Le Banquet des Cent Fantômes

Chapitre 33

Chapter 45, Part 4

People who have lived in Southeast Asia for a long time know about "Gu". It is a kind of poisonous insect that is prepared and bewitched by a very mysterious method. There are many kinds, such as golden silkworm Gu, snake Gu, Mali'er Gu (dragonfly Gu), toad Gu, centipede Gu, Yu'ang (water Gu), grass Gu, fungus Gu, lice Gu, ghost Gu, Fu Ma Gu, etc., which are varied and difficult to guard against.

General Lei was naturally aware of the practice of raising and releasing "Gu" (a type of poison) among the common people. He frowned and asked in confusion, "What kind of 'Gu' could cause someone to die without leaving any trace?"

“The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, in the Suwen chapter of the Jade Machine True Treasury, records that ‘when the spleen transmits to the kidneys, the disease is called hernia, with burning pain in the lower abdomen and white discharge, also called Gu.’ It mainly says that Gu poison invades the internal organs and causes death. However, we don’t have Western medical testing equipment here, so even if we were to perform an autopsy, it would be difficult to see anything…” The old military doctor pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and added, “I heard that the Wa people in ancient times had a peculiar poison called ‘Blind Gu,’ which was made from eleven insects with extremely poor eyesight. When a person is infected with Gu, they are temporarily no different from a normal person, but once they see a blind person, the Gu poison will suddenly take effect, and they will die without leaving any trace, and the body will not leave any marks.”

These words suddenly reminded General Lei that the young man who had been with the old monk was blind, and that the old monk's self-designation as "this old man" was not in accordance with the title of a monk. Furthermore, neither of these two men were locals of Mae Salong... That's right, the young man was dressed as a Wa person.

"Guards!" General Lei shouted.

Several officers stepped forward to receive orders. Lei Yutian commanded them to quickly arrest the old monk who had just questioned General Bonon and the blind young man beside him.

The officers each led a squad of soldiers and went off in different directions to search.

At this moment, a Burmese military adjutant stepped forward and said to General Lei, "General Bo Nong has unfortunately died suddenly. The cause of death is under investigation. Because this matter is of great importance, we must report to the Burmese government immediately and await further instructions."

“We are deeply saddened by General Boon’s sudden passing. Please come with my chief of staff to the operations room, where there is a telephone to speak with Yangon. We will move the general’s body inside to avoid exposing it to the sun,” General Lei said politely.

The adjutant saluted and then followed the chief of staff away.

General Lei ordered his men to remove Bo Nong's body, feeling quite uneasy. Under the leadership of its predecessor, Duan Xiwen, the 93rd Division had clashed with the Burmese government forces multiple times, resulting in heavy casualties. The two sides already harbored mutual suspicion and dislike. General Bo Nong's death could potentially arouse suspicion within the Burmese government, who might believe that he was intentionally killed. In short, it was a situation where "no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't clear his name."

The only way to prove the 93rd Division's innocence now is to capture that suspicious old monk and blind youth as soon as possible.

Chapter 46, Part 1

"Dad, haha, I took some..." Huang Jianguo said cheerfully.

"Hmm," Old Ao looked at him approvingly, "Well done, son, you have made a great contribution to the revolutionary cause of our Party."

"I want to eat." Huang Jianguo rubbed his stomach, clearly hungry.

Looking around, Ao Lao saw that this was the heart of the Golden Triangle, with dense forests and lush trees. At the foot of the valley lay a lake, its surface shimmering, with a small boat moored on its shore. On the bank stood a thatched hut with wooden pillars and bamboo walls, its roof thatched, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimney, a scene as serene as a painting.

“There are houses over there, let’s go beg for some food,” said Old Ao, pulling Huang Jianguo’s hand toward the thatched hut.

"Woof woof..." Suddenly, a large black dog darted out from in front of the thatched hut and started barking wildly at the two of them.

"Dad, I'm scared..." Huang Jianguo timidly hid behind Ao Lao.

"Don't be afraid, son, it's just a dog," Old Man Ao comforted him.

Just then, a tall, pretty woman with a tight white short-sleeved shirt that revealed her fair navel, a floral tube skirt, and a silver belt with peacock and lotus flowers tied around her waist, walked out of the thatched hut. She called to the big black dog, looked up and saw the newcomer, and then paused in surprise...

“Young lady, we are passing through this area and are hungry and thirsty. Could you please give us some rice to fill our stomachs? Amitabha.” Master Ao knew that monks in Southeast Asia were highly respected by the mountain people and would generously give alms wherever they went.

"Where did this master come from?" the girl asked warily. She recognized the old monk as the one Nai Suo had seen who looked like Elder Ao.

"Haha, little girl, what's your name?" Old Ao didn't rush to answer, but instead took the initiative and asked.

“Sandy,” the girl replied.

