Chapter 23: At Mount Wugang (1)

With nothing else to do, I started to roast the damp grain over the fire, while Wei Jiyan was wiping the sweat off the forehead of Pang Gui, carefully observing her complexion.

This is really awkward.

I felt so awkward that I couldn't bear the atmosphere and spoke up first.

"Who is that Yan Junshe?"

"He is a master from the previous generation. His nickname is Corpse King, and he is the last descendant of the Jin family, known for their zombie techniques."

"Zombie techniques?"

"Yes. The Jin family has been famous for their zombie techniques and martial arts since ancient times. However, as you know, zombie techniques are highly frowned upon in the martial world. It's almost like desecrating the dead. Although the Jin family has done a lot for the Martial Alliance, it was still a controversial practice."

This is my third year in the martial world, but it's the first time I've seen a zombie. I've only heard that such techniques exist.

"Does the orthodox school allow the use of zombie techniques?"

"For now, yes. Poisons can be used as medicine, and although zombie techniques are clearly dark arts, the martial world has many complex situations."

To me, it just looks like necromancy, and they should all be killed. But it's complicated. Really.

"The Jin family was divided into those who believed in preserving the zombie techniques and those who wanted to abandon them. There was a bloody internal conflict."

"The martial arts faction must have won, right?"

"Yes. In the end, the zombie faction was completely eliminated, except for Yan Junshe."

After escaping from the Jin family alone, Yan Junshe used the zombie techniques to commit countless evil deeds in the martial world, earning a notorious reputation and the nickname Corpse King.

At one point, the Corpse King was a well-known demon in the martial world.

However, according to Wei Jiyan, Yan Junshe was eliminated by the Jin family's masters to remove the family's disgrace, and he disappeared from the martial world.

It's been about twenty years since then.

"…But he appeared here."

"We need to make sure he's dead."

There's a reason for the final blow. It's pathetic.

While I was chewing on the roasted grain in the gloomy atmosphere, Bai Linghua, who had gone to check outside, returned.

"Cheng Biao"

"Yes?"

"Come here for a moment."

Following Bai Linghua outside, she lowered her voice so it wouldn't be heard inside.

"The situation is not good."

"Why?"

"I checked the surroundings, and we are quite close to the bandit camp. It's inevitable that we will be discovered soon."

Hearing her worried words, I replied calmly.

"That won't happen."

"…? What do you mean?"

"There won't be a search."

Bai Linghua looked even more confused, so I explained.

"Yan Junshe, a demon from the previous generation, right?"

"Y-Yes."

"Would he tell the bandits to worship him as a demon from the previous generation?"

"No, he wouldn't."

He would have escaped secretly and used force to suppress them without revealing his identity.

"But we exposed his identity when we attacked."

"Yes, we did."

"And then we fled."

"…? Yes, we did."

As Bai Linghua's expression became more confused, I gave her the answer.

"He would have killed them all. There wouldn't be anyone left to search. Or, he might still be killing them."

"…!"

For Yan Junshe, the bandits were just a side job. But if his identity was exposed, there's only one thing a wanted criminal would do.

Murder to cover his tracks.

He would thoroughly eliminate the bandits to ensure no clues were left behind.

"There won't be a search. We just need to hide for a few days and then escape secretly."

"Wait, what if Yan Junshe comes looking for us?"

"He will think we've fled far away and won't search for us."

If I were Yan Junshe, I would prioritize my escape over tracking us.

Bai Linghua and Wei Jiyan managed to escape from Yan Junshe's pursuit while carrying someone. This means that Yan Junshe's lightness skills are not as impressive as his zombie techniques.

"The bandits might leave some clues, but we won't."

If given the choice between chasing two people faster than him or just packing up and fleeing, there's only one answer.

Hearing my explanation, Bai Linghua nodded.

"Cheng Biao, your words make sense."

"Yes. Then we need to decide on an escape route…"

"Wait. Wei Jiyan might be fine, but Gui will have a hard time enduring. She needs to see a doctor immediately."

I recalled the geography of the area. Returning to Meiyang County is the fastest way, but it won't help.

The doctors there are just country quacks, not skilled enough to cure martial poisons.

So, we need to head to Anhui Province, which is about two days away even with lightness skills. At our current speed, it would take about a week.

That's too risky.

I shook my head.

"It will take too long and is dangerous."

"What if I carry Gui and use my lightness skills to run?"

"This way… Can you run through the mountains for two days?"

Pointing in the direction, I asked, and Bai Linghua nodded.

"I'll try my best."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

We started to finalize our plan.

