Chapter 70: Breaking the Flow and Opening the Tomb

“Master Pudu is dead?!”

Zhou Qian was stunned. Pudu Monk—who was he? In the mortal world, he was one of the rare eminent monks, a pillar of the Buddhist sect, and one of the few surviving elders of the martial world after the great Han-Hu war; in terms of martial arts, Zhou Xun’s supremacy was undisputed, but the second position had always been debated among martial circles, with Master Pudu being the most highly regarded. Among all the martial factions, the one led by Master Pudu was the strongest, and now all had perished in battle?

“Who did it?” Zhou Xun asked grimly.

“The Red Lotus Sect’s leader, Lü Cunwen. