On the Path to the Great Dao

Qianyang Mountain, Li Family's Camp.

Li Kefa stood with a somber expression, surveying the camp where the bodies lay. The constables from Shuiniu County were bustling about, and the coroner was examining the skeletal remains scattered across the ground.

Li Kefa was the father of Li Xiaoding and the county deputy of Shuiniu County. With the Li Family's substantial influence, county affairs were firmly under his control, rendering the magistrate a mere figurehead.

He had three daughters and only one son, now dead. Upon hearing the news from the Ding Family, he had rushed over, only to discover that his son had been devoured by an evil entity, leaving behind nothing but bones. The seven guards in brocade uniforms who had accompanied Li Xiaoding had also perished, their remains consumed by the entity.

“Sir, I questioned the Ding Family. They don’t seem to be involved,” reported a young man of about thirty who approached briskly. His sword-like brows framed piercing eyes. Broad-shouldered and tall, he was clad in a red uniform with an official’s hat and carried a peculiar weapon on his back.

The weapon, a Three-Eyed Fire Lance, was a devastating tool of destruction. It resembled a spear but had three barrels welded to one end, making it akin to a hammer. Packed with black powder and explosive pellets, it unleashed a thunderous force when ignited. The pellets, hollow lead spheres filled with gunpowder, would detonate upon impact, capable of inflicting devastating injuries at a distance of a hundred paces.

This man was Zhuge Jian, the county constable of Shuiniu County’s yamen. Despite his exceptional abilities, his modest family background limited him to a subordinate role. Bowing deeply, Zhuge Jian reported, “Yesterday afternoon, the Ding Family’s Fourth Lady sent a maid named Zi’e to strengthen ties between the families. When Zi’e didn’t return by nightfall, they dispatched someone to check on her. That’s when they discovered the disaster at the camp. However, by then it was too dark to take action, and they had to retreat, leaving the remains vulnerable to desecration by the evil entity and wild beasts.”

Li Kefa’s voice turned icy. “Are you suggesting my son wasn’t killed by the evil entity?”

“Your son was murdered by a person,” Zhuge Jian stated firmly. “After closely examining the scene, I found no evidence of spells or talismans being used. The assailant relied on a small blade and their bare hands to kill nine people in the blink of an eye. They struck thirteen times in total, and the most heavily injured victim sustained only two hits.”

From the skeletal remains and footprints, Zhuge Jian had meticulously deduced the number and nature of the killer’s strikes. Li Kefa’s face grew darker as he asked, “What else?”

Zhuge Jian elaborated, “The attacker acted with unparalleled speed, striking with such force that none of the victims had time to cast any spells. The killer’s physique wasn’t tall—just five to six feet—but extremely strong and agile. Within a yard’s distance, their punches could instantly crush bones and claim lives!”

Few cultivators focused on strengthening their bodies to such extremes.

“It’s possible to achieve such strength with a Mighty Warrior Talisman,” Zhuge Jian speculated. “This talisman grants the divine strength of a Yellow Turban Warrior, allowing the user to unleash overwhelming power in an instant. However, this person didn’t use such a talisman.”

After pausing, he added, “I examined the ashes of all the burnt talismans at the camp. Only two were found—both Golden Bell Shield Talismans, which were used by your son. The killer must have been a physically formidable cultivator or perhaps a master hiding their true abilities by relying solely on their fists and blade.”

“How do we find this murderer in a sea of people?” Li Kefa gritted his teeth.

Zhuge Jian’s voice grew serious. “The killer left a trail. They brought a dog.”

Li Kefa was taken aback. He hadn’t noticed any dog tracks on the ground, nor had the constables.

Zhuge Jian held up a bone. “Look here. This gnawed mark was made by canine teeth. There’s also vermilion powder on the table, which points to the presence of a talisman maker. To craft talismans, one often uses black dog blood, which is rich in yang energy, ideal for grinding vermilion. Therefore, the killer must have been a short talisman maker accompanied by a black dog. Such individuals are rare and easy to trace.”

Li Kefa exhaled in relief. This lead significantly narrowed the pool of suspects.

“There’s another way to find the truth,” he added grimly. “Summon my son’s soul and ask him directly.”

Zhuge Jian hesitated before revealing, “I already attempted to summon his soul. Not only could I not summon your son, but none of the other victims’ souls could be called back either.”

Li Kefa was stunned, his sorrowful face turning ashen. “My son’s soul is gone? Did the killer consume his soul as well?”

Zhuge Jian considered the question. “I suspect the killer harbored a Malevolent Spirit or was possessed by one. Only such entities can devour souls. This killer might have raised a Malevolent Spirit or fallen under its influence.”

Li Kefa’s breath turned heavy. Such cases weren’t unheard of—spirits wreaking havoc and consuming entire villages in days.

