Le Banquet des Cent Fantômes

Chapitre 36

“I’m Sunny,” Sunny said excitedly.

“Sandy…” Han Sheng suddenly remembered the transvestite Sandy he had rescued six years ago in the Mianyangye slum in Bangkok. Sandy had had her limbs severed by the Grand Master Mengla Chaweng Kunba. He had used half a bottle of 'Hanqing' to heal her. He exclaimed with delight, “Sandy, your hands and feet have grown back? Is the boy from Yancheng still with you?”

Sunny blushed slightly and said shyly, "I am now a real woman. Yancheng boy is now Sunny's husband, as is Naisuo. We all live in Mae Salong, all thanks to our benefactor."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Naisuo, your brother, I remember him..." Han Sheng was overjoyed to have met an old friend in the rainforest, and asked, "Sanny, how did you end up being captured by this fake monk?"

Sunny's eyes reddened, and she sobbed, "Old Ao kidnapped me as a hostage and tried to force me to go to Kokang to marry a vice chairman named Deqin. When Sunny refused, he used acupressure on me..."

"Don't be afraid, Sunny. With us here, no one can bully you," Han Sheng comforted her.

Wu Chushan walked up to Ao Lao and said indifferently, "Get lost."

Old Ao rubbed his burning fingers, secretly calculating. This old fellow was not to be feared. The young man named Han Sheng's martial arts were unfathomable, and he was definitely no match for him. It seemed that he would have to ask Comrade Huang Mingyue to take action... Thinking of this, he chuckled and said, "Alright, today I will do you two Chinese comrades a favor." After saying that, he walked to the base of the Hopea tree and shook the sleeping Huang Jianguo awake.

"Son, wake up, we're leaving now," Old Master Ao said softly.

"Dad, I'm hungry again." Huang Jianguo rubbed his eyes with a silly grin.

"Get up!" Old Master Ao shouted sternly.

Huang Jianguo quickly scrambled to his feet, his mouth still agape as he swallowed hard.

Old Ao pulled Huang Jianguo aside and whispered in his ear, "Son, there are two bad guys trying to steal our barbecue. Go and suck their blood."

"The bad guys are trying to steal our barbecue! I'm going to suck them all up..." Huang Jianguo was furious when he heard this, his two gray eyes glaring as he looked around for the thief.

Wu Chushan and Han Sheng never dreamed that this ugly, stupid, bald, toothless blind man would actually be Huang Jianguo. They didn't take the disabled man seriously and just watched coldly from the sidelines to see what tricks this fake monk would play.

Old Master Ao held Huang Jianguo's hand, pointed to Han Sheng, and said, "Son, it's him."

Before he could finish speaking, Huang Jianguo stared blindly at Han Sheng, estimating the height of the other man's waist. Then his nose tightened, his shoulders twitched a few times, and he suddenly gasped for breath...

Chapter 50, Part 3

Han Sheng saw the fool inhaling through his nose and felt a sense of déjà vu. The thought had just flashed through his mind when he suddenly felt a chill in his abdomen. His navel seemed to have opened, and his vital energy was hissing out... Oh no, "Intermediate Yin Corpse Sucking Technique!" He suddenly realized and broke out in a cold sweat.

Han Sheng didn't know martial arts; he only accidentally mastered the "Hysteria Divine Skill," which allowed him to hold his breath, go into a frenzy, float in the air, and see people with fly-like eyes. However, he lacked internal energy. Logically, once Huang Jianguo absorbed his energy, escape would be difficult. In this world, yin and yang wax and wane, and all things are mutually reinforcing and restraining. When Guo Pu comprehended the most evil technique in the Central Plains, the "Intermediate Yin Corpse Absorption Technique," he devoted his life to creating a set of unparalleled techniques, the "Eighteen Forms of Zhu You," to counter it. Which was superior depended on the practitioner's understanding and skill. Although Han Sheng didn't know the "Eighteen Forms of Zhu You," he mistakenly swallowed Granny Wang's Zhu You relic. The relic transformed into vital energy and became invisible upon entering his stomach, while the relic in Chen Cai's brain slowly grew within his skull.

