Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade/Inverted Fate) - Chapter 35-part 1
Chapter 35-part 1
As Baozhu had just left, Juesheng and Qizhi came in right after.
“Young master Wang, we are planning to borrow some talisman papers from the small Buddha hall. It’s getting late. Would you like to come with us?”
The two looked rather downcast, probably still uneasy about what happened that afternoon.
Teng Yuyi was never one to stay idle.
Ever since learning where the corpse demon weakness and the Golden-robe gentleman’s vulnerabilities lay, she had been itching to do something.
Upon hearing they were going to see the Five Taoists, she agreed readily.
“Let’s go.”
As soon as they entered, they saw bamboo slips scattered all over the small Buddha hall, with the Five Taoists of Dongming Temple busy searching for something.
“Oh, Young master Wang, what brings you here as well?”
Jian Xi pushed aside a pile of bundles under his feet and grinned.
“Please, have a seat.”
Juesheng and Qizhi asked, “Where did the elders go this afternoon? We searched everywhere, front building and rear garden…but could not find you.”
“Where else could we have gone? We were with Shizi, of course.”
Juesheng and Qizhi were startled.
“With our senior brother?”
Jian Xian, seeing their expressions, burst out laughing.
“No wonder your senior brother scolds you so often. What on earth do you two keep inside those little heads of yours?”
Jian Le tossed aside the scroll in his hand and snorted.
“Don’t just laugh at them. When Lin Chengyou called you over, didn’t you also rush there thinking it was something good?”
Jian Xian slanted him a look.
“And how do you know about that? Rectifying the wicked and upholding the righteous is a grand matter for a poor Taoist like me. Shouldn’t I be pleased?”
Teng Yuyi had already felt that something was off about the afternoon’s events, so this revelation didn’t surprise her.
“The venerable masters went to help Shizi drive away an evil spirit?”
“Not exactly exorcising,” Jian Mei replied.
“That Qingzhi who died this morning met a strange end. Shizi suspected that an evil spirit had infiltrated the building, so he summoned us in the afternoon to assist.”
Jian Mei continued, “The creature was half-human, half-specter, controlled by a corpse demon without realizing it. Ordinary ghost-detecting methods couldn’t expose it, so an unconventional test had to be used.”
A sudden flash of realization crossed Juesheng and Qizhi’s minds.
The many bathing tubs their senior brother had prepared earlier—it was all for this purpose.
“So our senior brother called those young ladies over to find out who among them was possessed?”
“What else could it be?”
Embarrassed, Juesheng and Qizhi scratched their heads.
They had said so many thoughtless things earlier; their senior brother was probably furious by now.
Teng Yuyi curled her lips.
It wasn’t entirely their fault for misunderstanding.
Lin Chengyou had kept everyone in the dark, even his own junior disciples, and the commotion he caused was indeed excessive.
It was no wonder people mistook him for a lecher.
“Could it be that our senior brother mixed a Yin Guiding Talisman into the bathwater?”
“Exactly. Though the creature was half-human, half-ghost, it still retained part of its human nature. With gold as bait, it would naturally think of holding its breath underwater. But since it was controlled by corpse energy, its seven orifices had already been invaded by Yin qi. So long as it soaked in the bath for a little while, the flaw would reveal itself.”
Teng Yuyi asked curiously, “So, did you find that person?”
“No,” Jianmei sighed in confusion.
“This method has always been foolproof when used to test those who are half human and half ghost, but today, after trying it on everyone one by one, not a single person showed any anomaly.”
Qizhi squatted down, resting his chin on his hand as he thought.
“Have all the women in the building been checked? Could someone have been missed?”
Jian Tian shook his head.
“Shizi even summoned the old servant women who handle sweeping and washing. Even He Mingsheng was forced to soak in the bath for a while. Everyone, young and old, was checked, yet no one showed any sign of being different.”
Jian Mei pointed at Teng Yuyi.
