On the Path to the Great Dao

The Evil Bodhisattva roared with fury, fixing its head back in place before striding after them, each step shaking the earth. Its speed was terrifying—one step covered the same distance as twenty of theirs. Even with their Jia Horse Talismans, if they ran in a straight line, they would surely be overtaken.

Fortunately, Qianyang Mountain’s treacherous terrain offered hope. The region was rife with sheer cliffs, deep ravines, and dense forests. While the Evil Bodhisattva’s power allowed it to track them repeatedly, Chen Shi and the group used the geography to stay just out of reach.

As the talismans’ effects began to fade, Chen Shi, carrying Jin Hongying, led them into a hidden cave. Black Pot and Li Tianqing followed closely behind, noticing how confidently Chen Shi navigated the twisting paths. His familiarity with the labyrinthine cave hinted that he’d explored it many times before.

Inside, the glow of bioluminescent moss illuminated the stone walls, revealing just enough to see. Though damp, the air was fresh, suggesting multiple exits leading outside.

Behind them, the Evil Bodhisattva let out a sharp, bird-like screech, its meaning incomprehensible to human ears.

Chen Shi set Jin Hongying down, tightened the straps on his book box, and whispered, “Follow me.”

They ventured deeper, moving further into the mountain’s heart. Jin Hongying and Li Tianqing guessed they were nearing the mountain’s core, and perhaps even its other side.

Suddenly, a cliff appeared within the cave. Jin Hongying, startled, nearly fell over the edge, but Chen Shi caught her arm just in time. A stone she dislodged tumbled into the abyss, the sound of its impact echoing seconds later from the depths below.

The cliff wall had a narrow, hand-carved path, barely two feet wide. The craftsmanship was remarkable, though its precariousness demanded utmost care. Pressing themselves flat against the wall, they moved along the ledge. Halfway across, Li Tianqing noticed an enormous skeleton on the opposite cliff face. It glowed faintly, its massive, elongated bones climbing out of the shadows below and up the rock face.

"Is it a real skeleton or just stalactites?" they wondered. But from their distance, they couldn’t be sure. Traversing the ledge brought them to another cave, its exit glowing faintly ahead. Stepping into the light, they found themselves in a tranquil valley, complete with a crystal-clear stream pooling into a quiet pond.

Chen Shi lowered his book box and began unpacking. Inside were spiritual meat rations, about ten catties’ worth, along with a small cooking pot, a knife for drawing blood from Black Pot, and cooking utensils.

All of them were starving. Chen Shi tossed a chunk of meat to Black Pot, set up a makeshift stove with stones, and prepared to cook. Around them, all the trees had turned to porcelain, save for the dead ones, which were immune to the Demonic Domain’s influence.

Li Tianqing selected a recently dead tree and split it with his Six Yin Jade Wheels, creating firewood and a cutting board. As Chen Shi prepared the meat and Li Tianqing chopped wood, Jin Hongying stood idly by, bored. She sniffed her armpit, grimaced, and announced, “I’m taking a bath. Neither of you better peek, or I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

The boys responded with a quick “Got it!” and returned to their work. But curiosity got the better of them, and they stole a glance toward the pond. Jin Hongying’s bare back, pale and slender, came into view. Her long legs and graceful figure were striking.

Sensing something, she turned abruptly, but the boys were already pretending to focus on their tasks—one chopping meat, the other splitting wood. Satisfied, she turned back.

The moment her back was turned again, they sneaked another glance, only to see her wade into the water.

“Peek, and you’ll grow boils on your eyes!” Jin Hongying teased from the pond.

“Nothing worth looking at,” Chen Shi muttered, concentrating on slicing meat.

“Exactly,” Li Tianqing added. “I’ve seen better. When I was eight, I peeked at my cousin bathing!”

“Same here. The widow Wang was bathing in her courtyard once. She even invited me in, but I refused!” Chen Shi retorted.

Their banter soon turned to a boyish discussion about women’s bodies, complete with puzzled debates about things they didn’t understand.

Their earnest conversation ended abruptly when two hands grabbed their ears. Jin Hongying, fully dressed and her hair still wet, had sneaked up behind them.

“Brats! Already lustful before you’ve even grown up!” she scolded, twisting their ears.

The boys cried out in pain, and only then did she let go, sitting down to wring out her hair.

Over lunch, they sat together, eating the meal they’d prepared. The camaraderie between Chen Shi and Li Tianqing had noticeably deepened after their earlier chat.

Jin Hongying sighed, her expression dark. “That damn Zhao family! Zhao Yanlong caused this whole mess, and Zhao Tianbao, the governor of Xinxiang, hasn’t even sent anyone to clean it up. They should all be executed!”

Chen Shi’s interest was piqued. “The Zhao family caused the Evil Bodhisattva to escape?”

Jin Hongying nodded. “Of course. When the Bodhisattva first appeared, I rushed over and found three Zhao family experts already dead. They were after the True King’s Tomb.”

Li Tianqing added, “I guessed as much. The Zhao family must have been searching for the tomb’s location in the kiln factory and accidentally released the Evil Bodhisattva. Only something this valuable could make them send so many people.”

Jin Hongying shot him a sly look. “Your Li family isn’t innocent either. Why did they send Li Kefa to Shuiniu County? Don’t tell me it wasn’t about the tomb. You and your grandfather came here for more than just investigating his death.”

Li Tianqing didn’t deny it. “We’re also looking into the tomb’s whereabouts. It’s a task we need to complete.”

She smirked. “The Li family’s cunning is leagues ahead of the Zhao family. You let them act as your scapegoats. The Zhao family is just your tool to probe the dangers of the True King’s Tomb. If they fail, you suffer no losses. Smart move.”

As they talked, Chen Shi began to understand the intricate schemes of the noble families.

“Will the court hold the Zhao family accountable for unleashing the Bodhisattva?” he asked.

Jin Hongying laughed. “The court? Do you mean the Ming Cabinet? Who’s to say the Zhao family doesn’t have allies there? The Li family uses the Zhao family, and the Zhao family leans on someone bigger. Don’t waste time worrying about things like justice.”

She shoved a piece of meat into his mouth, smiling. “Laws are for people like you. Just eat and get ready to move!”

After finishing their meal and cleaning up, they followed a hidden path out of the valley. Hours later, they arrived at the Mirror Lake Manor.

Outside the manor, Xiao Wangsun’s carriage was parked. Nearby, Li Jindou lay on the ground, alive but barely conscious.

Li Tianqing rushed to his grandfather, relieved to find him breathing. But Li Jindou, upon seeing his grandson, exploded in anger. “You wretch! How dare you show your face?”

“Grandfather, I—”

“Don’t ‘Grandfather’ me! You call yourself my grandson?!” Li Jindou fumed.

Meanwhile, Jin Hongying approached the manor’s entrance. Chen Shi quickly stopped her, explaining the rules: outsiders couldn’t enter, and no more than two people could be inside at once without triggering dangerous consequences.

Reluctantly, she stayed outside, shouting, “Xiao Wangsun! Get out here!”

After a moment, Xiao Wangsun emerged from his coffin, followed by Madam Sha from another.

Seeing them, Chen Shi muttered, “Madam Sha? She was part of building the manor too? This keeps getting stranger!”

The group moved to the lakeside to speak, wary of disturbing the other coffins. The bitter cold there made even Black Pot shiver.

Looking at the group—an old man, a weak woman, a sickly figure, and a crippled elder—Chen Shi sighed.

“We’ve got the whole set now: the old, the weak, the sick, and the crippled. How are we supposed to fight the Evil Bodhisattva with this lot?”