“Sandy, we are monks from Yunnan. We are passing through this area on our way back after attending a Dharma assembly at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace of Bangkok,” Elder Ao said.

"Oh, then please come in and sit down, Master. The vegetarian meal will be ready soon." Sunny was relieved; Naisuo must have mistaken her for someone else.

Old Master Ao led Huang Jianguo inside, glancing around. The room was simply furnished. In the center of the room, against the wall, was an altar with a faded photograph hanging on it. It depicted a Kuomintang officer in military uniform, sitting sternly in a chair, with a young woman in a cheongsam standing behind him, leaning gently on his shoulder. On the altar were a memorial tablet and an incense burner, with three sticks of incense burning inside, filling the air with a faint sandalwood scent.

On the east wall hung a carbine and a crossbow. The gun was polished to a shine and well-maintained, so it seemed that this family also belonged to the 93rd Division.

"Sister... I'm back! Look, I caught two big catfish!" As soon as he finished speaking, a boy rushed in excitedly, holding up two large catfish dressed in straw.

"Old Master Ao..." Nai Suo suddenly caught sight of the old monk, which startled the catfish so much that it fell to the ground. He couldn't help but blurt out the words and stood stiffly in place.

Sunny laughed and said, "Nai Suo, this master is not Master Ao. They are monks from Yunnan, China, who came to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok for a pilgrimage."

Old Ao chuckled coldly, "Hmph, Nai Suo is right, I am indeed Old Ao."

Chapter 46, Part 2

Upon hearing this, Sani turned pale with shock, seemingly unable to believe it: "You...you are Nai Soe's superior, the elder of the Burmese Communist Party?"

“It is indeed I,” Elder Ao said solemnly. “Naisuo, how dare you desert the revolution and even steal my great parrot!”

"I, I..." Nai Suo trembled all over. He knew that Ao Lao was eccentric and ruthless, and his face turned pale with fright.

"Where is my old parrot, Dudu?" Old Ao asked fiercely.

“It flew away…” Naisuo said, trembling.

"It flew away?" Old Ao shook his head and asked, "Where did it fly to?"

“It said it was going to find its little master,” Naisuo replied.

"Is that the little boy?" Old Ao sneered.

"Yes...yes." Nai Suo had no choice but to tell the truth. Old Ao was very shrewd and could not be fooled.

"Dad, I'm hungry," Huang Jianguo urged from the side.

"Alright, son, let's eat first," Ao Lao said sternly to Nai Suo, "Go and kill the catfish, what are you waiting for?"

Nai Suo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly picked up the catfish from the ground. She and her sister Shan Ni then stir-fried the fish together in a pot. After a short while, the house was filled with a strong aroma, which made Huang Jianguo smack his lips.

Sunny's cooking skills were superb; the catfish she cooked smelled delicious and whetted everyone's appetite. Huang Jianguo hurriedly devoured it.

Old Ao also felt unbearably hungry, so he picked up his rice bowl and asked while eating, "Who is that officer in the photo on the wall?"

“He was my late father-in-law,” Sunny replied.

"Hmm, he was a colonel in the Nationalist Army..." Old Ao said, chewing his food.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps sounded from the lakeside, and someone called out, "Sunny, Sunny..."

A joyful smile immediately appeared on Sunny's face as she stepped towards the door.

"Wait!" Old Ao shouted sharply, his arm suddenly growing larger as he grabbed Nai Suo by the collar and pulled her to his side. He then lowered his voice and said, "Miss Shanni, if you want Nai Suo to live, don't tell anyone I'm here, understand?"

Sunny glanced at Old Man Ao, her face pale, and staggered out of the house. A squad of soldiers from the 93rd Division stood by the lake; they were ordered to track down the suspicious old monk.

"Sandy, what's wrong? You look terrible." A young man in a worn-out grass-green American military uniform walked up to her, carrying a carbine, and asked with concern.

“I…it’s nothing, kid, what’s going on here…” Sunny stammered.

"We are ordered to arrest an old monk and a blind Wa youth. Have you seen these two people?" the young soldier asked. He was Shanni's husband, Yancheng Xiaozi.

“I…no, no.” Sunny’s expression looked extremely unnatural.

"Sandy, you don't look well. You need to rest more. Isn't Naisuo at home?" the young man from Yancheng asked.

“He’s not here, no, he’s at home,” Sunny exclaimed, turning around. “Nai Suo, your brother-in-law wants you to come out…”

"No need, you should rest well. Let Naisuo take care of you. We're going to search ahead." With that, the young man from Yancheng turned and rejoined his unit, while the soldiers continued along the lakeside.

At this moment, Sunny was so anxious she didn't know what to do...

Chapter 46, Part 3

As Shanni watched the boy from Yancheng gradually disappear into the distance, two crystal tears streamed down her beautiful face. She sighed sadly and slowly walked back into the thatched hut.

