Chapter 59

Mr. Plum stood in front of Zhenzhibao, sized him up a few times, and suddenly exclaimed, "This is truly strange, I can't figure out this three-fire at all!" As he spoke, he placed his hand on Zhenzhibao's crown, and instructed, "Don't move, I need to take a look."

Zhenzhibao, not knowing what was going on, simply knelt down according to etiquette and said, "Zhenzhibao greets the ancestor, wishing you..." "Don't move!" Mr. Plum suddenly pulled him to his side, placed his hand back, and repeatedly urged, "We'll talk about other things later, let me take a look first."

Zhenzhibao, seeing the ancestor speak, naturally didn't dare to move, allowing his hand to rest on his vital points. His eyes, however, darted around, observing. Mr. Plum's toes trembled slightly, and he tapped the ground a few times. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew, forming a small ghost with bulging eyes and fangs, standing over a foot tall.

Mr. Plum muttered to himself, "Hmm, let me see your origins. Don't move, don't move..." The small ghost climbed up his legs and arms, eventually sitting on his shoulder. Just as it was about to follow the instructions and probe the crown, it met Zhenzhibao's gaze!

The ghost shuddered instantly.

Zhenzhibao found the ghost amusing and had already wanted to laugh. Now, seeing its timid appearance, he couldn't hold back and chuckled.

The ghost immediately slipped back to Mr. Plum's shoulder, whispering in his ear. Mr. Plum, who had been half-closed-eyed in thought, suddenly looked at Zhenzhibao with great surprise and asked, "Can you see it?"

Zhenzhibao, knowing what he was asking, nodded and said, "Yes, I can see it."

Mr. Plum's face turned serious, "Your eyes are neither the Yin-Yang Eye, nor the Ghost Eye, nor the Three-Life Eye. How can you see all this? Could it be... could it be..." He hesitated for a moment, then changed his words, "...but it doesn't look like it at all. Why is that?"

He wasn't asking Zhenzhibao but was lost in thought.

The short, fat disciple knew his master's temper. Whenever he started thinking about something, it could take days or even months, delaying everything. So he immediately coughed twice and whispered, "Master, he said he is the grandson of the fifth disciple... uh, didn't you say you had something to ask?"

This reminder made Mr. Plum suddenly realize, and he patted his head, "Right, I almost forgot. Uh, I am Master Plum of August, what's your name?"

Zhenzhibao smiled, "My grandfather calls me Zhenzhibao. He said it's a name from a game of Pai Gow, a gift from heaven, so I use it." "Zhenzhibao? Ha, good name, good name!" Mr. Plum laughed heartily, "You're truly a disciple of the same lineage as August. Plum and August are both names from Pai Gow, just not as grand as yours."

He glared at the short, fat disciple, "Look at how obedient August is. Not only did he change his name, but he also made his disciple follow the master's way, listening to the Lord of Pai Gow. Unlike you, who always make excuses!" The short, fat disciple's face turned red, but he only laughed and didn't dare to retort.

It turned out that Mr. Plum's name came from this!

After scolding for a while and seeing the short, fat disciple not speaking, Mr. Plum turned to Zhenzhibao and said, "Well, Zhenzhibao, tell me your story in detail. Be honest and thorough, don't leave anything out, so I don't have to search for answers in vain..."

The short, fat disciple interjected, "A month ago, he was with the fifth disciple."

"Right, and the events of a month ago!" Mr. Plum led them to a pile of rocks and found a few smooth ones to sit on. "Take your time, no rush, but be as detailed as possible." He shrugged his shoulders, making the small ghost come down. With a wave of his hand, the ghost grinned and gradually dissolved into the air.

Zhenzhibao finally breathed a sigh of relief and recounted his story in detail. He didn't know about drifting in the river, the Yin Si ritual, or the Three-Fire Elimination, so he only detailed the events at Kunshan Fort a month ago. He knew little about himself, so he mostly talked about amusing stories from the Ghost Market.

Mr. Plum found Zhenzhibao's words honest and detailed, knowing he wasn't intentionally hiding his background. He decided to investigate further, but when Zhenzhibao mentioned what Mr. Kucha had said, his face showed a very strange expression.

Zhenzhibao, not knowing the relationship between August and his master, thought Mr. Plum was reluctant to help. He immediately bowed and pleaded, but Mr. Plum's face remained uncertain for a while before he finally spoke:

"Ah! It's not that I'm unwilling, but... but... I've already tried!"

The Five Wheel Sect, being well-versed in the affairs of the netherworld, had unique insights into life and death. The Five Wheel Disk was one of them. This disk was divided into Yin and Yang halves, varying in size based on destiny and causality. One half was worn on the chest after a ceremony before leaving the sect, while the other was kept on the beam in the hall. If there was a major event, it could be detected immediately.

