One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Azan Ki silently poked at the charcoal fire, the crackling sound from the clay pot particularly clear in the cramped cubicle. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice still hoarse and flat, but what he said made Nie Lingfeng frown deeply.

"The missing person wasn't taken away by the 'Mountain Spirit,' nor was he haunted by the 'Poison King's' ghost," Azan Ki's voice seemed to come from underground. "He was 'invited' away by something 'underground'..."

"Something underground?" Nie Lingfeng pressed.

"Below Mengla Town, it's not clean. It's been unclean for a long time. There's a very ancient cave there, which we call 'Nanmu Cave' (in Dai language, it means 'Mother's Cave' or 'Ghost Mother's Cave'). Legend has it that it connects to the Yellow Springs of the underworld, where a capricious 'Nanmu' (goddess/ghost) also lives. In the past, the villagers would worship her on specific days in specific ways, asking her to bless them with good weather and drive away disease. But many, many years ago, the worship stopped, and the cave was sealed off."

“But recently,” Azan Ki’s voice lowered, carrying an indescribable chill, “the ‘Nammu’ in the cave… has awakened. Or rather, something else, using the name of ‘Nammu’ and the ‘uncleanliness’ of that place, has awakened. It needs ‘offers,’ fresh, vibrant offerings. Those who have gone missing are the offerings it ‘chosen.’ As for those who are ‘hysterical’…” He gave a cold, dry, and grating laugh, “they’ve been tainted by its ‘aura,’ their souls are unstable, and they’ve been dragged into its ‘dream,’ where they dance, sing, and provide it with ‘nourishment.’ When the dream ends, they’re almost completely drained.”

"The red fog, the moving shadows, the underground song... is that all its doing?" Nie Lingfeng recalled the intelligence brought back by the seriously injured field agent.

"The fog is its 'breath,' the shadows are its 'tentacles,' and the songs are its 'call,'" Azan Ki succinctly stated. "It is using this method to expand its influence, attract more 'sacrifices,' and pollute that land. When it has absorbed enough 'nutrients,' and fully 'awakens,' or... when what it 'nurtures' matures... Mong La, and even further afield, will suffer."

"Something being nurtured?" Nie Lingfeng grasped the key point.

Azan Ki paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words, before finally saying, "I'm not sure. But according to some ancient records, and the recent 'pulsations' I've sensed in the earth's veins... that thing might be trying to use the life force of the 'Nammu Cave' and the offerings to nurture something... something more terrifying, somewhere between 'spirit' and 'matter.' Perhaps it's an incarnation of 'Nammu,' or perhaps some other... evil god."

An evil god? A procession? Nie Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat. How similar this was to the "body of a god" in the Yaoxing Society's base, and the "sowing" plan of the "Council"! Could it be that the events in Mengla Town were also orchestrated by the "Council" or its lackeys? Were they using ancient legends and evil ley lines to conduct another "cultivation" experiment here?

"Is there any way to deal with it? Or, should we enter the 'Namu Cave'?" Nie Lingfeng asked.

"Deal with it?" Azanji shook his head, his deep, abyss-like eyes glancing at Nie Lingfeng, then quickly at Chen Duo. "Ordinary swords, spears, and clubs won't work on that 'thing.' It requires special power, the power to restrain filth and purify evil spirits. Or... a more powerful, homologous 'evil' to devour it." He paused. "As for entering the cave... the entrance has long been sealed off. But I know another path, a very dangerous path, almost unknown to anyone, leading down from an abandoned mine outside the town to the deep edge of 'Nammu Cave.' But that path... is closer to 'its' core, and even more dangerous."

He removed the earthenware pot from the charcoal fire, used a bamboo skewer to pick out a small, blackened substance that looked like charred resin or insect pupae, placed it on a clean banana leaf, and pushed it in front of Nie Lingfeng: "Take this. If you encounter 'Red Mist' or 'Shadow,' light it; it will temporarily dispel them and buy you some time. But remember, only a little time. Don't expect it to save your life."

Nie Lingfeng took it; the object was warm to the touch and emitted an even stronger smell, a mixture of burnt odor and strange aroma. He carefully put it away.

"Furthermore," Azan Ki sat back down on the futon, closing his eyes as if utterly exhausted, "it's very difficult for you to go to Mong La with just your two legs and your mouth. The town is xenophobic now, and there's a lot of tension. You need a 'legitimate' identity and a powerful 'backer' who can keep things under control."

Nie Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat. He took out the business card Feng Zhenghao had given him from his pocket and placed it on the low table: "Does this... count?"

Azan Ki opened his eyes, glanced at the business card, and when he saw the three words "Feng Zhenghao," a clear expression finally appeared on his stone-carved face, a mixture of surprise, fear, and... a hint of understanding.

"President Feng of the World Society..." he murmured, giving Nie Lingfeng a deep look, "You... are not simple. Even he is willing to give you his business card."