“Not entirely true. Young master Wang and her group did not go through the water test.”
“That’s because the three of them could not possibly be puppets,” Jian Le said as he unrolled the bamboo slip in his hand.
“Don’t forget, Juan Erli and Lady Gejin were captured by the demon and were rescued only with great difficulty, while Young master Wang was attacked by the corpse demon twice. If the corpse demon merely wanted to make them its puppets, it would not have gone through so much trouble. A single mouthful of its saliva would have been enough to make them obey completely.”
Teng Yuyi was startled.
“The corpse demon turns people into puppets by feeding them its saliva?”
Jian Le slapped his thigh and laughed.
“Disgusting, isn’t it? Its saliva is precious, and it doesn’t give it away easily. But once someone takes even one mouthful, they may appear normal on the surface, yet their body and mind will be entirely under its control.”
Teng Yuyi shivered.
If that was the case, then the people who became puppets at the Prince of Cheng’s residence that night must all have swallowed the corpse demon’s saliva.
She thought of that man from Nanzhao, Gu Xian—if he woke up and learned that he had been fed the demon’s saliva, he would probably be too nauseated to eat for a month.
“The more saliva is given, the longer the control lasts. The less given, the shorter the time. It’s a crude but direct method, and the puppets created this way are obedient. Even if the corpse demon eventually cuts out their hearts, they bear no resentment. Therefore, it never takes the hearts of its puppets. Those whose hearts it takes must be people whose minds remain clear, because only such people still possess human emotions and desires. Only they can be tormented to agony within its illusions.”
Jian Xi said, “There’s another reason. When Juan Erli and Gejin were rescued last time, they were immediately given the Qingxin Pill (heart-clearing pill). For those who have long been under control, the pill has little effect, but for those newly possessed, a single dose can awaken them completely.”
Teng Yuyi nodded inwardly.
No wonder Lin Chengyou had so readily agreed to release Juan Erli, he had never intended to make her undergo the water test in the first place.
Feigning nonchalance, she said, “Since everyone who needed to be tested has been tested, does that mean no evil spirit is hiding in the building? Then Qingzhi’s death must not be suspicious…she must have simply drowned herself.”
Jian Tian pursed his lips.
“I examined the body this morning. Judging from her corpse, she indeed drowned. But Shizi crouched by her body for quite a while, as if he had found something on her clothing. Still, there were no traces of any spirit near the well, nor signs of a formation. Before I could examine her body further, the legal officer arrived and drove me away, forbidding me to go near.”
Jian Xian frowned.
“Then Shizi must have discovered something. Why would he keep silent about it?”
“Shizi must have his own reasons,” Jian Mei replied.
“What puzzles me is this…if Qingzhi was murdered, why would the killer act now, instead of waiting a few more days? Were they not afraid of exposing themselves while we and Shizi were both present?”
Teng Yuyi thought for a moment, then bent down to pick up a bamboo slip at her feet.
“It must have reached the point where they had no choice but to act. If Qingzhi lived, the secret she held could be exposed at any time. But once she was dead, you might never uncover the truth. My guess is that the killer was gambling on exactly that.”
Then a voice was heard from outside the door.
“Young master Wang, why aren’t you staying in your own room and have come to visit us instead?”
Everyone turned their heads and saw a young man in brocade robes and a jade crown walk in—it was none other than Lin Chengyou.
Juesheng and Qizhi jumped up from the ground as if they had been burned.
“Senior Brother.”
Lin Chengyou carried a quiver on his back, and there seemed to be sweat at his temples.
After entering, he cast a glance at Teng Yuyi and casually threw the thing in his hand onto the table.
Teng Yuyi looked over.
It was a small bundle, and she could not tell what was inside.
The Taoists were puzzled.
“Shizi, where have you been? You look as if you just fought someone.”
Lin Chengyou said, “That’s exactly what I came to tell you, about Qingzhi—”
He suddenly turned to Teng Yuyi and smiled.
