Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Secret Realm of the Corpse Herding

I ran frantically through the surroundings, with the Flower Spider King hot on my heels. If I had heard what Lu Tangjun had just said, I surely would have cursed him soundly—aren’t you afraid of anything at all?! Helpless, I shouted as I ran, calling out to my master, “Master! Master, save me!”

My master sighed, shook his head, and pointed his golden sword at the Flower Spider King, yelling, “Boy, just turn around and confront it. You’re not afraid of ghosts, but you’re scared of spiders?”

But I didn’t do as he said, continuing my wild flight, and the Flower Spider King kept up the chase. I ran through the ancient village, attracting the attention of everyone around—even those hiding behind their doors peeked out and laughed at my predicament. Time passed, and neither my master nor Lu Tangjun intervened; I grew tired, my breath heavy. The Flower Spider King stopped first, watching me, its abdomen rising and falling, and it tapped its head with its front legs in a strangely human manner.

We stood there, catching our breath. I bent over, hands on my knees, gasping, and the Flower Spider King remained still, as if exhausted as well.

At last, my master couldn’t hold back any longer. He straightened from his crouch, called out, “Boy, can’t you show some backbone? You’re embarrassing me!”

With that, he stepped forward and vanished, reappearing above the Flower Spider King’s head. Muttering a spell, he slapped a yellow talisman onto it. The spider let out a sharp cry, shrinking back to its original size. My master picked up the discarded black box, locked the Flower Spider King inside again, and smiled, saying, “Ah, I can’t bear to destroy this little treasure.”

He affixed another yellow talisman to the box. Sweat pouring from my brow, I walked over to him and said, “Master, you really have nerves of steel.”

I gave him a thumbs-up, and my master grinned, handing me the black box. But I recoiled in terror, nearly dropping it. He tapped my head and said, “What are you afraid of? It’s in the box.”

I forced a smile and carefully took the box. My master then walked over to Ge Fang, knelt down, and said, “Ge Fang, you have nowhere left to turn. If you have any conscience left, give me the antidote. I’ll spare you. Don’t think I can’t break a simple curse—I just don’t want unnecessary trouble. Think carefully.”

He looked at her. Ge Fang’s expression softened, and she slowly produced a small black vial from her waist. My master smiled, took it from her, but Ge Fang spoke, “I don’t need your pity. Kill me or do as you wish. Better to die quickly than live in disgrace. It’s all over. Everything… is over.”

Her voice faded, and she closed her eyes, awaiting death. But my master didn’t strike. He stood and walked away. Ge Fang suddenly opened her eyes and shouted, “I told you to kill me! Kill me! Don’t you understand? Kill me!”

He ignored her, just beckoned with his finger. A golden light shone down upon her. Ge Fang was stunned, then laughed and said, “Father, mother, I’m coming to find you. Wait for me.”

She closed her eyes again, and a scream echoed. My master didn’t turn back, putting the black vial in his pocket. After a long time, Ge Fang realized she could still breathe and opened her eyes again. My master turned and said, “I said I’d spare your life, and I have. I’ve destroyed your cultivation. From now on, be an ordinary person. Don’t step into the chaos of the supernatural world again.”

With his words, Ge Fang broke down in tears. I had never seen anyone cry so heartbreakingly—perhaps it was her own pain, perhaps something else. Lu Tangjun sighed, waved his hand, and two people came forward to carry Ge Fang back to her room. Lu Tangjun then said to my master, “Tan Boqing, things have gone as you wished.”

My master nodded and replied, “Lu Tangjun, I leave Ge Fang to you. She is, after all, a native of Miaojiang.”

Lu Tangjun nodded as well. “I understand.”

“Good, then I’ll take my leave,” my master said, giving a slight bow.

Lu Tangjun returned the gesture, watching us as we departed. Just as my master was about to leave the village, we saw a figure standing at the entrance—a man wearing a straw hat and a blue robe. On closer look, it was Cheng Quanguang.

My master was surprised. “Cheng Quanguang? What are you doing here?”

Cheng Quanguang looked up and said, “I’m sorry, elder. I deceived you.”

“Deceived me? About what?” my master asked, puzzled.

Cheng Quanguang pointed at Lu Tangjun. “It’s him. If he hadn’t interfered back then, my master wouldn’t have left.”

At that moment, I was stunned, as was my master. Even Lu Tangjun, standing behind us, was taken aback. My master frowned and asked, “What do you mean by ‘interfered’? Explain yourself.”