Old Ao released Nai Suo and looked at Shan Ni with satisfaction, saying, "Hmm, Miss Shan Ni, you've got it right."

"Please, please leave quickly, don't hurt Naisuo..." Sunny pleaded.

Old Ao chuckled and said, "If I leave and you go to report to the 93rd Division right after, wouldn't that be making a fool of me? As for Nai Suo, we have to take him with us. Once we leave the Mae Salong area, we will naturally let him come back."

"No, I can't let you take Naisuo away!" Sunny shouted angrily.

“Then,” Old Man Ao said calmly, his face hardening, “the safest method is to kill both of you…”

“…Release Naisuo, and I’ll go with you.” Sunny paused for a moment, then said resolutely.

Old Ao stared intently at Shanni, thinking to himself, "This girl is truly beautiful. No woman in Kokang can compare to Shanni. Vice Chairman Deqin is still a bachelor. If only..."

“Very well, I admire Miss Shanni’s character. Naisuo can stay. You will come with us immediately,” the cunning old man said with a smile.

Naisuo immediately threw herself into Sanny's arms and cried out, "No, sister, let me go."

Old Ao extended his finger and pointed it with lightning speed. Nai Suo's body went limp in Shan Ni's arms. He said, "Miss Shan Ni, don't worry. I just pressed his sleeping acupoint. He will wake up on his own after sleeping for a few hours."

With tears in her eyes, Sanny carried Naiso to the bed, gently tucked him in, then turned around and said seriously, "Old Master Ao, you must keep your word and let me go home as soon as we leave Mae Salong."

"Of course, I've been involved in the revolution for so many years, and I've always kept my word," Old Ao assured, patting his chest.

As she was leaving, Sunny kept turning back to look at Naisuo, tears streaming down her face.

The Golden Triangle is a triangular area located at the border of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, encompassing Shan State and Kachin State in northern Myanmar, Chiang Rai and northern Chiang Mai provinces in Thailand, and Luang Namtha, Phongsali, Oudomxay, and western Luang Prabang provinces in Laos, covering an area of approximately 190,000 square kilometers. Most of this area consists of towering mountains at altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters, dense jungles, rugged roads, and poor transportation; it is often said that one can travel for several days without seeing a single sign of human habitation.

Kokang, the stronghold of the Communist Party of Burma, is actually located in the northern part of the Golden Triangle. To get there from Mae Salong, one needs to traverse canyons, rivers, and dense rainforests for several days. The Ao Lao are indigenous people of northern Myanmar who are very familiar with the rainforest and can find edible wild fruits or catch small wild animals in the dense forest. These are essential skills for trekking through the rainforest.

Sunny walked ahead, with Old Man Ao leading Huang Jianguo closely behind, as they entered the vast, endless forest.

Chapter 47, Part 1

The Hakka woman slowly stood up, led Chen Caihua and Xizi out of the cave, and before leaving, kicked the corpse into the water, saying calmly, "This person is useless now."

At dawn, they returned to the wooden house in the valley. The old woman sat cross-legged inside the 'Zhu You Ling Coffin', pulled Chen Caihua to the side of the coffin, and said softly, "Child, the 'Pure Yang Curse Lock' of the Tantric sect is really too powerful. Master needs to recover his energy. Tonight, we will go to that white-haired old monster to get Dudu back."

Shen Caihua nodded and asked, "Master, when will you teach me 'Lard Lightness Skill'?"

The Hakka woman said softly, "Good disciple, you already have the true energy of the Zhuyou method in your body. You just need to memorize the footwork and master it."

"Will it take a long time?" Shen Caihua asked, raising her small face.

"Well, that depends on your comprehension. This was deduced by Grandmaster Guo Pu based on the positions of the sixty-four hexagrams in the I Ching. It is extremely profound and unfathomable. Even I, your master, have not fully understood it yet. I estimate that it will take at least several months, and at most a year, to grasp its essence. Talent, ah, martial arts is not something that can be achieved overnight, but requires time," the old woman said kindly.

"I want to learn it as soon as possible so I'll never be afraid of that white-haired old monster and Master Fei again," Shen Caihua said indignantly.

"Who is Master Fei?" the old woman asked curiously.

"He pinched my butt..." Shen Caihua could never forget the excruciating pain of Master Fei pinching his inner thigh hard.

The old woman smiled, thinking that this child seemed to have quite a bit of experience.

The Hakka woman reached for the pillow, pulled out the pillow core, and took out a thin, yellowed, thread-bound booklet. She said, "My disciple, this is the footwork of 'Zhu You Qing Gong'. Take a look at it first. There are pictures inside. After Master finds Dudu, I will teach you to recognize the words inside."

"Thank you, Master." Shen Caihua happily held the manual, gently picked up the suction cup and placed it on his small bed to rest. Then he went out of the room, sat on the threshold, and began to read by the cool moonlight.