Volume One: The Soul-Attracting Gourd, The Flaming Spirit Lamp Chapter 74: Night Investigation of the Desolate Village

The moonlight was sparse, and a chill wind rose from all directions, ushering in the deep hours of the night. The squad of armed personnel responsible for securing the scene strode out of the incense shop, followed by three researchers carrying isolation bags. All items related to the Northern Wolves of Hanbei were taken away by this group.

In the blink of an eye, one of the armed men ran to Li Hetang's side, set down a black tactical backpack, and got into a vehicle to depart.

Once the armed squad had left, Niu Suo and Liu Haiyang exchanged a meaningful glance with Gu Mo before heading home as well.

Within moments, the whole street was left with just Gu Mo, Xiao Yulou, and Li Hetang.

After a bout of smoke swirling through the air, Li Hetang rose with a smile, towering over Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou as he spoke.

"Gentlemen, tonight's task is simple: a midnight investigation of a deserted village and its dried-up well!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yulou closed the unfinished intelligence report, shrugged, and said, "Alright—taking money means taking on the trouble. Gu, shall we go see for ourselves?"

With that, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou exchanged a glance, drunkenly rising to their feet, swaying with an air of intoxication.

Seeing this, Li Hetang, holding the tactical backpack, broke out in a cold sweat. He couldn't shake the feeling that these two drunkards were utterly unreliable.

Li Hetang's fleeting expression did not escape Xiao Yulou's notice. The Taoist, ethereal in bearing, quickly formed a mudra and recited the Three Pure Ones mantra. In a single breath, he directed a sword-finger toward the ground, and a faint golden light shimmered at his fingertip.

Before Gu Mo and Li Hetang could ask, a stream tinged with the pungent scent of alcohol flowed from Xiao Yulou.

The sight left Gu Mo and Li Hetang dumbfounded.

"Good heavens! Is that even possible?"

As the clear stream ceased, Xiao Yulou shuddered, and the flush of drunkenness vanished from his face.

"Gu, just place your finger in the mouth of the Greedy Ghost. The little fellow will suck the alcohol right out of you!"

Gu Mo, somewhat skeptical, frowned and produced the fuzzy Greedy Ghost. Looking down, he saw the pitch-black creature fast asleep in his palm.

Gu Mo frowned further and whispered, "Hey—whose chicken leg fell?"

At once, the adorable Greedy Ghost opened eyes like twin galaxies, searching all around. Drool glistened in its abyss-like mouth.

Without waiting for a reaction, Gu Mo steeled himself and placed his finger into the creature's mouth.

Instantly, a cool sensation spread from his fingertip, his blood seemed to rush, and his mind grew clear. The Greedy Ghost, black as coal, sucked greedily like an infant.

Within seconds, Gu Mo's drunkenness dissipated completely.

In the gentle breeze, Li Hetang stood frozen in place.

"Are you two monsters? What sort of bodies do you have?"

Xiao Yulou flicked his robe sleeve and glanced toward a nearby convenience store.

"Wait here, gentlemen. I’ll just pop in for a pack of cigarettes."

When Xiao Yulou returned, the three, now prepared, set out toward Guqiao Village.

Along the way, Xiao Yulou reviewed the information behind the photographs. The mounting questions left the Taoist sweating coldly.

Time turned relentlessly; an hour and a half passed swiftly.

As the road beneath their feet grew ever more desolate, the eerie Guqiao Village loomed before them.

Dense fog shrouded the village, as though it were a glutinous rice ball fresh from the pot, cloaked in thick sauce. The occasional bark of dogs and crowing of roosters echoed.

Beneath the fog, lights glimmered brightly, making the village seem anything but abandoned.

A chill wind swept by, and the three exchanged troubled glances, puzzled by the strange scene.

Stopping in their tracks, Gu Mo frowned and voiced his doubts.

"Li Hetang, isn't this supposed to be a deserted village? Why are the lights so bright? Is your intel really this unreliable?"

Li Hetang, carrying the tactical backpack, was equally perplexed.

"According to the reports, Guqiao Village is indeed abandoned. I have no idea why it's like this now!"

Gu Mo shot Li Hetang a look, feeling that the intelligence agency of the subsidiary company was no better than the neighborhood committee ladies.

Xiao Yulou suddenly closed his eyes and formed a Taoist seal.

As his internal energy surged, a golden light flooded Xiao Yulou's eyes.

When he opened them again, Li Hetang noticed that Xiao Yulou's eyes had become double-pupiled.

Scanning his surroundings, Xiao Yulou quickly discerned the trick behind Guqiao Village.

