Chapter 131 – Going into the Water

It didn’t take much effort to walk from the mountains to the scenic area, and the journey was relatively smooth. However, when they finally arrived at the viewing waterfall, a minor yet significant problem arose.

Like other scenic spots, this waterfall had been transformed into a simple “water curtain cave.” Water outlets were installed on the cliff face to create an artificial waterfall, and below it, a large pool about seven to eight meters wide and a semi-open cave had been constructed. Perhaps due to the previous accidents, there was a protective barrier by the pool to prevent tourists from climbing over to take photos. In the middle of the night, the artificial waterfall had long stopped flowing, and the entire pool was pitch black, with only the sound of dew droplets falling into the water.

Everything seemed ordinary, but the compass in Zeng Jingxuan’s hand began to tremble. The needle pointed straight to the center of the pool, but the reading was “floating,” with the delicate needle half-submerged and half-floating in the “Heavenly Pool,” making it impossible to determine whether it was auspicious or inauspicious. The Metal Position formation had clearly been destroyed by the developers, but the treasure had not yet been unearthed. Instead, it had been hidden beneath the pool.

“The thing is actually in the pool,” Zeng Jingxuan frowned as he looked at the pool, which was neither too deep nor too shallow.

Water is inherently yin in nature, and even an artificial pool in a scenic area couldn’t be considered safe, especially given the previous accidents. If some malevolent entity were to appear nearby, going into the water would be akin to seeking death.

Peering into the not-too-murky pool, Yao Wei chuckled lightly, “No wonder there were problems around here. Alright, I’ll go down and take a look.”

With that, he began to take off his jacket, seemingly preparing to enter the water. Zeng Jingxuan quickly grabbed his arm, “It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s still better than you going down,” Yao Wei said bluntly. “Don’t think I don’t know how you are in the water.”

Zeng Jingxuan truly couldn’t swim, and at these words, he stiffened slightly. However, his grip on Yao Wei’s arm didn’t loosen. Yao Wei raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming more serious, “I mean it. This pool isn’t that deep, and if something happens, your Taoist skills are far superior to mine. You’d be much better off staying on shore. Don’t forget, your beloved nephew is still waiting in the mountains. We can’t afford to delay now.”

These words hit Zeng Jingxuan’s weak spot. The moment Zhang Xiuqi was mentioned, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. Seizing the opportunity, Yao Wei pressed on, “Besides, the two previous accidents only involved tourists getting their legs scratched. There were no serious injuries, let alone deaths. Whatever’s in the pool, it can’t be too dangerous. Don’t worry, I’m still a member of the Laoshan Sect. I can take care of myself.”

After another moment of hesitation, Zeng Jingxuan finally let go, saying gravely, “Be careful. Don’t push yourself. If you can’t find it, we’ll think of another way.”

Hearing this, Yao Wei’s eyes narrowed, and he grinned, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare leave you behind.”

This teasing remark was a bit out of line, but for once, Zeng Jingxuan didn’t retort. Instead, he walked to the side to set up a defensive formation. Yao Wei rubbed his beard, unsure whether Zeng Jingxuan had grown accustomed to his jokes or if there was a slight shift in his attitude. But regardless of his thoughts, now was not the time. Pulling himself together, Yao Wei quickly took off his jacket and hiking boots, then reached into his pocket and pulled out something, which he hung around his neck. After that, he climbed over the barrier and stepped into the pool.

The temperature in the mountains in early summer wasn’t particularly high, and the pool water was icy cold. Just stepping into the pool with bare feet gave Yao Wei goosebumps. The pool had likely been there for a while, as the bottom was covered with slippery, slimy moss and various-sized pebbles for decoration, making it difficult to walk. He stretched out his arms to maintain balance and slowly made his way toward the spot Zeng Jingxuan had pointed out earlier. Around his neck, five small wooden carvings of ghosts, each in a different form, emitted a faint glow. This item, known as the “Five Ghosts Luck Lock,” was one of the signature techniques of the Laoshan Sect. As long as the malevolent entity wasn’t extremely ferocious, these five ghosts would help him withstand at least one attack.

Under the light from the LED lamps above and the faint glow from the carvings around his neck, Yao Wei slowly reached the center of the pool. Perhaps to prevent accidents, the pool wasn’t very deep, only reaching up to his chest. Standing there, Yao Wei first used his feet to explore the area. Since the pool was man-made, it would have been waterproofed. Even though the bottom was covered with sand and pebbles to make it look natural, it was still artificially constructed and lined with a waterproof membrane. He kicked away the nearby stones and used the soles of his feet to feel around until he stopped at a slightly raised area. Just standing there with his bare feet, he could feel a cold energy seeping up from the ground, distinctly different from the surrounding area.