Cheng Quanguang approached, speaking as he walked. “Back then, our corpse-driving sect found a secret realm in Lingshan. Our master led us in, but he was injured by a magical artifact inside. If it hadn’t been for Lu Tangjun meddling, our master would have been fine. It was all his fault. He harmed our master. Today, I must avenge my master.”

He finished speaking, his gaze vacant, passing by us. My master called his name, but Cheng Quanguang didn’t seem to hear. My master hurriedly grabbed his arm, and Cheng Quanguang stopped. My master frowned. “Secret realm? Are you talking about the corpse-driving secret realm?”

Cheng Quanguang nodded, looking at my master with empty eyes. My master shook his head and asked again, “Tianyu led you in? Why was he injured? Don’t be reckless, boy.”

Cheng Quanguang clenched his fists, trembling. “The corpse-driving secret realm is a legacy of the Jiuli tribe, handed down in our sect. When master learned of it, he took us to investigate. Deep within, we found a skeletal arm embedded in a stone pillar. Master was curious and tried to take it, but the bone released a powerful black light that knocked him away. We were all thrown aside, but master was hurt worst. We wanted to leave, but Lu Tangjun—”

He pointed at Lu Tangjun again. “He followed us, entered the realm, and when he saw the bone, he insisted on taking it, ignoring master’s injuries. Because it was our sect’s legacy, master refused, and they argued. But master was already badly wounded. If not for Lu Tangjun, we’d have left, and master wouldn’t have…”

Cheng Quanguang choked up, seeming less like a corpse-driver and more like a weary commoner. My master frowned, silent, slowly turning to Lu Tangjun. Lu Tangjun stood with hands behind his back, showing no fear, and said, “That bone belonged to our ancient Miaojiang village. It was Sun Tianyu, your master, who stubbornly clung to it. Why blame me?”

My master continued to frown. “Was there any name or inscription on the bone?”

“No, but—” Lu Tangjun began, but my master cut him off sharply. “Then why claim it as your Miaojiang village’s property?”

Lu Tangjun was momentarily confused by the interruption. My master continued, “And I advise you to mind your words. That’s your first warning.”

Lu Tangjun had mentioned Sun Tianyu, which clearly angered my master. Lu Tangjun’s expression shifted. “Tan Boqing, we have no grudge between us. There’s no need to fight over such a trivial matter.”

My master didn’t answer, but turned to Cheng Quanguang. “Are you telling the truth? Not a word of falsehood?”

Cheng Quanguang looked up and nodded vigorously. My master raised his head to the heavens, letting out a long breath, clearly struggling to accept it. After a moment, he asked, “Why didn’t Tianyu tell us the truth back then?”

“After he was gravely injured, for master’s safety, we abandoned the bone and hurried him back. As soon as he fell onto the bed, he told us not to reveal the truth to you and not to oppose the Miaojiang village. Because… because we couldn’t win. After saying that, master passed away—so suddenly we barely had time to react. It was like being struck by lightning in our hearts. That day, all the corpse-driving sect came to send off a respected grandmaster. Today, I met you, elder, and I don’t want master to rest uneasily. After all these years, I’ve finally broken my promise to him. Today, I must retrieve the bone.”

When Cheng Quanguang finished, my master irritably raked a hand through his hair. “Tianyu, you old fool, never let us rest easy.”

Then he turned to Lu Tangjun, straightforwardly saying, “Will you hand it over yourself, or must I take it? Otherwise, I’ll smash your Miaojiang village—try me if you dare.”

Lu Tangjun’s face darkened. “The bone of Li Guang was reclaimed by me. Why should I hand it over to you, Tan Boqing? Don’t think just because you’re powerful you can do as you please. I don’t dare provoke you, but my Miaojiang village does.”

With that, he waved his hand, and everyone emerged. These people who had seemed ordinary now looked fierce and menacing. My master frowned and replied coldly, “Do you think I’ll be scared because you have numbers? Ridiculous. If you mingle in our circle, you should know what kind of people we are. I advise you to hand over the bone, or when word gets out, your Miaojiang village won’t stand anymore. The fate of the Ghost King of Qingchen will be yours.”

My master finished, his gaze icy as he swept over the crowd. I knew exactly who he meant by “our circle”—if today it were Elder Yao Shengtian or another elder, a fight would have broken out already. Only my master would be patient enough to stand here like this.