The journey back was somber, with everyone lost in thought. The occasional roars from behind made Zhang Dabiao's body stiffen for a moment, but he would quickly regain composure and continue forward with determined steps.
On the surface, he seemed to have let go of his father, as his father was dead and had become an evil spirit, no longer the father who loved and cared for him. However, judging by his actions and expression, he had not truly let go. As we were about to enter Xiaoliu Village, I stopped.
Zhang Dabiao, who had been leading the way, also halted. His shadow, cast long by the setting moon, resembled a human-shaped javelin, his expression desolate.
Zhang Cheng, whose face had been grim since we left, stumbled into one of the coffin bearers who was trying to escape. Without a second thought, he kicked the man and began to berate him, "You useless bum, how many times have you come out with me? Why do you always embarrass us like this? Do you know you almost got us all killed?"
The other two coffin bearers stood by, trying to placate Zhang Cheng, explaining that this cowardice wasn't a new problem. They vowed never to bring him along for work again if there was a next time.
"Next time? Do you think I'm always that lucky..."
"Cheng Ge!" I interrupted Zhang Cheng. "This was an accident. No one expected a fox to appear. Although the body wasn't carried out, I don't think Brother Zhang will shortchange you on the payment."
"Brother, it's not about the money. This guy almost caused the elder to rise from his grave. That's a major taboo for coffin bearers. He's completely disgraced us."
"Zhang Cheng."
Zhang Dabiao spoke, and the beating stopped. The other two coffin bearers pulled him a considerable distance away.
"Being alive is what matters most. I apologize for this incident. I'll give you double the payment. Xiaoliu Village is not far ahead. Those foxes probably won't dare to enter the village, so I won't escort you back."
"Dabiao..." Zhang Cheng's face turned from pale to flushed, his expression filled with guilt. Zhang Dabiao waved his hand, signaling him not to offer any further explanations.
I understood his meaning. If this job had been just for himself, he would have feared nothing. But he had his family with him, his wife and children. Each of them was a strong laborer, the pillar of the family. If they were lost here, the entire family would plunge into an abyss. Therefore, preserving their lives was the most sensible choice.
He then turned his gaze to me, about to say "Qingyun," but I interrupted him.
"I know what you mean, but I really need to go back. After fighting for so long, they could be anywhere by now. If you want to help Uncle retrieve the body, you must find him before dawn. Without my help, it will be daylight by the time you find them."
"..."
"The old fox will be dealt with by Uncle. The younger foxes that have matured have been mostly killed by Uncle. The rest are not a threat. With you here, I believe I can get out safely."
Zhang Dabiao narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, then turned and ran west with the speed of a hunting leopard.
Watching Zhang Cheng, who still seemed bewildered, I stepped forward and said, "Cheng Ge, after this, you shouldn't be a coffin bearer anymore. Perhaps in the past, with Zhang Dabiao's support, your business thrived. But you can't walk a dark road forever without encountering ghosts. This is a lesson."
Zhang Cheng sighed and said, "A few years ago, I met a fortune teller who told me this year was a year of disaster for me. If I could escape in time, I might still enjoy my old age. It seems I can't continue in this line of work. I'll have to go home and farm." His expression was somewhat dejected, tinged with resentment towards the unfairness of fate, but this incident had deeply affected him, and he seemed to have accepted his destiny. He patted my shoulder, urging me to return safely, and then led the others towards Xiaoliu Village.
Gazing at Zhang Dabiao, who had become a small black dot in the distance, I cast the Sky Speed Seal upon myself and quickly pursued him. By the time I reached the desolate area, Zhang Dabiao was already waiting for me.
The fox corpses on the desolate ground had vanished, leaving behind only a thick scent of blood. It appeared the foxes had carried the bodies away. Looking at the trees damaged by the old fox and Zhang's father fighting towards the western mountains, Zhang Dabiao appeared worried. He had intended to move his father to a blessed land to receive incense offerings, allowing the Zhang family to prosper. However, before the incense offerings could be received, they suffered an unexpected attack. This was truly an undeserved disaster.
I walked up and patted his shoulder, saying, "Brother Zhang, don't worry too much. The situation today might very well be a trap set by Uncle himself. Otherwise, with his abilities, how could he have buried himself in such a desolate place?"
This was something I had thought of on the way here. Although I had never met Uncle Zhang, I knew that he and my father were very good friends, and that my father had been willing to go to Molu Village and lose his life there, while he himself had managed to return. Even though he eventually died, he couldn't have been an ordinary person.
With my reminder, Zhang Dabiao's expression brightened with understanding, but he said nothing more, only stating that we should hurry.
Heading west, the surrounding trees had all suffered. Some were broken in half, others were frozen into powder, leaving the ground covered in frost. On the frost, small paw prints appeared intermittently. It was undoubtedly the work of the young foxes that had come to support the old fox.
After walking another ten miles west, the surrounding trees gradually showed no signs of damage. Another few hundred meters further, all traces of the fight completely disappeared, and even the sounds of fighting were gone.
"Brother Zhang, we can't go any further. Ahead are tall camphor and oak trees. They shouldn't be in that direction. If those young foxes are ambushing us there, we'll be like turtles in a jar."
Zhang Dabiao stopped, carefully searching for any traces of the fight. However, the forest was eerily silent, with no insect chirps. Naturally, no clues could be found. Furthermore, the moonlight was obscured by the leaves, hindering visibility, making it as difficult as climbing to heaven to find any faint clues.
Seeing that the search was futile, Zhang Dabiao turned to me and said, "The rest is up to you."
I nodded, indicating that I understood.
I took out the iron bowl I had prepared, poured half a bowl of water from my canteen, and then folded the yellow talisman inscribed with Zhang's father's birth date into the shape of an arrow.
"Heaven and earth, radiating eight lights, Yin essence reveals true spirit. Ancestors of the past, bless my strength, to seek the person in all directions! Decree—"
I chanted the Corpse Seeking Incantation, forming a seal with one hand while holding the iron bowl with the other, carefully observing the direction indicated by the yellow talisman.
The yellow talisman, as if controlled by an invisible hand, spun rapidly in the center, forming a small vortex before gradually slowing down. Then, it slowly pointed north. As the arrow stopped, a faint, indistinct image appeared on the water's surface, depicting a banyan tree with dense aerial roots hanging down. Zhang's father was located beneath one of these aerial roots, thicker than my waist. The image then dissipated.
"Found him?"
"Yes! To the north, under a banyan tree. It's definitely correct."
"Let's go."
Whether Zhang's father had killed the old fox or the old fox had escaped with the protection of its kin, we encountered them neither on the way. Instead, we disturbed several venomous snakes hunting at night. If Zhang Dabiao hadn't led the way, we would have surely been bitten.
The mountain path was rugged and not a straight line. Coupled with the vines between the trees and the obstruction of some low bushes, by the time we found the banyan tree from the vision, the sky had already turned a hazy gray, and the moon had set in the west. Sudan Novel Network.
The banyan tree was located in a flat area, separated from other tree species by more than five meters. Standing beneath it and looking up, it resembled a small mountain. Its winding roots covered the surroundings, completely isolating it from other trees, like an emperor guarding its peaceful territory.
"This... this is still a banyan tree? How did it grow so large? Aren't banyan trees unable to live in the north?" I was somewhat stunned by the banyan tree that appeared in contrast to the season.
"This is not a banyan tree. This is a vampire vine."