The essence of the relic in Han Sheng's abdomen sensed the old, malevolent energy of the "Intermediate Yin Corpse Absorption Technique" and condensed into a ball of old yang energy, sealing his Shenque acupoint (navel). Although it could not defeat the enemy, it could protect itself.

"The Corpse-Sucking Technique of the Intermediate Yin!" Han Sheng urgently shouted to Wu Chushanren to warn him.

The mountain man was horrified upon hearing this. His inner strength had been completely drained by this evil technique, and he had almost lost his life. He never expected to encounter it again tonight in the rainforest of northern Myanmar...

Han Sheng opened his fly-like eyes and swayed. In an instant, Huang Jianguo's nose became blocked. It turned out that Han Sheng had torn off two strips of pangolin meat, rolled them into two small balls, and stuffed them into Huang Jianguo's nostrils. Then, he slapped Huang Jianguo several times.

"Dad, bad people hit me..." Huang Jianguo cried out with tears in his eyes and great grievance.

Old Ao realized something was wrong. Huang Mingyue's "Intermediate Yin Corpse Absorption Technique" had no effect on this young man. Tonight, he had encountered a peerless master. "Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best," he thought, and decided to flee for his life. So, he swiftly hoisted Huang Jianguo onto his shoulder and ran into the depths of the rainforest. With a tap of his cane, he covered two or three meters, disappearing into the darkness in a few leaps.

Han Sheng was about to give chase when he was stopped by Wu Chushan.

"Don't chase after him. That old man Ao is quite skilled in martial arts, and with his son who knows the 'Intermediate Yin Corpse Absorption Technique,' it wouldn't be worth it if something happened to him," the hermit said.

"I never imagined that there would be someone in this world who knew such evil arts..." Han Sheng sighed with regret.

Wu Chushan nodded and sighed, "The world is so big, there are all sorts of wonders."

Han Sheng sighed for a long time, then turned around and said to Shan Ni, "Shan Ni, let's eat something first. We'll take you home after dawn."

That night, Han Sheng and the others slept by the campfire.

The next morning, the three headed south towards Mae Salong.

Chapter 51 of the main text

At dawn, the rainforest was shrouded in mist, filled with the chirping of birds. In the distance, a group of soldiers approached along the forest path, dressed in old, grass-green American uniforms and carrying carbines. The leader was none other than the young man from Yancheng.

Han Sheng and his group hid behind the bushes, watching the approaching soldiers warily. "They look like the 93rd Division of the National Revolutionary Army," he said.

"Kid!" Sunny suddenly shouted, bursting out of the bushes and waving her hands as she ran towards the group of soldiers.

"Sandy?" The young man from Yancheng was shocked to see this. He hugged Sandy tightly and said anxiously, "Nai Soe told me everything. You were taken hostage by Ao Lao of the Burmese Communist Party. Sigh, it's all my fault for being so useless. I didn't notice at all. By the way, Sandy, did Ao Lao and his men release you?"

“No, it was my benefactor Han Sheng who saved me…” Sunny said with tears in her eyes.

"Han Sheng?" The young man from Yancheng was surprised to hear this and hurriedly asked, "Where is he?"

At this moment, Han Sheng and Wu Chushanren also emerged from behind the bushes, approaching with smiles on their faces.

Six years after their separation, the old friends reunited in the rainforest, each filled with emotion, especially the boy from Yancheng, whose face was streaked with tears of joy.

"Old Ao still managed to escape. General Lei Yutian sent several teams to capture him, suspecting that this guy used witchcraft to kill the Burmese army commander." Yan Cheng said through gritted teeth after listening to Han Sheng's account of what happened.

"Using poison?" Han Sheng asked doubtfully.

