Chapter 29: Exposing Each Other’s Secrets

“What an arrogant demand—three kneels and nine kowtows? Does this place think it’s still the feudal era?” Upon reading the inscription on the bronze door, Master Chongming’s face was full of disdain.

“After all, a deity is hiding here. When it comes to mortals and deities, what else would a god expect but submission and worship? Otherwise, it’s a grave offense,” replied the old fortune-teller.

“A deity? The heavens would not allow it. Who dares call themselves a god? At best, it’s just a wretched creature clinging to life,” Chongming retorted.

“Regardless of what it is, the main thing now is opening this door. Masters, there’s a destiny to be found here, as well as a riddle. Which side do you think is more believable?” the girl with the twin ponytails asked.

“It’s hard to say. Though this is an imperial mausoleum, that’s likely just a ruse. The entire arrangement must be the work of the master of Changling Mountain. To unravel it, we can’t rely on ordinary logic,” the old fortune-teller replied.

“Are you saying we really have to perform three kneels and nine kowtows?” Chongming frowned, clearly unwilling.

“What if we try the opposite approach?” Zhang Kai suddenly interjected.

Everyone turned to him.

“What do you mean by the opposite approach?” the old fortune-teller asked, curious.

Zhang Kai explained, “If these so-called deities refuse to die and have preserved themselves here awaiting revival, they must have taken that into account in their schemes. So, for anyone to enter, they’d expect us to do it their way—like a fanatic follower, or someone they can use.”

Everyone found this logic reasonable.

After all, a thief seeking to loot would never be welcomed by a deity. But if you come as a servant, no god ever has too many worshippers.

“But let’s do the exact opposite,” Zhang Kai’s tone shifted, a sly smile spreading across his face.

“We threaten it,” Zhang Kai said earnestly.

“Threaten? We can’t even get past the door,” Chongming said, half laughing, half exasperated.

“Then we threaten this so-called deity to open the door for us. If it refuses, we’ll blast the canyon outside, flood the cave with concrete, seal it off completely, and destroy the entire spiritual formation. If we can’t get in, then no one else can either. Let this deity rot in here for eternity,” Zhang Kai replied decisively.

Everyone stared at him in shock.

This really was reverse thinking—so much so that it bordered on madness.

“It’s pointless. This forbidden ground may not even require someone’s entry. Once the spiritual energy recovers to a certain point, the deity can use its hidden means to reclaim its power. In that case, we’d not only fail to profit, but also make an enemy of the mountain lord. The consequences would be unimaginable,” Chongming shook his head, rejecting this reckless idea.

“Indeed, Fellow Daoist Zhang, though our intentions here aren’t pure, there must be a limit—it’s unwise to make an irreversible enemy,” the old fortune-teller agreed.

Zhang Kai shrugged and fell silent.

Trying to have it both ways—what a narrow outlook, unfit for greatness.

“Let’s examine the mechanism first. It appears to be based on the Eight Trigrams. If we find the correct orientation, we should be able to unlock it,” the old fortune-teller continued.

“That will be up to you, Brother Zhou,” Chongming said quickly, smiling.

The old fortune-teller nodded without protest, “Then let this old Daoist do what he can.”

With the youth’s support, the old fortune-teller approached the small bronze door and began to study it carefully.

“Heaven, earth, water, fire; thunder, wind, mountain, lake—the eight trigrams are all in disarray. Impossible! That makes no sense at all. What a ridiculous mechanism,” he muttered, eyes wide.

After a while, he looked at Chongming, embarrassed, “I think… perhaps the three kneels and nine kowtows aren’t entirely out of the question.”

Chongming: “…”

Zhang Kai: “…”

“In that case, who will attempt it?” Chongming did not object, but asked.

Everyone glanced at each other, then all eyes fell on the youth beside the old fortune-teller.

The youth shook his head hurriedly, timidly saying, “I refuse. My master taught me: kneel only to heaven, earth, and parents. Never for anything else. That’s our sect’s rule.”

“This is not real kneeling, just going through the motions. As long as you don’t bow in your heart, you remain a man of honor,” Chongming tried to reassure him with a smile.

“Right, just pretend you’ve taken an arrow to the knee,” said the girl with twin ponytails.

The youth looked helplessly at the old fortune-teller, “Uncle Zhou, you promised my master.”

Embarrassed, the old fortune-teller said, “Perhaps I should take another look at the mechanism.”

The girl said, “Master Zhou, you insisted only an auspicious day would allow us into the forbidden ground. If this is all for nothing and we waste time, are you sure we won’t run into trouble when the auspicious time passes?”

The old fortune-teller fell silent.

Zhang Kai, curious, asked, “I’ve always wondered—why is today considered auspicious? I don’t feel any different.”

The old fortune-teller replied, “Today, the sun and moon share the sky. The power of yin and yang is at its peak and blends together. The deity within is under the greatest suppression. After today, the danger here will at least double.”

Suddenly, Zhang Kai understood.

The so-called sun and moon sharing the sky was nothing mystical—the sun not yet set, the moon already risen. He’d seen it plenty of times since childhood and never thought much of it, but apparently it had hidden significance.

“Well, since no one wants to kneel and we can’t open the mechanism, let’s do as I said. Forget about everything here, fill this cave with concrete, wreck the canyon, and make sure the mountain lord can’t come after us later,” Zhang Kai laughed.

“We’ve come all this way—leaving now would be the greatest loss. You Daoists are all seekers of the path. Can you really turn away from treasure right in front of you?” the twin-ponytailed girl protested, her face displeased.

Everyone lapsed into silence.

Suddenly, she smiled, “Master Zhou, are you sure you can’t solve this mechanism?”

The old fortune-teller forced a laugh, “It’s too complicated…”

“Complicated? A little confusion of yin and yang, a jumbled Eight Trigrams—this is basic Wudang mysticism, isn’t it? You’ve studied it for decades. You really expect me to believe you haven’t mastered it?” she pressed.

His forced laughter shifted to a knowing smile—he said nothing.

She then turned to Chongming, “The Blood Refining Sect may have lost much of its heritage in this spiritual drought, but the name of Blood Spirit is still renowned. And your blood-forged disciples are said to thrive even in the age of declining magic. That good disciple of yours is one of them, no? Already a puppet—how could he be so easily slain by spirit fish? Should I say where he’s hiding?”

Chongming arched an eyebrow and looked at her meaningfully, “The ways of the demonic sect are indeed unfathomable. If I’m not mistaken, you must be the current generation’s wandering agent. I wonder, in this era, how many agents like you has your sect nurtured to compete for the title of Holy Maiden?”

“So you do know me,” she grinned.

Chongming remained calm, “Only a little.”

He then turned to the youth beside the old fortune-teller, “And you, master of the Bone Sect, your art of bone refinement truly defies nature. You must be the current generation’s sect leader. Over eighty, yet with the appearance of a youth. But age is age—no medicine can reverse the decline of blood and energy. I smelled the stench of death on you the moment you arrived.”

The youth smiled, dropping the pretense. Even his voice sounded older, “That Miss Gu Mingyu—she’s not of the Gu family, is she? Using their name, but actually a gathering of remnants from various sects. The red-tailed bees in the forest earlier must have been her doing. If I’m right, she’s a disciple of the Miao clan’s Gu Poison Sect. Since when did they become so fond of working from the shadows?”

As he spoke, the youth flicked his hand. A whiff of medicinal vapor sent a flying mosquito tumbling to the ground.

At that moment, Zhang Kai could only stare in utter confusion.