“Young master Wang, it’s getting late. It’s not convenient for you to stay here. Please go back.”
Teng Yuyi had been curious as to why Lin Chengyou brought up Qingzhi on his own, but once she saw the teasing look in his eyes, she understood.
He must have overheard her conversation outside, knew she was curious about the matter, and so deliberately mentioned it but refused to elaborate.
With his polite order for her to leave, even if she was burning with curiosity, she would have to go.
Qizhi said uneasily, “Senior Brother, it’s already night. The corpse demon could appear at any moment. It may be unsafe for Young master Wang to stay alone in her room. Should we escort her back? But we also want to stay with Senior Brother a while longer.”
“You two will stay,” Lin Chengyou said.
“From tonight onward, you’ll properly learn some discipline from me, so you won’t be swayed by a few words and forget that you are disciples of Qingyun Temple.”
He spoke with a smile, but his eyes were dark, carrying a layer of frosty chill.
Juesheng shrank his neck and quickly signaled Qizhi to keep quiet.
Couldn’t he see their senior brother was still angry? The moment he entered, he was already finding fault with Lady Teng.
Right now, they were in no position to protect themselves, while Lady Teng at least had the Xuanyin Bell their senior brother had given her.
If the corpse demon really came, she could simply shake the bell, and their senior brother would rush over immediately.
But Teng Yuyi did not leave.
Instead, she sat down with a bright smile.
“Shizi, I came because I have something important to report. It was not easy to finally see you, yet you are asking me to leave the moment you arrive. I do not mind going, but this concerns how to eliminate the corpse demon. If I do not speak, it may delay matters.”
Lin Chengyou feigned surprise.
“I did not know Young master Wang was skilled in exorcising evil. If you truly have a good method to deal with the corpse demon, you should be able to protect yourself. Why then do you need the protection of Qingyun Temple and Dongming Temple?”
“I only learned of this method this afternoon,” Teng Yuyi said.
“If used properly, it might truly be able to get rid of the corpse demon.”
Lin Chengyou did not believe a single word.
The corpse demon was the king among evils; even many highly skilled masters had been helpless against it.
Teng Yuyi had been trapped inside the Caifeng Tower these past few days, where could she possibly have learned some miraculous method? This woman was full of schemes.
If one let their guard down for even a moment, she would find a way to take advantage.
Just this afternoon she had incited Juesheng and Qizhi to argue with him to protect her own people, when it came to stirring up trouble, she was second to none.
Now she had come uninvited, pretending to offer assistance—who knew what she was plotting this time.
On any other day, he would have had the patience to spar with her, but at that moment he was both tired and hungry, and in no mood for her tricks.
So she simply refused to leave? He had plenty of ways to deal with her.
He turned and walked to the other side while taking off the quiver from his back.
At first, Teng Yuyi thought Lin Chengyou would press her with more questions, but as she watched, she realized something was not right.
In the side hall, there was a thick bedding mat, clearly used as a place to rest at night.
These days, for the sake of catching demons more conveniently, Lin Chengyou must have been sleeping there in the Buddha hall.
Lin Chengyou walked to the mat, then lazily fell forward onto it.
“I am completely exhausted these few days. There is still more trouble tonight, so I will just rest here for a while.”
The Taoists were startled.
Teng Yuyi’s face turned red, and she suddenly stood up.
Lin Chengyou grinned, his expression both roguish and mischievous.
He sat up and pretended to take off his boots.
“Why are you leaving, Young master Wang? You just wanted to observe how I sleep, didn’t you? I do not mind at all. I only worry it might harm your reputation if word spreads.”
Teng Yuyi clenched her teeth in secret, turned her back to him, and strode quickly toward the door.
“This method once succeeded in subduing the Corpse King of Nanzhao. It has nothing to do with Taoist spells but takes another path entirely. Since Shizi does not wish to hear it, there is no point in my saying more. Very well then, I shall take my leave.”
Lin Chengyou never actually intended to undress.