“Zhuge Jian,” Li Kefa ordered, his voice steely, “I entrust you with capturing this short talisman maker with a black dog. Do not kill them. I want to personally interrogate them, tear out their heart, and offer it to my son’s spirit in the afterlife!”

Bowing deeply, Zhuge Jian immediately dispatched constables to block all roads and search every village for the talisman maker.

Meanwhile, Chen Shi and his grandfather returned to Huangpo Village, resuming their daily routine.

Late at night, Chen Shi was jolted awake by searing pain in his heart. The Ghost Hand Mark on his chest had reawakened, gripping his heart with an excruciating force that left him unable to breathe or cry for help.

Hours of agony passed before Chen Shi, drenched in sweat, managed to gasp for air and activate the Three Radiance Righteous Qi Method, suppressing the Ghost Hand Mark’s hold.

“This pain is worse than ever,” he thought, trembling. “Could it be from exhausting myself killing Li Xiaoding?”

Determined, Chen Shi resolved to retrieve the complete manual of the Three Radiance Righteous Qi Method from the True King’s Tomb, the only technique capable of restraining the Ghost Hand Mark.

To prepare, he decided to train at the Desolate Temple, strengthening his body for the challenges ahead.

Little did he know, danger was fast approaching Huangpo Village.

As days passed, Chen Shi’s life returned to its routine. He would wake up early, eat breakfast, wrestle with the village dogs, steal watermelons, pay respects to his Godmother, listen to the ghost scholar’s teachings, and practice the Three Radiance Righteous Qi Method at the Desolate Temple. At night, he would return home for medicinal baths prepared by his grandfather.

One day, after paying respects to his Godmother outside the village, Chen Shi was listening to Zhu Xiucai expound on scriptures when the sound of galloping horses disrupted the calm. A group of more than ten constables charged down the post road, raising a cloud of dust as they headed toward the yellow soil slope.

“Another group from the Six Panels Gate?” Chen Shi muttered curiously. “Didn’t the Six Panels Gate from Xinxiang County get wiped out by Fangdian Village’s Godmother? Even their corpses were taken away by the Ghost Bride.”

The Ghost Bride had disappeared without a trace since that incident. The sudden appearance of the Desolate Temple also drew no further inquiries, and the deaths of the thirty or so members of the Six Panels Gate were met with an eerie silence, as if deliberately forgotten.

Chen Shi had initially been anxious about killing Li Xiaoding, fearing repercussions. But as the days passed without news, his unease began to wane.

“Strange?” Zhu Xiucai sneered. “What’s so strange? The Six Panels Gate is nothing more than toilet paper—expendable. Every year, millions of poor scholars emerge from the Western Bull New Continent, and for every dozen that die, there’s no shortage to replace them. As long as the county magistrates post recruitment notices, you’ll find plenty of scholars eager to take their place.”

Chen Shi knew Zhu Xiucai was right. Cultivators who passed the scholar examination but failed to advance to licentiate were left scraping by. A yamen position, even as a mere constable, offered a stable livelihood under the Ming Empire’s authority, making it highly coveted.

“Whoa!”

The group of constables reined in their horses. Their leader dismounted and approached the yellow soil slope, a smile on his face. “Little brother, I am Zhuge Jian, constable of Shuiniu County. What’s your name?”

“Honest One,” replied Chen Shi without hesitation.

“Little Honest One,” Zhuge Jian said warmly, “I’m looking for someone named Chen Yindu, a talisman maker. Does Huangpo Village have such a person?”

Chen Shi blinked innocently. “Yes, there’s someone named Chen Yindu. Why do you ask?”

“How tall is this Chen Yindu?” Zhuge Jian inquired, narrowing his eyes.

“About your height,” Chen Shi replied candidly.

Zhuge Jian frowned slightly, and the constables behind him began murmuring.

“Boss, looks like it’s not Chen Yindu. What now? We’ve searched all the nearby villages and towns, and no one matches the description. Can this killer talisman maker vanish into thin air?”

Zhuge Jian rubbed his temples. Despite extensive searches across towns and villages, they had found no trace of the short talisman maker accompanied by a black dog.

“Could I have been wrong about the direction?” he muttered.

As he turned to leave, a black dog suddenly bounded up the yellow soil slope, wagging its tail happily toward the boy under the tree.

The dog, with its kind and cheerful expression, seemed to be smiling.

The boy looked up and smiled back. “Constable, my grandpa’s calling me home for dinner.”

Zhuge Jian nodded absentmindedly, watching the boy and the dog disappear into the distance. Suddenly, a thunderclap seemed to echo in his mind.

“What if the killer isn’t a short adult, but a child? A talisman-making child with immense physical strength!”

Hey there, story lovers! BOTI Translator Team loves bringing you exciting chapters. If you’re enjoying the ride, please show your love with a 5-star rating on NovelUpdates. You’re the best! 🌟💕