"It is said that there is a kind of 'blindness curse' in Shan State. People who are cursed will die from the poison if they see a blind person, and their bodies will leave no trace. The Shan State youth next to Elder Ao just happens to be a blind person," Yan Cheng boy explained.

Han Sheng thought for a moment and said, "That's not 'Gu,' but a more powerful kind of evil magic." He didn't continue.

Chapter 51, Part 2

"Oh," the young man from Yancheng paused for a moment, then warmly invited, "Brother Hansheng, we're not far from Mae Salong now. Please come visit us! Naisuo often talks about you."

"You and Sunny got married," Han Sheng said with a smile.

"You saved Sunny's life and made our relationship possible. Our whole family doesn't know how to thank you enough," the young man from Yancheng said gratefully.

Han Sheng looked at his father-in-law, seeking his opinion.

Wu Chushan smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Alright, while we're at it, let's inquire about Mo Mo's whereabouts in the Golden Triangle."

“Okay, let’s go,” Han Sheng agreed.

"Fall back, we're heading back," the young man from Yancheng shouted to his soldiers as he turned around.

On the way back, Han Sheng explained the purpose of his trip south. The Pinkerton Detective Agency had been investigating all over the world for six years but still had no luck with Mo Mo. So he had no choice but to come to the Yunnan-Myanmar border area to search for her himself and asked Yan Cheng Xiaozi to help inquire as well.

“I’ll take you to see General Lei. If he helps, as long as Mo Mo is hiding in the Golden Triangle, we’ll definitely be able to find her,” the young man from Yancheng said confidently.

Mae Salong, Golden Triangle, 93rd Division Command Post.

"I heard from you that you saved Shanni, but Old Ao escaped..." General Lei said, looking at Han Sheng.

"We happened to meet in the rainforest..." Han Sheng recounted the events in detail, and he felt that this Nationalist general was an upright person.

“Ao Lao is an important figure in the 8.19 department of the Communist Party of Burma, and also a senior officer in the People’s Army. He is a very mysterious person. I sent Nai Soe to infiltrate Kokang and become his orderly. I didn’t expect that the boy couldn’t stand Ao Lao and secretly ran back on his own.” General Lei said with a wry smile.

"He's still just a child," Han Sheng said with a smile.

General Lei nodded and continued, "So, I didn't blame him. This time, Ao Lao infiltrated our defense zone and killed General Bo Nong, who was sent by the Burmese government. His aim was to sow discord between the Burmese side and the 93rd Division. He achieved his goal. Now, U Ne Win believes that we did it. Bo Nong's body has been transported back to Yangon for a state funeral. At the same time, the Burmese side has also strengthened its military deployment in Mae Salong."

Han Sheng and Wu Chushan sat at the table, drinking tea and listening attentively.

"I've heard that Mr. Zhu is a famous doctor. Have you ever heard of the 'Blindness Gu' from Shan State? It's very likely that Elder Ao and that blind young man from Shan State used this kind of poison to kill General Bo Nong, without leaving any marks on his body. But there's one thing I still can't understand..." General Lei pondered.

"What is it?" Han Sheng asked.

"Another Burmese translator from the 93rd Division also fell victim to this. Logically speaking, Elder Ao had no reason to do such a thing," General Lei said, puzzled.

"This is not a form of poison, but an extremely evil martial art. The killer was that young man from Shan State, the son of Elder Ao," Han Sheng told General Lei.

General Lei was taken aback upon hearing this and asked in confusion, "Not the 'Blindness Gu'?"

Han Sheng solemnly said, "In ancient China, there was a witchcraft known as the 'Number One Evil Art in the Central Plains,' called the 'Intermediate Yin Corpse Absorption Technique.' It could extract a person's vital essence from a distance, causing death when the vital essence was exhausted, without leaving any trace, making it impossible to guard against."

"Ah, such witchcraft still exists in the world?" General Lei exclaimed in astonishment.