He curled his lip into a mischievous smile.

"By the Heavenly Lord! There’s a barrier set within Guqiao Village. No wonder mortals perish here!"

As soon as he finished, Xiao Yulou cast an unfriendly glance at Li Hetang, making it clear: "I won’t take my commission for nothing!"

Meanwhile, Gu Mo, baffled, looked at the showy Xiao Yulou and asked, "Brother Xiao, what kind of barrier did you just mention?"

Xiao Yulou flicked his sleeve, replying coolly, "It’s nothing… just a little trick from a Geomancer."

Gu Mo was even more confused, nearly cursing aloud.

"Hey—shaggy! We haven’t finished the last question, and now there’s a Geomancer!"

Li Hetang gazed into Gu Mo’s eyes, sighed, and explained.

"The Geomancer sect is ancient and mysterious. As long as their cultivation is deep enough, a Geomancer can use a single talisman to control time and space within a certain area."

Hearing of such incredible abilities, Gu Mo was stunned.

"Seriously? Controlling time and space—aren’t we doomed then?"

Xiao Yulou, the ethereal Taoist, flicked his sleeve and replied with a serene air.

"No matter. I have faced Geomancers myself before."

With that, Xiao Yulou strode forward with great flair.

In a flash—

The eccentric, flamboyant Taoist vanished before their eyes.

Gu Mo and Li Hetang were left gaping in amazement.

In a blink, Xiao Yulou reappeared before them, his shocked gaze suggesting that Gu Mo and Li Hetang were utter novices.

"Let’s go! Why are you just standing there?"

Gu Mo and Li Hetang drew deep breaths, steeling themselves to follow.

With a single step, the illusion of bright lights disappeared, replaced by a dense fog. Even the barking and crowing faded abruptly.

Visibility dropped to its lowest—one could barely tell man from beast three meters away.

A heavy scent of blood filled the air. Curious, Gu Mo looked back.

A thick white fog obstructed their view ahead, but the dirt road behind was clear.

It seemed the entire Guqiao Village was covered by a hemispherical glass dome, with the fog lingering only within that space.

At that moment, Li Hetang frowned and unzipped the tactical backpack.

The zipper’s crisp sound was magnified several times in the fog.

Suddenly, a flock of black crows startled from the mist, sending a tingling shock through their scalps.

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou glared fiercely at Li Hetang, their murderous expressions making him blush and smile awkwardly.

The three readied their weapons and advanced into the mist.

Xiao Yulou, dressed in a black Taoist robe, led the way. Li Hetang, carrying the backpack and gripping his pistol, walked in the middle. Gu Mo brought up the rear, holding the dark Measuring Rod.

After a few steps, Xiao Yulou swept aside the fog and saw the ancient bridge beneath their feet.

Examining it closely, the bridge was constructed from large stone blocks. Moonlight filtered through the mist, and the surface gleamed with a layer of moisture, making it slightly slippery.

When the three were halfway across, Xiao Yulou turned and pointed beneath the bridge.

Gu Mo and Li Hetang nodded in response.

The trio, working together for the first time, dispersed the mist and headed under the bridge.

Upon reaching the underside, the fog enveloped their waists.

All around, white mist stretched endlessly, cold and full of unknown fear.

Gu Mo frowned and looked up, spotting a rusty iron chain beneath the bridge.

It was true then—years ago, a treasured sword hung under the old bridge.

Legend held that such a sword was called the Dragon-Slaying Sword. As long as it hung there, river dragons would not dare to cause trouble.

The thought of dragons made Gu Mo shudder, recalling the terrifying appearance of the immortal Liu Kunsheng.

Could the strange happenings in Guqiao Village truly be connected to Liu Kunsheng's long serpent?

Weren’t immortals supposed to protect the peace?

Then it dawned on Gu Mo.

The villagers of Guqiao had long made their living by catching snakes. The disappearance of the Dragon-Slaying Sword and the blood from the dried well must be related to snake hunting! Perhaps the disaster was caused by the immortal Liu Kunsheng himself!

Thinking this, Gu Mo sighed.

What a calamity!

…

Xiao Yulou frowned, scanning carefully with his double-pupiled ghost eyes. After confirming there was no danger, he signaled the other two to return to the bridge above.

A few steps later, as they reached the bridge, a sinister laughter echoed around them.

"Hehehehehe!"

A terrifying chill swept over them.

The three pressed their backs together, nervously watching the fog, afraid some ghostly apparition would leap out.

But after a moment, nothing appeared.

"Hehehehehe!"

The sinister laughter sounded again, this time coming from directly in front of Gu Mo.

…