He pondered for a moment, seemingly making a decision: "With this business card, things will be much easier. Chairman Feng has a lot of influence on the border, especially among some of his 'business partners' in northern Myanmar and northern Laos. Although Mong La Town is chaotic, the biggest local tyrant there, 'Yan Ben,' owes Chairman Feng a huge favor from years ago. If you take this business card to Yan Ben and say that Chairman Feng introduced you to 'discuss business' and 'find someone,' he won't dare refuse to help, or at least he won't dare to openly make things difficult for you. With his support, it will be much easier for you to move around in the town, and you can also find out a lot of information that outsiders don't know."

This was an unexpected delight! Feng Zhenghao's "help" was even more direct and effective than anticipated. Nie Lingfeng thought to himself, it seems that when Feng Zhenghao handed over his business card, he probably already anticipated that they would use this favor in this way. This Chairman Feng is indeed far-sighted.

"Where can I find Yan Ben in Mengla Town?" Nie Lingfeng asked.

"He owns the largest jade gambling shop in the east of town, called 'Benlong Pavilion.' There are two stone sculptures of 'Naga' (snake gods in Southeast Asian mythology) at the entrance, so it's easy to spot. But that man... is ruthless and only cares about profit. Although he may be good at currying favor and gaining face, you should be careful not to let him see too much of your secrets or use you as a pawn," Azan Ki warned.

"Understood, thank you very much, Master Ajarn Ki." Nie Lingfeng said solemnly.

Azan Ki waved his hand, closed his eyes again, resumed his withered posture, and stopped speaking, clearly indicating that he wanted to see the guest out.

Nie Lingfeng helped Chen Duo to her feet, thanked her again, then lifted the bamboo curtain and left the dimly lit room that smelled strange.

Stepping out of the teahouse, the sunlight was already quite dazzling, and the mist had dissipated. The streets were even more crowded, and the noise remained.

"Brother, that old man... his smell is a bit strange." Chen Duo whispered to Nie Lingfeng, wrinkling her little nose. "It's not 'stinky,' it's... like dried insects and charred tree roots."

Nie Lingfeng nodded. This Azan Ki was no ordinary informant or witch doctor. His understanding of "Nammu Cave" and that "underground thing" was probably deeper than he claimed. Moreover, he seemed to have some connection to the power of the "Council" or something similar. This person might come in handy in the future.

"Let's go, let's find a place to eat first, and then figure out how to get to Mengla." Nie Lingfeng checked the time; it was almost ten o'clock. They needed to leave Daluo first and head to Mengla Town.

However, just a few steps out of the teahouse, as they were about to flag down a "three-wheeled motorcycle"—a common local vehicle with a tarpaulin in the cargo bed—a thin, shrewd-looking young man in a floral shirt suddenly darted out from a nearby alley, blocking their path. With a fawning smile, he spoke in accented Mandarin:

"Hey bosses! Going to Mong La? Need a ride? My car is fast, reliable, and cheap! I know the way, I'll get you safely to the town entrance!"

Nie Lingfeng glanced at him but didn't say anything. These kinds of unlicensed guides and drivers who approach you are common in border towns, but they often come with risks.

Seeing that Nie Lingfeng didn't answer, the young man's eyes darted around. He lowered his voice and added mysteriously, "Boss, you're unfamiliar faces. Going to Mengla without someone familiar with the area to guide you is easy to get into trouble. I can not only take you there, but I can also help you contact 'Boss Yan Ben' in town! My cousin works at 'Benlong Pavilion'! He has connections!"

Yan Ben? Nie Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat. What a coincidence? Or... was it Azanji's arrangement? Or... was it an instruction from Feng Zhenghao's side?

He glanced at the young man; though the man's eyes were obsequious, there wasn't much malice in them, only a strong desire for "business" and a touch of shrewdness. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How much to Mengla?"

"Two hundred! RMB!" the young man immediately quoted, "Delivery to the town entrance included! If you want it directly to 'Benlong Pavilion,' add another fifty!"

The price was reasonable, even lower than Nie Lingfeng had expected. In this no-man's-land, transportation costs were often high and dangerous.

"Send it to 'Benlong Pavilion'," Nie Lingfeng said directly without haggling. He needed to make contact with Yan Ben as soon as possible and use Feng Zhenghao's business card to break into the situation.

"Alright! Boss, you're very helpful!" The young man was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed and led them to a slightly worn three-wheeled motorcycle with a green tarpaulin installed deep in the alley. "This way, please! This way, please! My name is Ah Long, what's your name, boss?"

"My surname is Lin," Nie Lingfeng said simply, pulling Chen Duo into the truck bed. The truck bed was lined with a dirty blanket and smelled of engine oil and sweat, but it was still quite spacious.

Ah Long quickly started the vehicle, and the three-wheeled motorcycle roared deafeningly as it bumped its way out of the alley, merged into the noisy and chaotic streets of Daluo Town, and then turned onto a more rugged, dusty dirt road leading to the deep rainforest.

Mengla Town, that remote border town shrouded in the shadows of "Nanmu Cave" and "underground things," lies just ahead.

The "help" from Feng Zhenghao of the Tianxia Association, like an invisible thread, has quietly connected them with Yan Ben, the most powerful local tyrant in that town.

Is this path a shortcut to the truth, or another, more dangerous vortex?