Chapter Fifty-Five: The Grave Mound

But why did the twin-tailed scorpion disappear? And how did this place become someone else’s dwelling? There was only one possibility: this was never the twin-tailed scorpion’s lair. Then where could its true den be? If I couldn’t find the twin-tailed scorpion now, what would happen to Fatty?

So I asked Wu Xin if he had any way to locate the twin-tailed scorpion’s nest. Wu Xin thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Actually, I do have an idea, but I’m missing some auxiliary tools.”

“What kind of tools?” I asked.

He replied, “An Eight Immortals table, a large yellow chicken, three peachwood chopsticks, a set of Five Emperors coins, and a bottle of white liquor.”

Hearing him list off so many things at once, I was reminded of those old movies I’d seen—these all seemed like ritual items used to open a spiritual altar. I started to wonder if Wu Xin was secretly a Maoshan Taoist priest. In fact, most of these things could be found in the market, except for the Five Emperors coins, which would be tricky. With so many counterfeits nowadays, you could easily end up with a fake set.

I said, “Leave these to me.”

Wu Xin asked, “Do you know where to find them?”

I nodded, indicating I did. After all, when we were looking for Xiaoxiao, Feng Zimo and I had practically scoured all of Qingyun Mountain.

Under my guidance, we first headed to the furniture wholesale market and picked out an Eight Immortals table. I gave the owner an address for delivery, and he agreed cheerfully. With the table sorted, we went to a nearby antique shop. Since I knew nothing about Five Emperors coins, I left the selection to Wu Xin. He scrutinized them for a long time before finally nodding in satisfaction.

The rest was easy. We bought a large yellow chicken at the food market, and a bottle of white liquor. As for peachwood chopsticks, we simply bought five pairs. They weren’t expensive, and the inheritance Old Jiang left me could cover my expenses for some time.

Once everything was ready, we returned to the hotel. Wu Xin picked a room and placed the Eight Immortals table inside. He then pulled out a stack of yellow paper, placed it on the table, and said, “Brother Chu Yun, have the others step out for a moment.”

I nodded, and the others left for their rooms.

Once they were gone, Wu Xin drew the curtains. He moved to the Eight Immortals table, laid the Five Emperors coins in a row, and placed the large yellow chicken on the table. Strangely enough, the chicken stayed perfectly still, as if rooted to the spot. Clearly, Wu Xin was no ordinary man.

When everything was ready, Wu Xin picked up a peachwood chopstick and bowed to the chicken. Then he began to chant an incantation—none of which I understood; it certainly wasn’t any language spoken by humans. When he finished, he slapped his palm onto the table with a crisp crack that made me jump. The Five Emperors coins bounced a foot into the air. Wu Xin then used the chopstick to string the coins together, grabbed the bottle of liquor with his other hand, took a swig, and sprayed it over the coins.

Instantly, the coins glowed red, flew from the chopstick toward the chicken, and landed around it. Wu Xin shouted, “By the Five Emperors, guide my path, reveal the cycles of heaven!” No sooner had he spoken than the chicken, which had been motionless, suddenly scraped its claws across the table, leaving deep marks in the wood.

Wu Xin exhaled deeply, wiped the sweat from his brow, and picked up the chicken. “I have found the twin-tailed scorpion’s lair,” he announced.

I immediately asked, “Where is it?”

He pointed to the scratches left by the chicken. “This is the route. All we have to do is follow it.”

I stared at it for ages but couldn’t make heads or tails of the route. Wu Xin had to take out a piece of yellow paper and press the markings onto it. “I’d better lead the way,” he said.

I laughed awkwardly. Clearly, the self-taught could never compare to a true professional.

We called Feng Zimo and the others, and under Wu Xin’s guidance, we arrived at a desolate field. The weeds here came up to our knees, and there were several uneven mounds covered in wild grass. I even wondered if these mounds were graves.

I asked Lin Weiyan if this was a burial ground, and she confirmed that it was indeed an abandoned cemetery.

The air was thick with an eerie chill, and Lin Weiyan warned me to be careful.

Wu Xin stopped and pointed at the mounds. “This is the place.”

Then he shouted, “Are you coming out or not? If you don’t show yourselves, I’ll set this place on fire!”

No sooner had he finished than wisps of blue smoke rose from every mound. I’d often heard the saying about ancestral graves emitting blue smoke, but this was my first time seeing it—and there was nothing auspicious about this smoke.

When the smoke cleared, the first thing we saw was an old man with a white beard, plainly dressed. His face was ashen as he glared at us. “Who dares disturb my abode with such insolence?” he barked.

One by one, figures appeared atop each mound—men and women, young and old. I looked around, focusing on the old man, but the twin-tailed scorpion was nowhere in sight.

Wu Xin demanded, “Do you know what you’ve done?”

The old man chuckled coldly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I said, “Don’t you want the Snow Spirit Flower anymore?”

He looked baffled, as if he had no idea what I meant. His confusion left me at a loss.

I whispered to Wu Xin, “Are you sure this is the right place?”

Wu Xin assured me, “Absolutely.”

So I tried again with the old man. “Tell the twin-tailed scorpion to come out. Tell her I’ve found the Snow Spirit Flower.”

No sooner had I finished than the figures atop every mound transformed into scorpions with two tails.

The old man, now visibly annoyed, asked, “Well? Is the one you seek among these?”

I was speechless for a long moment. “This… this…”

Just then, I noticed one mound in the distance with nothing atop it. I was about to question the old man, but he spoke first.

“I’ll let you off this once, since it’s your first offense. Leave, now!”

With that, he vanished, and the twin-tailed scorpions atop the mounds disappeared as well.

Damn it…

Couldn’t they at least let me finish what I was saying?