Yao Wei pulled out the dagger from his waist and shouted to the shore, “There might be something strange down here. I’ll dig it up!” Without waiting for a response, he dove into the water.

Standing by the pool, Zeng Jingxuan clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the ripples in the center of the pool. Yao Wei’s movements weren’t particularly large, but diving headfirst into the water still made Zeng Jingxuan uneasy. The sound of splashing water replaced the previous silence, and dark silt began to churn up from the bottom. Zeng Jingxuan silently counted the seconds, every nerve in his body tense.

Thirty seconds passed, then a minute, a minute and a half, two minutes… Nearly three minutes had passed, and the person underwater still hadn’t surfaced. Zeng Jingxuan took a step forward and shouted, “Yao Wei!”

The only response was the sound of water. Zeng Jingxuan’s expression changed completely, and he leaped over the barrier, ready to dive in and pull Yao Wei out. But just as his foot touched the water, there was a splash, and a figure emerged from the pool.

Yao Wei wiped the water from his face and shouted back, “I’m fine! I found something, but it’s a bit deep. Give me a moment! Stay where you are!”

Zeng Jingxuan’s heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled. But before he could pull his foot back, there were a few soft “thuds” from the edge of the pool, as if something small had fallen into the water. Under normal circumstances, this sound might not have drawn attention, but at this moment, it couldn’t be ignored. Both of them turned their gazes toward the source of the sound, and what they saw made Yao Wei’s scalp tingle.

On the inner wall of the water curtain cave, a dense layer of small creatures had appeared. They looked like insects but had an eerie appearance. Their round bodies had at least four pairs of long legs, and their front limbs had webbed claws like those of a frog. Their faces had three small eyes, resembling mutated spiders. These creatures were now jumping into the water in droves, seemingly intent on attacking Yao Wei.

What the hell are these things? How did so many of them appear? Yao Wei cursed inwardly, but he didn’t stop moving. He dove back into the water, pulled out the large stone buried in the mud, and began digging furiously with his dagger. The thing he was looking for was right below, and he couldn’t afford to give up now!

Zeng Jingxuan also recognized the creatures, and his heart sank. These little monsters were called “Yan Wu”¹means disgusting things, a type of small, relatively harmless spirit creature. Like the legendary “Xu Hao,” they were skilled at causing mischief and ruining people’s moods. They likely considered this pool their home, which was why tourists who accidentally entered were injured by them and driven out. Since they didn’t emit any yin or evil energy, neither of them had noticed their presence.

However, these little Yan Wu were usually timid and cowardly. The two of them weren’t ordinary tourists without any spiritual abilities, so why had they suddenly appeared in such large numbers and were now trying to attack Yao Wei?

There was no time to think. Zeng Jingxuan immediately ran back the way he had come. The formation he had set up earlier was still on the shore, and it was more than enough to deal with a group of yin soldiers, let alone a few Yan Wu. But even though he ran quickly, the little Yan Wu swam just as fast, darting toward the center of the pool!

With a splash, Yao Wei emerged from the water. His arms, shoulders, and even his head were covered with the pesky little creatures, their sharp claws digging into his flesh. The Five Ghosts Luck Lock protected against yin and evil energy but couldn’t defend against these spirit creatures. Being in the water also made it difficult to move, and he couldn’t fight back effectively. He didn’t dare linger, using one hand to slash with the dagger to clear a path while the other hand clenched tightly into a fist. Gritting his teeth, he swam toward the shore.

By this time, Zeng Jingxuan had reached the formation he had set up earlier. He slapped a yellow talisman onto the formation, but with a tearing sound, the talisman split in two. The formation failed to activate, likely due to the interference of the Yan Wu. Without hesitation, Zeng Jingxuan cut his palm, splashing a spray of blood onto the chicken throat at the center of the formation. That wasn’t enough—he then pulled out the Black Bird Mirror he had just acquired and embedded it into the formation’s core!

This mirror was a treasure that had been placed in the Fire Position for thousands of years. The moment it was placed in the formation’s core, a beam of heavenly light shone into the mirror. Immediately, a brilliant radiance erupted. In the natural cycle of mutual creation and destruction, the appearance of this fiery energy caused the Yan Wu to screech and scatter in all directions. Zeng Jingxuan didn’t hesitate. He turned and rushed back into the pool, his short sword slashing without pause, cutting down all the Yan Wu nearby. He grabbed Yao Wei’s arm and yanked him out of the water!