He had only meant to scare Teng Yuyi a little.
But when she mentioned the Corpse King of Nanzhao, his hands froze in mid-motion.
Could it be that she truly knew of some effective method?
He quickly smiled.
“Young master Wang, do not forget, if the corpse demon is not caught, the first person to suffer will be you.”
Teng Yuyi also smiled, though her steps did not slow.
“Even if I die, won’t Shizi still have to deal with the corpse demon? There is already a good method before you, yet you refuse to listen. Since you possess such great abilities, you probably do not need anyone else’s advice. At most, you will have to struggle a few more times, but one day you will surely subdue the two monsters.”
Lin Chengyou coughed lightly and signaled with his eyes for Juesheng and Qizhi to stop Teng Yuyi.
Juesheng and Qizhi, reluctant but obedient, hurried to block her way.
“Young master Wang, please wait.”
Teng Yuyi walked around them toward the exit.
“No need to stop me. Your senior brother offended me first. Unless he apologizes, I will not say another word.”
Juesheng and Qizhi tried again to persuade her, but Teng Yuyi was determined to leave.
Hearing the commotion, Steward Cheng entered and stepped in front of Juesheng and Qizhi.
With a calm and courteous tone, he said, “Honored Daozhangs, please make way.”
Juesheng and Qizhi were stunned.
Steward Cheng was a loyal servant of the Teng household.
Though outwardly polite and mild, he was actually steady and sharp-minded.
If they kept blocking Lady Teng and caused an argument, it would surely damage relations.
The two of them were at their wits’ end and looked to Lin Chengyou for help.
The Taoist priests, usually eloquent and ready with words, chose to remain narrowly silent this time.
Since it was Lin Chengyou who had offended her, naturally he should be the one to settle the matter.
Lin Chengyou had already risen to his feet.
Smiling, he strolled toward Teng Yuyi.
“Young master Wang, have you eaten?”
Teng Yuyi arched her delicate brows.
Knowing Lin Chengyou’s proud and conceited nature, to expect him to bow his head and admit fault was harder than climbing to heaven.
By suddenly asking such a question, he merely wanted to gloss over what had just happened.
She replied calmly, “Shizi reminds me well. I was just on my way back to have my meal.”
After saying that, she started walking again.
“What a coincidence, I am hungry too.”
Lin Chengyou, thick-skinned as ever, smiled as he blocked her path.
“I worried that the two monsters might break in tonight, so I had Boss He prepare a large table of wine and dishes. If Young master Wang would be so kind as to grace me with your company, I will have them bring out some Dragon Balm Wine you are fond of.”
Teng Yuyi’s eyes flickered.
Lin Chengyou was indeed capable of bending and stretching.
He must have guessed she would be tempted, so he used Dragon Balm Wine to make peace.
The wine was extravagant…no matter how much one could afford, it was not something to drink every day.
She admitted she was tempted.
Besides, she never truly meant to leave.
Pretending to give in reluctantly, she said, “How many jars?”
Lin Chengyou watched Teng Yuyi closely.
Her eyes were dark and bright, turning with a glimmer of mischief.
He had expected her to take advantage of the situation and sure enough, here it was.
She clearly knew he wanted to learn about that method, which gave her confidence to act so boldly.
If this had been in the past, would anyone have dared to threaten him like this? Before they even had a chance to play tricks, he would have already made them suffer.
Unfortunately, the corpse demon was too cunning, and he did not wish to miss any possible way to deal with it.
Besides, he had indeed been somewhat improper toward her earlier, and with her temper, she would never let it go easily.
A few jars of wine were nothing—if it could lead to a useful clue, she could drink as much as she wanted.
“Since I am the host,” Lin Chengyou said, “Young master Wang may drink as many jars as you wish.”
Teng Yuyi smiled brilliantly.
“With such gracious hospitality from Shizi, how could I refuse? Uncle Cheng, since Shizi is so generous tonight, bring Huo Qiu here. We will dine right here this evening.”