It was the copper disk on August's chest that reflected sunlight!

August, due to his heavy karma, was a unique case in the sect. His Five Wheel Disk was replaced multiple times in his youth, otherwise, he couldn't communicate between Yin and Yang. A month ago, the Yang half of his Five Wheel Disk suddenly emitted a mournful sound, buzzing. Mr. Plum immediately sent someone to check and found that August had an accident.

Mr. Plum then summoned the Yin officials to inquire about August's fate, but even after three or four attempts, no one could give a definite answer. So he guessed that August must have had an accident in a place where the forces of gods and ghosts couldn't reach, and thus no ghost officials could collect his soul!

After Zhenzhibao finished speaking, the short, fat disciple suddenly spoke, mentioning that when the fifth brother had an accident a month ago, he had noticed the ghosts in the mountains. He mentioned that Kunshan Fort suddenly had a vengeful ghost causing chaos, leading to numerous deaths and the fort's collapse, now a ruin. He asked Mr. Plum if they should send someone to investigate.

Mr. Plum thought that the investigation might not be effective, but it was necessary to check. He then assigned tasks within the sect. The short, fat disciple, who looked unremarkable, turned out to be Baihe, the second-generation disciple responsible for all the sect's daily affairs, from food and clothing to hospitality. He couldn't go to find August, so he planned to notify the first-generation disciple Shilu, who was on a mission outside.

He then summoned the fourth-generation disciple Wan Zhu, who taught the disciples on the mountain, to arrange for a suitable third-generation disciple to teach Zhenzhibao some basic martial arts techniques. They would hold a formal ceremony to accept him as a disciple on an auspicious day.

Mr. Plum, after making all the arrangements, entered the wooden house, instructing that no one should disturb him and that he wouldn't be involved in external affairs. Before entering, he looked at Qingmei and said, "Qingmei has brought Bao'er up the mountain, as ordered by the sect. She did an excellent job, and we must not treat her lightly. Let Bao'er accompany her around the mountain today, and tomorrow, send her to the master, bringing some good tea to thank Mr. Kucha for taking care of our disciples."

At that moment, a caravan from the Qiansong Sect was delivering goods up the mountain. Qingmei was naturally sent with them. Baihe instructed the leading disciple to ensure Qingmei was delivered to Mr. Kucha before returning, and to bring some of the best stir-fried green tea from the hot springs on the mountain as a token of gratitude.

That day, with no one to manage, Zhenzhibao naturally accompanied Qingmei around the mountain, exploring everywhere before returning to rest. The next morning, he woke up early to see her off, and they said their goodbyes.

Breakfast was tasteless, and after a quick meal, he went to the training ground. There, he saw over a dozen children practicing martial arts. When Zhenzhibao arrived, Wan Zhu gathered a few disciples and designated the eldest third-generation disciple, Miaofeng, to teach Zhenzhibao some basic techniques and rules.

Wan Zhu, though a decent person, was strict and cold. He had always had issues with August during his training. Recalling how his master had indulged August's unruly nature, leading to a major mistake and heavy karma, he thought, "A strict teacher produces excellent students, and a strict father produces obedient children. I must strictly discipline Bao'er to prevent him from repeating his father's mistakes!" He then sternly lectured Zhenzhibao, urging him to work hard, listen to his senior brother, and not slack off, and to refrain from using magic recklessly before his training was complete.

Zhenzhibao, already saddened by August's fate and the departure of Qingmei, felt even more aggrieved when he was scolded. He held back his tears and agreed. When Wan Zhu left, he felt lonely and miserable, and tears streamed down his face.

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind, "What? Do you think my master was wrong to scold you?"

Zhenzhibao was startled and turned to see Miaofeng, the third-generation disciple assigned to teach him. He stopped his tears and said, "I dare not! I was just thinking of my master, so..."

"Bullshit!" Someone suddenly jumped out from behind Miaofeng, pointing at Zhenzhibao and scolding, "How can that be thinking of your master? You're clearly upset because you're a disciple of the fifth uncle and can't see our master, thinking he shouldn't scold you, can't scold you! Is that it?"

The person who spoke was none other than Miaoshuang, whom Zhenzhibao had met before.

Miaoshuang stood next to Miaofeng, acting intimately and arrogantly. Zhenzhibao noticed then that their faces were strikingly similar!

Miaofeng and Miaoshuang, with their similar faces... they were brothers!

PS: I recommend the great work "The Dao of Medicine" by the steward. This book offers a different perspective on the Yin and Yang realms, commenting on the world's chaos with a unique angle and flavor. It's a different taste to savor!

[bookid=3001502, bookname=The Dao of Medicine]

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