A comprehensive overview of tombs: starting with the Yellow Weasel's Tomb

After all, although there are four major schools of tomb raiding, most of them are self-taught.

They couldn't pinpoint the location of the tomb entrance; after all, not all tomb raiders were members of the four major sects.

Yanzi, having overheard Bai Jing and Hu Bayi's last words, immediately slowed her pace and said, "I've heard from the old folks in the village that there used to be a gang of bandits in the mountains who all wore black clothes and black trousers, black hats, red headscarves, red socks, and black shoes. Their attire was truly bizarre."

This group specialized in digging up graves and tombs deep in the mountains and forests. In the old days, every gang had to report their name and organization. What was this gang called again?

At this point, Yanzi paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something and quickly added, "Ni'er knows!"

Unlike Bai Jing and Hu Bayi who had lowered their voices at the beginning, Yanzi's voice was clearly audible to everyone else.

Upon hearing this, the thrush walking at the front slowed down but said nothing.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jing seemed to remember something and said, "I've heard of this name before."

Upon hearing Bai Jing's words, everyone turned their attention to him.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Bai Jing immediately said, "Speaking of bandits in Northeast China, back when the Northeast Field Army finished the Liaoshen Campaign, it left hundreds of thousands of troops behind to suppress bandits in Northeast China. You should all know this, right?"

Upon hearing this, everyone else nodded, indicating that they had all heard of this story.

After all, in addition to the million-strong army that entered Shanhaiguan, the Northeast Field Army also left behind more than 300,000 troops to suppress the increasingly rampant banditry in the Northeast region. This was a well-known fact at the time.

Seeing that everyone understood, Bai Jing continued, "My grandfather was a regimental commander in the Northeast Field Army back then, and his unit was left behind to specifically deal with bandits."

According to my father, back then they were wiping out the remnants of a bandit gang called the Mud Society.

This gang of bandits is said to have originated in the late Qing Dynasty. They were slightly different from ordinary bandits, mainly relying on digging up graves to make money. After the Japanese entered Northeast China, the Nierhui (泥儿会) joined the Japanese and helped them with their affairs.

Later, during the suppression of bandits in Northeast China, this gang of thieves was completely wiped out, and a considerable amount of treasure was seized from them.

Bai Jing paused here, then glanced at Hua Mei discreetly before continuing.

"It is said that the purpose of this band of bandits was to find some kind of eye cave."

At this point, Bai Jing paused. He naturally knew about the Hundred-Eyed Cave, but he just wanted to bluff and see if Hua Mei knew about it.

Clearly, seeing Huamei's reaction, Bai Jing was certain that Huamei knew nothing about this matter.

However, it was clear that Huamei seemed to be secretly memorizing Bai Jing's words.

After observing the thrush's reaction, Bai Jing continued, "When we went in, the eight hidden doors that the fat man had trampled down were probably only thirty years old at most. Obviously, this Huang Xiangu Temple was very likely the work of this bandit group called the Mud Society."

The others nodded silently as well.

Hua Mei gave Bai Jing a deep look.

To be honest, Bai Jing knows too much.

After walking for about half an hour, the group arrived at the outside of a courtyard, where a sign read "Gangyingzi Village Forest Farm".

By this time, it was completely bright outside.

Hua Mei didn't speak, but stepped forward, opened the courtyard gate, and turned to Bai Jing and the others, saying, "Come in!"

Then he led a few people into the forest.

Bai Jing and the others responded and followed.

Immediately afterwards, Huamei opened the door to the room and said to the person inside, "Dad, I'm back. A few friends came over with me."

Immediately afterwards, Hu Bayi and Fatty were startled by a figure that suddenly appeared from the doorway.

This person looks to be in their fifties or sixties.

He glanced at Bai Jing and the others, then looked at Hua Mei, who nodded in agreement. The man turned around and said, "Come in!"

Seeing this, Yanzi quickly introduced, "Bai Jing, Hu Bayi, Fatty, this is Grandpa Qiaoshan, he's the forest ranger in our village."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jing and the others quickly greeted him and then followed him inside.

Bai Jing naturally knew the old man in front of him, who was named Sun Qiaoshan. He was the old strategist of the bandit gang called Nierhui that Bai Jing had just mentioned. The so-called strategist meant the military advisor.

The reason he stayed here was to enter the Weasel Grave and get the Paulownia Box.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find the tomb entrance and couldn't get into the Weasel Grave.

Naturally, having failed to obtain the bronze box, he could only waste his days here.

However, what the old man knocking on the mountain didn't know was that the bronze box was no longer in the Huang Xiangu Temple here.

Instead, they were taken to the Hundred-Eyed Cave.

This old man who was knocking on the mountain was no good person either; he was ruthless and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Of course, with his skills and considerable intelligence, Bai Jing could easily deal with this guy.

Soon, after entering the house, Huamei took out a kettle and poured hot water for Bai Jing and the others.