Han Sheng nodded and said, "I almost fell into Ao Lao's son's trap too. It's a pity I couldn't capture them alive, otherwise I could have cleared General Lei of suspicion."

"Hmph, it doesn't matter," Lei Yutian straightened his back and said with a sorrowful and indignant tone, "The brothers of the 93rd Division are the outcasts of our motherland. Ten years of the Northern Expedition, eight years of the War of Resistance against Japan, four years of the Civil War, five years of the Burma War, who has ever really cared? When they win in foreign lands, they are still not tolerated by heaven and earth; when they lose in foreign lands, they only have one way out: death; when they die in foreign lands, they decay with the grass and trees. We are a group of Chinese people who have been deliberately forgotten! As for the Burmese military regime or the Thai government, who have we in the 93rd Division ever been afraid of?"

After a long while, General Lei Yutian came to his senses and said sadly, "Mr. Zhu, the boy told me that you are looking for a lost girl named 'Mo Mo'. Don't worry, as long as she is in the Golden Triangle, I guarantee I will find her for you."

Looking at the old general with moist eyes and graying temples, Han Sheng couldn't help but feel a deep respect as his words, both impassioned and heartbreaking, echoed in his ears.

Chapter 51, Part 3

A quiet lake, wooden boats on the water, thatched cottages on the shore, wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, and the aroma of stewed fish wafting through the air.

"Brother Hansheng..." Naisuo stood at the door of the wooden house and called out timidly.

After leaving the 93rd Division headquarters, Han Sheng and Wu Chushan followed the boy from Yancheng to his home. Shanni had already cooked fragrant rice and was stewing fish for them. The fish was a scaly loach caught in a fish trap in Naisuo Lake; its meat was delicious and it was a favorite food of the Mae Salong people.

"Nai Suo, you've grown so tall." Han Sheng stroked Nai Suo's head and said, gesturing.

Naisuo led Hansheng into the house, where Shanni was brewing tea. After inviting them to sit down, she served them fragrant tea.

Nai Suo tugged at Han Sheng's sleeve and said with boundless admiration, "My sister told me that you chased away Elder Ao."

Han Sheng smiled and said, "Nai Suo, General Lei said you used to be Old Ao's orderly. I never imagined that after six years, our little Nai Suo would be a soldier too. By the way, why did you sneak back and desert again?"

Naisuo glanced at Yancheng boy and Shanni, who were busy in the kitchen, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I didn't tell them why I came back."

"Why?" Han Sheng asked with a smile.

"I saved Dudu," Naisuo said with a proud expression.

"What 'dudu'?" Han Sheng asked dismissively.

“It’s that big talking parrot,” Nai Suo explained when he saw Han Sheng’s blank look. “Shen Caihua’s big blue-feathered parrot.”

These words struck Han Sheng like a heavy hammer blow to the chest, causing his expression to change drastically...

"What did you say! You saw Shen Caihua's big parrot in Myanmar?" Han Sheng exclaimed in shock.

“Yes, Dudu still remembers me, Naisuo…” Naisuo said proudly.

"Then what about Chen Caihua?" Han Sheng asked eagerly.

Naisuo shook his head and replied, "Dudu said that Xiao Caihua and a few monks drifted away down the Enmai River..."

Shen Caihua and Dudu actually left Nanshan Village! How could Lan'er allow it? A six or seven-year-old child leaving home alone, what if something happens to him... Han Sheng grabbed Nai Suo and said anxiously, "Nai Suo, tell me everything quickly."

At this moment, Wu Chushan was also anxious. Could it be that something big had happened in Nanshan Village? he wondered.

So Nai Suo recounted the events of that night when Ao Lao caught the big parrot and brought it back to his residence, as well as how Du Du was incredibly brave, punching the guard twice and escaping Kokang with him.

After listening, Han Sheng pondered for a long time, then asked Nai Suo with a puzzled look, "Did Dudu say anything about the origins of those monks or where they were going? How did it and Shen Caihua leave home? Did anything happen at home?"