Juesheng and Qizhi were overjoyed.
One happily ran to the front hall to instruct the cooks to prepare the meal, while the other busied himself wiping down the mats.
Lin Chengyou caught Qizhi and handed him the bundle that had been left on the table earlier.
“Have the cooks make soup with this and bring it over. Stay and watch carefully.”
When Jian Tian and the others craned their necks to look, they were struck dumb with astonishment.
“Fire Jade Spiritual Root!”
Teng Yuyi was puzzled.
What was Fire Jade Spiritual Root?
The Taoists swarmed around Lin Chengyou, examining it and clicking their tongues in admiration.
“It truly is Fire Jade Spiritual Root. ‘Pure water from the Jade Pool nourishes the Spiritual Root’—we’ve only ever seen the name recorded in the (Scripture of Wenqing Yusan), but never seen one with our own eyes. They say this plant was brought from the land of Poluo by the Venerable Yanming, planted through Taoist spell, and after enduring years of cold and heat, only one stalk could be cultivated. Drinking it not only cures illness and prolongs life but also protects against evil spirits.”
Jian Tian called out excitedly to Teng Yuyi, “Young master Wang, come quickly. I know you come from a noble family and have seen much in your life, but this old Taoist dares to bet that you have never seen this before.”
Teng Yuyi walked over to take a closer look.
Lin Chengyou was holding in his palm a large, umbrella-shaped object that looked somewhat like a lingzhi mushroom.
However, it was of two distinct colors—the crown on top was as red as blazing fire, while the stem below gleamed with a cold, jade-like luster.
Red and white intertwined, as if embodying fire and ice in perfect contrast.
Juesheng and Qizhi said, “So that was what Senior Brother went to get just now. If we eat this, will it make dealing with the corpse demon easier?”
Lin Chengyou replied, “Not quite that miraculous, but it does have some protective effects. After drinking the soup made from it, the medicinal energy guards the heart and meridians. Even if one is injured by evil spirits, one might still survive. Unfortunately, the effect is short-lived, lasting no more than three days.”
“Three days is more than enough,” the Taoists exclaimed in excitement, unconcerned about anything else.
“For years, countless people have searched for the Fire Jade Spiritual Root. But half of that scripture was lost, so no one knew where it grew or how to use it. Now we finally know—it must be made into soup and drunk. Shizi, where did you find such a rare treasure?”
As soon as they spoke, they realized the question was unnecessary.
Such a precious herb could never be found outside.
It was likely taken from the palace.
Besides, with Lin Chengyou’s audacious and resourceful nature, anything he sought—whether flying in the sky, running on the ground, hidden deep in mountains, or lurking beneath waters, there was nothing he could not obtain.
Lin Chengyou said, “The two monsters have been dormant for two days. There has been no movement in or outside the city. This is too strange. Based on calculations, they will come to cause trouble within the next two days at the latest. To ensure nothing goes wrong, I had someone fetch this. Qizhi, take it to the kitchen.”
The Taoists were overjoyed.
“Good, good, good! Who would have thought we could taste soup made from Fire Jade Spiritual Root in this lifetime!”
Qizhi carefully carried the precious root away.
The others busied themselves tidying up the small Buddha hall.
Before long, they had cleared a large space in the center.
The kitchen, however, was slow.
By the time the maids finished setting the bowls and chopsticks and left, the food had yet to arrive.
Everyone sat around the long table without regard for rank or seniority.
Steward Cheng and Huo Qiu declined repeatedly, but the five Taoists insisted on having them join.
Seeing that neither Lin Chengyou nor Teng Yuyi objected, they reluctantly took the lowest seats.
The hall soon filled with liveliness. The doors and windows were open wide, revealing the garden bathed in night. A gentle breeze drifted through, the moon was hazy and round, creating a scene of perfect calm and charm.
Jianle took a satisfied sip of Dragon Balm Wine.