Bai Linghua, the best in lightness skills among us, will carry Pang Gui and escape to Sichuan first. Wei Jiyan and I will stay and hide for a few days before escaping to the nearby Meiyang County.

"Hmm…"

"What do you think?"

"It seems like a good plan."

It's not a bad plan.

I'm a bit worried about the food supply, but we should be able to manage for four days. I did bring some roasted grain.

We quickly prepared.

I made a K-sling for Pang Gui using my clothes to make it easier for Bai Linghua to carry her, and she looked surprised.

"Do you have children back home?"

What a terrible thing to say.

"Stop blocking my marriage prospects… I made it because I thought it would be easier to carry her."

"It will be helpful. Thank you."

The sight of Bai Linghua carrying Pang Gui in the sling was laughable, but it wasn't the time to be picky, so she didn't complain.

We filled a water bottle and gathered some roasted grain for the journey. After finishing the preparations, Bai Linghua nodded firmly at me.

"Leader. I wish you good luck."

"Cheng Biao too. I hope we meet again safely."

She left under the cover of darkness.

After seeing Bai Linghua off, Wei Jiyan and I returned to the cave to prepare for hiding for a few days.

"The food supply is a problem."

"For four days… We can almost survive without eating."

Wei Jiyan's complexion didn't look good. She might have internal injuries and the lingering effects of the poison. I shook my head.

"We don't know what will happen, so we need to preserve our strength."

"…"

If I had known, I would have brought some wallnuts or dried meat.

A few pieces of roasted grain won't provide enough calories for two people for three days. And I can't endure it.

"I'll check the cave."

I hoped to find some frogs, snakes, or fish. The cave was quite large.

* * *

The sound of water droplets falling from stalactites echoed as I explored the cave. It was very quiet, not even the sound of a bat.

'Too quiet.'

The light from the torch reflected off the walls, creating a flickering effect. It was strange that I didn't see any living creatures.

And the cold.

'Too cold. Abnormally so.'

Is this a natural ice cave?

The further I went, the colder it got. I decided to leave when I couldn't bear the cold anymore.

That's when I saw a square object reflecting the light. Suppressing a chill, I approached it slowly.

It was a coffin. Dozens of them.

"Ah!"

I fell to the ground in shock, and Wei Jiyan ran over.

"What happened?"

"Look here."

When Wei Jiyan raised the torch, the coffins were clearly visible. There were over fifty of them, neatly arranged. We looked at each other, stunned.

"These are… Why are there coffins…"

Approaching the coffins calmly, Wei Jiyan read the wooden plaques on top.

"Respected Father Jin, the Last Descendant of the Jin Family, Yan Gong, Hero of the Ling Family? This is…"

Wei Jiyan read the inscriptions on several plaques, and I calmed myself to ask.

"What is this? Exactly."

"These are inscriptions on memorial plaques."

Why are memorial plaques here?

"Whose are they?"

"All of them are from the Jin family."

"Then these are all coffins of Jin family members?"

"Yes. Why are they here…"

I was truly shocked.

After calming down, I tried to understand the situation. The conclusion wasn't good.

Opening one of the coffins, I saw an uncorrupted, fresh corpse with a yellow talisman on its forehead.

A zombie.

"It seems we've come to Yan Junshe's family cemetery."

"…It seems so."

What would you do if someone set up a family cemetery like this?

* * *

Not all the coffins contained zombies. Some were empty with only memorial plaques, and some contained skeletons.

But it was clear that these zombies were from the Jin family, the zombie faction.

At first, I wondered why they were here, but it made sense after hearing that the zombie faction, except for Yan Junshe, had all been killed and removed from the records.

"Yan Junshe seems to have a deep sense of filial piety. Despite being a wanted criminal, he still takes care of his family."

"The zombie faction has no one left to perform rituals except for Yan Junshe. And most of them are zombies, so it's not much trouble to move them."

True, zombies can move their own coffins. It's a convenient way to relocate.

"But Yan Junshe will soon be on the run."

"Yes."

"Then what about these…"

"…!"

"…!"

We looked at each other and ran back to the bonfire. Fortunately, Yan Junshe hadn't arrived yet.

We quickly extinguished the bonfire and cleaned up the area, removing any traces. The smell of smoke was faint but not noticeable unless carefully examined. We quickly restored the area to its original state.

While we were cleaning, we heard the sound of a bell in the distance. Wei Jiyan's face turned pale.

"Yan Junshe is coming. What should we do?"

"Let's go back to where we were."

We ran back to the area with the coffins. The bell sound was getting closer.

"…What should we do now?"

"Wait. I have an idea."

I pointed to the coffins.