There were three people in the bushes, two men and one woman. From a distance, Lu Xuan could smell the earthy scent on them. They were clearly traveling with Chen Yulou and his group. If he wasn't mistaken, these three should be Partridge Whistle, Old Foreigner, and the three siblings, Hua Ling and her brother. They were also the last inheritors of the Mountain Moving Daoist lineage.
In the Ghost Blows Out the Light series, the Mountain Moving sect doesn't have much screen time. However, according to Lu Xuan's understanding, their hand-to-hand combat skills are probably the strongest. Among the four major sects, the Tomb Raiders and the Gold Raiders are both official thieves. In their early years, they were blessed with the dynasty's fortune. Later, they also possessed protective treasures such as the Tomb Raider Seal and the Gold Raider Talisman. They excel at elite teamwork and follow a refined, skillful approach.
The Unloading Ridge gang was known for its large numbers and sheer force. They would often descend into tombs with hundreds or even thousands of members. They weren't just simple tomb raiders; they were more like a large-scale criminal gang.
As for the Mountain Moving Clan, they had very few members. Moreover, each person was required to possess a unique skill and complete various incredible tasks to even be considered for entry. This resulted in a lack of connections and ultimately led to their decline.
Partridge Whistle was the first to sense something was amiss. He had been traveling the martial world the longest and possessed astonishing skills. Suddenly, he felt something was wrong with his surroundings. The subtle sounds of insects and snakes in the surrounding forests and bushes had all vanished without a trace. Only an eerie silence remained.
Partridge Whistle held his breath, hands inside his robes, two twenty-round Mauser pistols in hand. He whirled around, only to see a man behind him smiling at the three of them. Partridge Whistle's expression changed drastically, and without thinking, he fired. But as soon as he raised his hand, he found it empty.
At this moment, Hua Ling and the old foreigner also realized what was happening. Just as they were about to make a move, Partridge Whistle stopped them. He was more experienced, and from the brief exchange just now, he could tell that their opponent was someone they couldn't handle.
"I am Partridge Whistle of the Mountain Moving Sect. These are my junior brothers and sisters, Old Foreigner and Flower Spirit. We apologize for our intrusion into this esteemed place and for disturbing you, senior."
Partridge Whistle immediately lowered his stance. In the world of martial arts, knowing when to be tough and when to be gentle is a fundamental skill. Otherwise, you never know when you might be ambushed in some hidden corner.
“Not at all. This isn’t my place, and you haven’t bothered me. In fact, I’m the one who bothered you.” Lu Xuan said, handing the Mauser C96 back to Partridge Whistle.
"Judging from your appearance, you must have come for Ping Mountain."
"Is it possible that you, senior, are the same?"
"I suppose so. I am indeed somewhat interested in what lies beneath Bottle Mountain. But I am equally interested in you." As Lu Xuan spoke, he extended his right hand and, before Partridge Whistle could react, lightly tapped his forehead.
Partridge Whistle felt a slight pain on Freedom's forehead. He then noticed a drop of blood on Lu Xuan's finger.
Lu Xuan held the blood to his nose and gently smelled it. In fact, he was mobilizing his internal energy to try and penetrate and sense the drop of blood.
A very faint, subtle power resided within Partridge Whistle's blood. If Lu Xuan hadn't achieved mastery of Qi cultivation, he wouldn't have been able to sense this subtle force. This, it seemed, was the Ghost Cave Curse passed down through the bloodlines of the Zaglama tribe.
"The Zaglama tribe?" Upon hearing this name, Partridge Whistle's expression changed drastically. His tribe had almost vanished from history in recent years. Only a very small number remained, scattered and living in seclusion in various places. No news of them had ever reached them. And this person before him could actually identify him through blood?
"Who...who exactly are you?"
"I am a person from outside the secular world, but I know a little about your people. The Muchen Pearl, that thing is not so easy to find."
Lu Xuan's words caused Partridge Whistle's eyes to dim slightly. He had spent his entire life traveling all over the country searching for the whereabouts of the Muchen Pearl, but he had never succeeded. Naturally, he knew how difficult this matter was.
"I have received a clue that the Muchen Pearl should be in the Yuan Dynasty tomb at the foot of Ping Mountain."
"Is that so?" Lu Xuan didn't speak, telling him that the Muchen Pearl wasn't inside. If he could be dissuaded by a single sentence, he wouldn't be Partridge Whistle.
