Chapter 226: A Detailed Discussion

I took a sip from my tea bowl, feeling that Lu Ayao’s deductions must have a basis in logic. “So, if the Nine-Ring Jade Casket can lead to the Tomb of King Gune in Inner Mongolia, and Fourth Brother’s ultimate goal is the Houtu Blood^[1], then could there be a connection between this casket and the legendary Kingdom of Corpses?”

“There should be, but for now, I don’t have any concrete leads,” Lu Ayao replied calmly.

My mood brightened instantly. If we could piece together the cause and effect, it meant we were one step closer to uncovering the real mystery. However, this also meant there was more than one suspect who could have placed Tian Xiao’s body in that black box.

Because if all twenty teams in Inner Mongolia were after the same goal, they were bound to be in direct competition. Among them were surely Old Chiefs and wanted criminals who wouldn’t blink at murder if it meant making a fortune. If one of them had killed Tian Xiao and stuffed him into the box, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

I just couldn’t understand what use Fourth Brother had for this medicine of resurrection. I’d heard this matter involved many people at levels of society that couldn’t be spoken of openly; perhaps he had been guided here step by step without even realizing it.

My legs had gone numb, so I shifted into a more comfortable position. A question occurred to me. “Setting aside the Houtu Blood for a moment, why are you suddenly telling me all this? You have so much information here, you shouldn’t have been able to integrate it all so quickly, right?”

Lu Ayao was about to pour himself some tea, but his hand faltered slightly at my words. He had been staying with us every day and had perhaps grown a bit too relaxed lately, allowing me to spot a flaw in his composure.

“Oh!” My mind raced as I glanced around. Lu Ayao was clearly becoming nervous; his eyes began to wander.

Hearing no movement outside, I figured Lu Qianshan hadn’t returned yet. I leaned forward and slapped my thigh, whispering mysteriously, “I get it! You’re telling me this tonight because you’ve calculated the location of the tomb again, haven’t you?”

Lu Ayao looked up and took a deep breath.

Thinking I was right, I grew excited and rolled up my sleeves. “I’m telling you, Old Lu, you’re truly gifted. I knew you’d have a way. Quick, tell me how you calculated it. Was it the same thing with the copper coins shaking in a tortoise shell? Can you teach me a few tricks from your family craft? Once I learn, I can go fool He Yu!”

Lu Ayao continued drinking his tea, then pulled a book from his bag and set it on the table to read. “Divining the burial sites of others is a great taboo in my ancestral teachings,” he said. “I only wanted to tell you as soon as possible because things have finally started to take shape, and I didn’t want to delay our progress.”

My excitement deflated instantly. Bored, I pulled the Horse-Head Blade from my waist and leaned back against several cushions, fiddling with the weapon.

Seeing that I had settled down, Lu Ayao flipped a page in his book and asked, “What do you plan to do next?”

I propped my head up with one hand. “I still intend to find the Crying Forest first. If Zhurige still won’t tell us the location tomorrow, we’ll just have to search the surrounding area ourselves. But this needs careful planning; we can’t afford to be hasty.”

Lu Ayao looked at me. Knowing what he was going to ask, I continued, “Look, Kuba said nineteen teams came to inquire before us. We didn’t see many households on our way here. In such a vast area, even if you’re looking for a tomb, you’d need a guide and a supply line set up. Logically, those nineteen teams should be camped nearby to rest and refit. But when we arrived, did you see a single team in the vicinity?”

“I went out to scout while Zhurige was telling her story,” Lu Ayao said. “There are no traces of any teams traveling within a one-kilometer radius recently.”

I chuckled. “Then it’s obvious. Either those teams were inexperienced, found a tomb, rushed in, and were swallowed by a Decoy Tomb, or they’re experienced leaders like my Fourth Brother. He would have specifically chosen a sheltered spot, neither too close nor too far from us. That way, he wouldn’t be exposed, but he’d still be close enough to find help if someone got injured.”

Lu Ayao nodded. “It seems I overthought things. You’ve grown much more than before. In another two years, you might be able to take over Fourth Brother’s business.”

“Forget it. Being free like this is fine. When I was a kid, I wished someone would look after me, someone who would scold me when I did something wrong. But ever since my grandfather passed away, I’ve been on my own no matter where I go. I make mistakes alone, and I win prizes alone.” I pulled a cigarette from my pocket, but couldn’t find a light, so I simply held it under my nose to catch the scent.

“I’ve grown used to it over the years. Last time, when Gan Rong used my punishment as an excuse to hand over the West Suburb Pankou^[2] to me, I thought the sun had risen in the west. In the past, she wouldn’t have given me the time of day. Thinking back, she might have started to distrust Chen Si. She likely used the excuse of dividing the Gan Clan’s pankous to give me some control so she could keep Fourth Brother in check.”

Lu Ayao frowned, asking hesitantly, “Chen Si and your mother shouldn’t have that kind of conflict. Have you considered that there might be another possibility?”

I glanced at him with the cigarette in my mouth. “Whether her feelings are genuine or fake, the time when I needed them has passed. Now that I have good brothers like you and He Yu, I’m happy wherever I go.”

Lu Ayao pondered for a while, his expression growing heavy. He suddenly called out, “Gan Ji, have you considered what happens if we can’t find the Crying Forest?”

“We still have Old Qian, don’t we? He’s quite skilled at reading the mountains and seas^[3].”

“And if even Qian Deli can’t find it? We don’t have the Nine-Ring Jade Casket either. Have you thought about just giving up and going back to school?”

I narrowed my eyes in thought. I had always been the persistent type; once I decided to do something, I would follow through. If there was no way, I would find one. I thought about it for a long time, but the option of going back never even crossed my mind.

“Hey,” a question suddenly popped into my head. I sat up from the cushions and asked him, “I think you’re acting very strange today. Aside from that theory about the Houtu Blood, why are you suddenly talking to me so much? Did Lu Qianshan tell you something I don’t know about?”

Lu Ayao glanced at me and said quietly, “He didn’t say anything.”

I knew he was just making excuses because he didn’t want to talk. Whether he admitted it or not, I was certain that Lu Qianshan had been badmouthing me behind my back! It was ten to one he’d said something disparaging my abilities again.

That little brat! If a tiger doesn’t show its strength, he takes me for a sick cat!

I slammed my hand on the table, stood up from the mat in a fit of rage, tucked my knife into my belt, and marched toward the exit, ready to give the kid a sound thrashing. But when I reached the tent flap, I backpedaled a few steps, turned around, and asked Lu Ayao:

“Do you know why Ye Yuzhu insisted on going down there even though he knew the Linhu Tomb was off-limits?”

Lu Ayao looked at me.

Resting one hand on my knife, I said, “Because he didn’t believe in jinxes, and neither do I! I’m not going back until I’ve cleared this whole thing up.”