“Young master Wang, what was that method you mentioned for dealing with the corpse demon? I am dying of curiosity….please stop keeping us in suspense and tell us quickly.”
Teng Yuyi smiled.
“In the old days, the Corpse King of Nanzhao wreaked havoc across the land. The one who subdued it was not a monk, but a soldier in the army. The method had nothing to do with Taoist arts. It was, in fact, quite ordinary.”
“An ordinary method, and unrelated to Taoist arts?”
Lin Chengyou’s tone carried a trace of amusement.
“Young master Wang, you are not going to tell me they simply pulled out its fangs, are you?”
Teng Yuyi smiled faintly.
“That is precisely what they did. The Corpse King often broke into the camps, slaughtering dozens of soldiers each night. Later, following a shaman’s suggestion, the general ordered two extremely sharp steel cords to be made, their ends fashioned into hooks. They looped one around each of the monster’s fangs, and with all the soldiers pulling together, they tore those fangs right out.”
Lin Chengyou’s expression turned strange, and the Taoists were also struck speechless with surprise.
Teng Yuyi glanced from left to right, puzzled.
“Is there something wrong with what I said?”
Lin Chengyou gave a faint smile.
“Young master Wang, where did you hear that story?”
Teng Yuyi blinked.
Steward Cheng had always been steady and reliable, never one to lie about such matters.
Yet Lin Chengyou and the others looked oddly disturbed.
“Replying to Shizi,” Steward Cheng stood up and bowed respectfully.
“It was I who told the young master. I once had a close friend named Tan Xun, who in his younger days was stationed with the army in Nanzhao. The tale of the Corpse King was something he told me after returning to Chang’an. According to Tan Xun, when the Corpse King’s fangs were pulled out, it immediately dissolved into a puddle of foul water, and after that no corpse monsters ever caused trouble again. He spoke with great certainty, claiming to have witnessed it himself. I did not question him deeply at the time. Ten years have passed since then, but when I heard all of you mention the corpse demon’s fangs today, I suddenly remembered this story.”
Lin Chengyou exchanged glances with the Taoists, and the table fell into a strange silence.
Teng Yuyi asked suspiciously, “What is wrong with it?”
Lin Chengyou sneered.
“That story makes no sense.”
Steward Cheng’s expression changed.
“My lord, every word I said is true—”
Lin Chengyou replied solemnly, “Steward Cheng, I am not accusing you of lying. However, whether it is a corpse demon or a corpse king, their fangs are their vital point. Once removed, they would indeed dissolve into a pool of pus as you described. To protect themselves, they cultivate their fangs until they are as hard as stone. Fire, blades, lightning, or even iron saws cannot harm them. People in the past have tried using iron wires to pull them out, and all failed miserably. So when that Tan Xun claims he used two strings of a zither to do it, that is hard to believe. No one has ever succeeded with such a method. Zither strings are fragile and easy to snap, how could they possibly pull out something that hard?”
Teng Yuyi’s heart gave a sudden thump.
She suddenly recalled the silken thread once used by that strange man who killed her in her previous life—so thin it could slice through flesh and bone.
Though one was a silken thread and the other a zither string, the thought was chillingly similar.
“I say that man named Tan was simply talking nonsense,” Jian Le said with dissatisfaction.
“The Corpse King’s power was far weaker than that of a corpse demon. Perhaps the people of Nanzhao subdued it by some other means, and the tale was later distorted into this absurd story.”
“Whether it is nonsense or not, we can find out by locating this Tan Xun.”
Lin Chengyou turned to Steward Cheng.
“Steward Cheng, is this man still in Chang’an?”
Steward Cheng replied calmly, “I am not certain. I heard that Tan Xun retired four years ago due to a back injury and has been living idly at home in the Ande Ward in the southern part of the city. But I have not been in touch with him for a long time, so I do not know his current situation.”
“I will send someone to inquire,” Lin Chengyou said. “If he is still in Chang’an, we will have news within the next two days.”