Partridge Whistle had countless questions in his mind, but Lu Xuan's skills far surpassed his own. He also seemed to know the secrets of his clan. Partridge Whistle dared not offend him, and could only forcefully suppress his questions, hoping Lu Xuan could reveal more information.
However, Lu Xuan didn't continue speaking, but turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he turned back and called out.
"Come with me. I know you won't give up until you see the Ping Mountain Tomb."
These words sent a faint sense of foreboding through Partridge Whistle's heart. Fortunately, having roamed the martial world for many years, his will was as firm as iron, and he showed no sign of it on his face.
By the time the four returned, it was already late. Commander Luo's soldiers, along with the members of the Unloading Ridge faction, had already established a temporary camp around the treasury. They had even brought a herd of mules and horses to transport the valuables.
Before the four even entered the military camp, they saw a figure rush out. Ahead of him, a small, agile figure was also fleeing. From a distance, Lu Xuan could see it was a cat.
This thing and Chen Yulou are really incompatible. Even though he entered the mountain a day late, they still ran into each other. I guess that cat has made the coffin in that room its home. No matter when it comes, it's bound to run into him.
This scene is considered a famous moment in the story, and Lu Xuan immediately followed.
"Let's go see what's going on."
Chen Yulou was certainly skilled. However, thinking he could catch a wild cat in the woods was a bit of a pipe dream. Cats are incredibly fast and have lightning-fast reflexes. Even trained humans would find it difficult to keep up with their prey.
The wildcat darted left and right, quickly reaching a desolate graveyard. The once agile cat suddenly seemed to have been injured by an invisible force, its body collapsing limply onto an open ground.
Meanwhile, not far away, Chen Yulou was panting as he chased after the sound.
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Chapter 187 Chen Yulou, Who Cares About His Face (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe)
The sky had completely darkened. The already eerie forest became even more sinister. Even though Chen Yulou was an expert, he still felt a chill run down his spine in this environment.
He was born with night vision, able to see in the dark. He could see that the cat not far away was slumped on the ground, howling weakly, and looked injured.
However, Chen Yulou did not see any other wild animals or traps around him.
However, not going out wasn't an option. Chen Yulou, though seemingly elegant and refined, was actually extremely concerned with his image. Just now, in the pavilion, he had been thoroughly toyed with by this stray cat. In front of everyone, he had declared that he would catch the cat. If he returned empty-handed, where would the leader of the Unloading Ridge Sect put his face?
Thinking of this, he emerged from the bushes, ready to catch the wild cat. But just then, a strange noise came from behind the lonely grave opposite. Not only Chen Yulou, but even Partridge Whistle and the others beside Lu Xuan tensed up. The atmosphere at the scene, combined with the gloomy sky, was truly unsettling.
Lu Xuan's expression turned slightly serious. He came here for two reasons: first, to watch the excitement, and second, to get this thing that had come out now.
This is a large raccoon. (Logically, this thing should look more like a cat. But on TV, it looks more like a raccoon...) It's a jungle cat, a type of wild cat. But this thing is far more powerful than a domestic cat.
In folklore, wild raccoons are said to prey on domestic cats. When a domestic cat encounters a wild raccoon, knowing it cannot escape, it will frantically drink water to empty its stomach and then obediently wait to be eaten. Such cats are called "raccoon slaves." Although this is a folktale, it clearly illustrates that raccoons are considered symbols of evil in folk stories.
The one before him was even more malevolent. Lu Xuan could even faintly sense a trace of spirituality emanating from it.
Chen Yulou was a discerning person. Upon seeing that it was a wildcat, he knew this creature was not to be trifled with and prepared to leave. However, just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly felt his entire body stiffen. He froze on the spot.
It was an incredibly terrifying feeling; all his senses were engaged. He could hear the fox spirit's footsteps, but he couldn't move. His vision was blurry, and he even began to hallucinate. Chen Yulou was covered in sweat and tried to call for help, but he could only breathe through his mouth and couldn't make a sound. Slowly, he could even feel the fox spirit's breathing. The creature was already in front of him.
Lu Xuan, watching from afar, was also slightly startled. What had he seen? In that instant, he sensed the fluctuations of vital energy within the fox spirit's body. Simply put, that thing must have released a spell the moment it appeared.
Although it was just a magic trick, the effect was astonishing, subduing the human expert Chen Yulou almost instantly. However, after unleashing this powerful move, the little thing's energy fluctuations had dropped to an extremely low level. It seemed unlikely it could perform another one.