices gradually faded away, replaced by soft footsteps and the sound of pebbles rolling.

Soon, three or four blurry figures appeared in the fog in front of Li Zhen.

As the figures drew closer, Li Zhen gradually made out their faces.

There were four people on the other side, three men and one woman.

One of the three men was a sprightly old man, dressed plainly with his trousers rolled up, looking just like an ordinary farmer.

Of the other two, one was a burly middle-aged man, and the other was a child who only reached the middle-aged man's waist.

The child looked to be around ten years old, wearing a short-sleeved shirt with a cartoon print. He looked at Li Zhen with a curious expression, mixed with a little fear, just like a child full of curiosity.

But if a child appears in a place like this, either the parents are incredibly carefree, or there's something strange about the child.

The last person was a middle-aged woman wearing a cheongsam and heavy makeup.

As Li Zhen sized up the other person, the other person was also sizing up Li Zhen and the other two.

Perhaps realizing that Li Zhen was the only living person, the other party focused their attention on him.

After sizing up Li Zhen for a while, the woman said with a smile, "Friend, you came here so abruptly without informing the owner beforehand. Isn't that impolite?"

(End of this chapter)