Once out of the water, the Yan Wu seemed too afraid to follow. They trembled slightly before scurrying away, disappearing without a trace. Yao Wei lay on the shore, gasping for breath, his body covered in countless scratches. Even his thick beard had been torn in places, leaving it patchy. But despite his injuries, he rolled over and held out his tightly clenched fist to Zeng Jingxuan.

“This should be the treasure from the Metal Position,” Yao Wei said with a slight smile, despite the bloody marks on his face. He opened his hand to reveal a small bronze tiger figurine. In ancient times, such items had a specific name—”Tiger Tally.” They were tokens used by emperors to command generals and mobilize troops. However, during the Tang Dynasty, to avoid taboo, the tiger tally was replaced with fish or turtle tallies, and later, it was gradually replaced with copper plaques. This ancient-looking tiger tally must have dated back to at least the Han Dynasty.

Despite the fact that this item was valuable both as an artifact and as a ritual tool, Zeng Jingxuan didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he stared at Yao Wei and asked, “Are you alright? The Yan Wu carry some evil energy. Should we deal with it first…”

Yao Wei raised an eyebrow and smiled. He flipped his hand holding the tiger tally, placing it in Zeng Jingxuan’s palm, and casually brushed the back of his hand, “Physical attacks might not be blocked, but I can handle the enchantments. Don’t worry, Brother Xuan, my Five Ghosts Luck Lock isn’t just for show.”

His gesture was too flirtatious, and Zeng Jingxuan immediately snapped out of it, giving him a complicated look. He took the tiger tally and gently traced the inlaid gold inscription that read, “Tiger Tally of the Army, Right to the King, Left to Wu’an,” before sighing, “This item must have been left by Lord Wu’an. No wonder so many yin soldiers gathered in this mountain forest.”

“Lord Wu’an” was another name for Bai Qi, the God of War who laid the foundation for the Qin Dynasty’s unification of China. After the Battle of Changping, where he buried 400,000 soldiers alive, the killing aura around him was unparalleled. The tiger tally was always a token used by emperors to command troops. After Bai Qi committed suicide, the tally should have been destroyed. Who could have imagined that half of it would remain?

This half of the tiger tally was also a treasure used to suppress the earth’s energy and command yin soldiers and ghost generals. No matter what kind of ghost clan it was, they could only bow before the God of War. The sharp metal energy within the tally perfectly matched the formation, causing the souls of soldiers who had died in the mountains over the centuries to gather around it, becoming part of the formation. It wasn’t until the scenic area was developed and the formation was destroyed that the tiger tally was buried underwater, leaving the ghost soldiers unrestrained and eventually captured by the Nightmare Wood Formation.

No wonder those cowardly Yan Wu dared to rush forward and fight for it. Such a treasure was worth risking their lives for.

“This tiger tally belonged to Bai Qi?” Although he had held it earlier, Yao Wei hadn’t had the chance to examine it closely. Hearing Zeng Jingxuan’s words, he raised an eyebrow, “That Sun Daoist from Mao Mountain really went all out. I wonder what Xiao Qi found on his end. With these three treasures, we shouldn’t have any trouble dealing with a Jiangtou Master, right?”

At Yao Wei’s words, Zeng Jingxuan suddenly stood up and quickly walked over to the walkie-talkie he had left nearby. In the chaos of digging for the treasure and dealing with the Yan Wu, he had lost track of time and forgotten to check in with Xiao Qi! But after calling several times, there was no response from the other end. Hearing the busy tone on the walkie-talkie, Zeng Jingxuan’s expression turned grim, and he said in a low voice, “We need to head back immediately. Something’s wrong!”

&&&

Standing before the damaged Nightmare Wood Formation, Luo Jin’s expression was dark. The yin coffin buried in the ground had been split open, revealing the rotting organs inside. This had been a carefully selected guardian, with the perfect combination of birth elements and killing aura. Now, even if they wanted to find a replacement, it would be too late. Not to mention the Nightmare Wood, which had been burned to charcoal. Such a rare treasure had been destroyed, a complete waste.

However, no matter how angry he was, there was still work to be done. Luo Jin crouched down and used his finger to touch the ground, picking up a drop of blood. With a cold snort, he set up a soul formation on the spot, enclosing the pool of blood. After a couple of minutes, a red light emerged from the formation, and something shot out. He looked in the direction the red light was pointing and said to the people beside him, “Stay here and see if there’s anyone else around. I’ll go deal with this guy…”

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  means disgusting things