Chapter 23: The Gu Family's Trump Card

On the third day at noon, Zhang Kai, having made all the necessary preparations, boarded the Mercedes business van arranged by Gu Mingyu alongside the old fortune-teller. Gu Mingyu herself was already inside, now dressed in a practical set of hiking clothes. There was also another girl, seemingly no older than seventeen or eighteen, her hair in twin ponytails, a lollipop in her mouth, listening to music on her phone, the very picture of innocence.

Zhang Kai paused ever so slightly when he noticed the girl with the ponytails but quickly composed himself, acting as though nothing was amiss.

“Master Zhou, Master Zhang,” Gu Mingyu greeted them with a smile.

“Heh, no need for formalities. Please, have a seat.”

Gu Mingyu sat down, flipped out a map, and went on, “Master Zhou, according to the location you provided, I’ve mapped out our route. Once we reach the airport, we’ll fly out. There’s a convoy waiting for us in Changling, but the area around Xuefeng Mountain is still undeveloped, the roads impassable by car. We’ll have to park somewhere and hike into the mountains. Where do you think we should start our trek to get as close as possible?”

The old fortune-teller chuckled, “There’s a place called Duqiao Town near Changling; that’s the closest settlement. But don’t rush once we arrive. There’s something we’ll need to obtain there that will spare us much trouble along the way.”

Gu Mingyu simply nodded, neither affirming nor denying.

At this point, Zhang Kai smiled and asked, “Miss Gu, and who is this?”

With a laugh, Gu Mingyu replied, “This is my cousin, Wang Tingting. She’s always loved exploring the unknown, so she’s come along for the experience.”

Zhang Kai grinned, “Your cousin is very cute.”

The girl with the ponytails looked up at Zhang Kai, gave him a sweet smile, then lowered her head and continued listening to music, a picture of harmlessness.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. They changed vehicles at the airport and took a direct flight to Changling.

Changling was not just a mountain range but also a city named after it—a place steeped in history, once a strategic stronghold in ancient times, now a respectable second-tier city.

They arrived at dusk, met by someone from Gu Mingyu’s side, and were escorted to a hotel where they would rest for the night before heading to Duqiao Town the next day.

Gu Mingyu handled all the arrangements, leaving Zhang Kai and the old fortune-teller free to settle in undisturbed.

After a brief rest, Zhang Kai slipped into the old fortune-teller’s room.

“Old man, the Gu family isn’t as simple as you made them out to be, is it?” Zhang Kai got straight to the point.

The old fortune-teller smiled, “When did I ever say the Gu family was simple? They’ve been around for a century. My master was close friends with their elders, and I’ve benefited from that relationship. The Gu family is not just wealthy, but also extremely powerful.”

“I’m talking about this operation. The little girl who came with us—I’m guessing she’s got blood on her hands. She doesn’t look like a tagalong to me,” Zhang Kai said.

The old fortune-teller praised him, “Boss Zhang, you really have a sharp eye for people.”

Zhang Kai rolled his eyes. “Look, old man, we’re walking the path of cultivation together now. There’s no need for games. Honesty builds trust.”

The old fortune-teller feigned innocence. “How am I not being honest? To tell you the truth, I invited the Gu family to participate, but whom they send is out of my hands. After all, they’re footing the bill for everything along the way, and even in the forbidden land, their people will be at the forefront. They’re investing so much, naturally they won’t send useless people. But their goals don’t conflict with ours. Everyone gets what they want, so does it matter who they bring?”

Zhang Kai had nothing to say to that.

“But about Duqiao Town—this is something I didn’t mention before. There’s a Taoist lineage there. While their cultivation may have lapsed, the lineage remains unbroken. Now that spiritual energy is returning, they might resume their practice. When we arrive, we’ll need to request something from them. With it, entering the forbidden land shouldn’t pose much of a problem,” the old fortune-teller continued.

Zhang Kai was puzzled. “What is it? Is there danger even outside the forbidden land?”

The old fortune-teller laughed. “What do you think? This isn’t an ordinary burial ground. Immortals and demons created these places as a contingency when facing tribulation. If just anyone could walk in, how would it differ from a tourist spot?”

Zhang Kai nodded in agreement.

It made sense—an immortal’s grave was bound to be extraordinary.

“So what exactly do we need to ask for?” Zhang Kai pressed.

The old fortune-teller gave a mysterious smile. “Bone incense.”

Zhang Kai: ???

Meanwhile, in another hotel room, a few people were seated together: Gu Mingyu, the girl with the twin ponytails, and two men—one old, one young.

The old man, easily in his seventies or eighties, had half-white hair, a goatee, a thin face, sharp eyes, and was dressed as a Taoist priest. The younger man, barely in his twenties and also dressed as a Taoist, was unremarkable in appearance and had a crooked mouth. He was stealing glances at the girl with the ponytails, his eyes roaming with barely disguised intent.

Gu Mingyu and the others were watching a laptop screen, which displayed the old fortune-teller’s room. They were obviously monitoring him and Zhang Kai, eavesdropping on their conversation.

When the words “bone incense” came up, the old Taoist with the goatee narrowed his eyes.

Gu Mingyu spoke up immediately, “Master Chongming, what exactly is bone incense?”

The goateed Taoist replied, “It’s an incense made from bone, and there are different types depending on the bone used and the intended purpose. According to the information we’ve gathered about the Xuefeng Mountain area, this particular bone incense is likely meant to repel blood-winged insects.”

“Blood-winged insects?” Gu Mingyu was perplexed.

The goateed Taoist explained, “Blood-winged insects are a mysterious species native to Changling. They shun heat and thrive in cold, hibernate in summer and are active in winter, and feed on blood. Though they don’t feed heavily, their mouthparts carry a toxin that induces hallucinations and can paralyze the nerves. Long ago, these were considered spiritual-grade poisonous insects, but after the decline of spiritual energy, they degenerated. Even so, they remain terrifying, especially in the mountains—a single bite can have unpredictable consequences.”

Gu Mingyu marveled, “The world is truly full of wonders. It seems Wudang really has a deep understanding of several forbidden places.”

She looked intently at the others. “Let’s see if what we’re seeking will be found here.”

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Zhang Kai rose, slung his small backpack over his shoulders, and silently followed the old fortune-teller.

Last night’s conversation had changed Zhang Kai’s approach.

The old fortune-teller couldn’t be trusted, and the Gu family was even less reliable.

If that was the case, he’d let them take the lead while he played the bystander.

After all, his goal was different from theirs; as long as he could get what he came for, nothing else mattered.

They gathered for breakfast, chatting amiably, the atmosphere warm and congenial.

Then the group set out. It was only now that Zhang Kai realized just how grand Gu Mingyu’s preparations were: five off-road vehicles and more than a dozen people. Among them, Zhang Kai spotted two Taoists—one old, one young. The older one radiated true energy, much like the old fortune-teller, and had only recently broken through. This indicated that the Gu family had made their own preparations beyond the old fortune-teller.

Zhang Kai was not the only one to notice; the old fortune-teller did as well. After staring at the old Taoist for a while, he turned to Zhang Kai, “Boss Zhang, how about we swear a blood oath not to double-cross each other?”

Zhang Kai: Pfft.