After spending so much time outside in the freezing cold, entering the warm house and having a bowl of hot water, Bai Jing and the others, who had been busy all night, were feeling quite tired.

While drinking water, Hu Bayi glanced at Huamei, and then at Sun Qiaoshan.

To be honest, apart from Bai Jing, the others here didn't quite understand how Sun Qiaoshan, with his awful appearance, could have a daughter like Huamei.

However, Hu Bayi was more concerned about that right now. He asked, "Old Master Qiaoshan, do you know about Comrade Huamei going up the mountain in the middle of the night?"

Chapter 16 The Five Immortals of Northeast China

This is a test, a blatant test.

Silence, silence.

However, immediately afterward, Old Man Knocking on the Mountain calmly said, "Patrol the night!"

Before Bai Jing and Hu Bayi could even speak, the fat man said, "No, I mean, old man, what could possibly happen in the mountains in the middle of the night that requires night patrolling?"

It's no wonder the fat man had this question; when Bai Jing asked Hua Mei what she was doing there, she didn't answer.

At that moment, the old man knocking on the mountain answered that he would patrol the night.

But, just as the fat man said, in the middle of the night in the mountains, in the freezing cold, could someone be poaching?

After listening to the fat man's words, Grandpa Knock on the Mountain glanced at everyone and said, "The longer the night goes on, the more things can go wrong."

Immediately afterwards, Yanzi's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.

Then, Yanzi explained, "I heard that a few years ago, there was a savage in the mountains who would often choose to steal children from the village in the middle of the night to eat."

Upon hearing this, Hu Bayi was immediately filled with a sense of responsibility and said, "Which mountain is it? Take me to see it another day?"

Before Yanzi could answer, Sun Qiaoshan spoke first.

"The willows are white, gray, and yellow, and there are many strange and wonderful wild creatures in the mountains."

Upon hearing this, Hu Bayi also showed a puzzled expression and couldn't help but ask, "Hu Liu Bai Hui Huang?"

Bai Jing took the cup of hot water that Hua Mei had just poured and then explained, "The so-called white, gray and yellow of the willow trees are collectively referred to as 'Hu Liu'. This saying originated from early nature worship, and the shamanism that developed later also has this belief."

The Northeastern Immortal Clan is divided into "Chuma" (or "Horse-Crossing")

Bai Jing's storytelling habit struck again, and Hu Bayi immediately rubbed his temples and interrupted, "Old Bai, Old Bai, you don't need to explain so much. Just explain what the so-called Hu Liu Bai Hui Huang is."

Bai Jing was speechless after hearing this.

But Bai Jing then explained, "The so-called 'Hu Liu Bai Hui Huang' refers to foxes, snakes, hedgehogs, rats, and weasels, respectively. These are the animals most likely to become spirits and are the most numerous."

In Northeast China, there is a tradition of worshipping household guardian spirits, but these spirits cannot be invited casually; please do not do so.

Hearing that Bai Jing was about to go off-topic again, Hu Bayi interrupted him, saying, "Old Bai, that's enough, I understand, stop talking."

Hearing Hu Bayi's dissuasion, Bai Jing could only awkwardly shut his mouth.

Meanwhile, Sun Qiaoshan, after listening to Bai Jing's words, finished his last puff of tobacco and tapped the tobacco in his pipe.

Then Sun Qiaoshan looked at Bai Jing with great interest and said, "Young man, you know quite a lot."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jing merely raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, "What's so special about that? As long as you read more books, you can do it too."

To be honest, when Bai Jing was young, apart from going to school and training in various skills, he spent most of his time reading books about mountains and rivers, astronomy and divination, animals and plants.

Therefore, when it comes to knowledge reserves, Bai Jing can be said to be second to none.

Upon hearing this, Sun Qiaoshan didn't say anything, but...

nodded.

Then, Sun Qiaoshan subtly glanced at Huamei. Huamei noticed this as well, but she didn't say anything. She simply nodded and then shook her head.

At this moment, Hu Bayi seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally sizing up Sun Qiaoshan.

Clearly, Hu Bayi realized at this moment that Sun Qiaoshan was definitely not simple.

Immediately, Hu Bayi gave Bai Jing and Fatty a wink, and then went out first.

Although Bai Jing, Fatty, and Hu Bayi haven't lived together for very long, the three of them have a great understanding of each other. Often, they only need a glance to understand each other's thoughts.

Immediately, the three of them went outside, found a secluded spot, lined up, and began squatting on the toilet.

To be honest, Bai Jing was fine, but Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang were a little unaccustomed to squatting on the toilet when they first arrived. There was no way around it; compared to Fujian, the Northeast was just too cold in winter.

The fat man glanced at the log cabin in the forest behind him and was the first to speak.

"Something's not right with this old guy!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Bayi agreed, saying, "I feel the same way."