Chapter Seventy-Two: Encountering Li Xinyi Once Again

After leaving the fortune-telling parlor, Fang You made his way to the train station and purchased a last-minute ticket bound for Miaojiang. After four hours of waiting, he boarded the train, setting off toward his destination.

The train rumbled to life, and Fang You settled into his seat, closing his eyes to cultivate his spirit. Occasionally, travelers passed by with their luggage. His mind was awash with thoughts, yet he found no clear solution to his troubles. In truth, from the moment he'd met Lin Xue and Zhang Shengnan, he had already foreseen that both were destined for a great calamity.

Lin Xue had secretly aborted her child—a small life lost—provoking retribution from her own son in the next life, the inexorable logic of karmic cause and effect. Fang You was not surprised by this. Yet, for reasons unknown, as Zhang Shengnan’s fate loomed closer, Fang You found himself unable to let her go. Her calamity, too, was written by karma, but something about it unsettled him.

Suddenly, a wave of fear washed over him: fear that Zhang Shengnan would not survive her destined trial, fear that he would never see her again, fear that no one would ever care for him as she did. Zhang Shengnan had brought him a warmth akin to family—after all, in his entire life, only the Sect Leader and the Deputy Leader had celebrated his birthday, and even then, it was merely a communal festivity.

His thoughts grew chaotic, so Fang You sat cross-legged and began to recite the Maoshan Clear Mind Mantra, seeking to calm and steady his spirit.

“Excuse me, please,” a tall man wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a bundle approached. Fang You sensed the man was speaking to him and opened his eyes, surprised to recognize him: it was Li Xinyi of the Corpse-Driving Sect, the same man who had handed him clothes when he was contemplating enlightenment under the tree in Shankou Village after slaying all the demon foxes.

Li Xinyi seemed to recognize Fang You as well. With curiosity, he greeted him, “So it’s the bold and free-spirited Daoist brother! What an honor, truly. I’ll be sitting right behind you—seems we’re fated to meet again.”

Li Xinyi stowed his luggage and took the seat behind Fang You.

“Where are you headed?” Fang You asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

“To Shandong,” Li Xinyi replied.

Fang You took in Li Xinyi’s traditional bamboo hat and slightly pale complexion—a clear sign of prolonged exposure to corpse qi. “I am from the Xiangxi Corpse-Driving Sect. I’m traveling on business. And where are you bound, brother?” Li Xinyi said as he pulled a wine gourd from his belt and took a swig.

Corpse-drivers, long accustomed to handling corpses, inevitably absorbed chill into their bodies. Most carried strong spirits on their belts, taking a sip now and then to guard against the cold and corpse poison.

“I’m heading to Miaojiang to find my uncle. The journey could be dangerous, but my uncle is my only family, so I must go,” Fang You replied honestly; Li Xinyi seemed upright and trustworthy.

“Miaojiang?” Li Xinyi pondered. “That’s the heartland of the Gu Sect, teeming with venomous insects and sinister magic—a perilous place. I’ve heard something major happened in the Gu Sect recently. To go there now is as dangerous as it gets!”

“Yes, to be candid, Elder He Bi’an, one of the seven chief elders of the Gu Sect, rebelled. Another elder was killed. Now, only five elders remain. My uncle is an old acquaintance of the Gu Sect elders—he went to help, but there’s been no word. I’m worried, so I’m going to look for him, perhaps lend a hand if I can.”

Having finished, Fang You formed hand seals and recited the Maoshan Purity Mantra to steady his mind.

“You’ve certainly learned of some extraordinary matters,” Li Xinyi remarked, not one to pry or gossip. Fang You’s openness made him feel Fang You was someone trustworthy.

The train slowly entered a tunnel, the carriage fell into darkness, and the passengers began to drift into slumber. Only Fang You and Li Xinyi remained seated in quiet meditation.

In a haze, Fang You suddenly saw black shadows slipping onto the train—some wielding long knives, others gripping ropes, some accompanied by sinister little ghosts. Fang You snapped awake.

“Agents of the Netherworld!” Fang You whispered, cold sweat breaking out on his brow. The sudden appearance of so many soul-collectors could only mean one thing: many aboard this train would soon die.

Such a multitude of soul-collectors boarding at once could only mean disaster—the train might be doomed.

If the train truly crashed, not even Fang You himself could escape.

He glanced back at Li Xinyi, who seemed to have noticed as well. Li Xinyi turned to him, “This is trouble, Daoist brother…!”

“We must find out what’s happening,” Fang You said, rising to his feet.

Yet the train continued on without a hint of abnormality.

Suddenly, a delicate fragrance wafted through the carriage, elegant and clear, refreshing those who inhaled it.

Fang You grew suspicious, when Li Xinyi behind him suddenly called out, “Brother, hold your nose—this is Corpse Dream Incense, a hallucinogenic scent cultivated from corpses. There’s a master aboard!”

But Fang You was too late. After inhaling the scent, he began to feel faint. He tried to steady his mind, but the incense must have been dispersing since he boarded, and he’d already absorbed much of it. With this final surge, Fang You collapsed to the floor.

“Who are you?” Li Xinyi’s heart tightened as he saw Fang You fall. “If you use such means, why not show yourself?”

The train was silent. All the other passengers, save Fang You, had succumbed to sleep; only Li Xinyi, familiar with corpse incense, remained conscious.

Li Xinyi took up his wine gourd and gulped several mouthfuls. The strong spirits, mixed with herbs for clarity and alertness, helped him resist the chill and toxins that came with corpses.

“Didn’t expect to find a fellow practitioner on board,” said an older man wearing a mask, who rose from a seat behind.

“I am Li Xinyi of the Xiangxi Corpse-Driving Sect. May I ask who you are, and why you’ve put everyone here into a trance?”

“I am You Da of the Shandong Corpse-Driving Sect.”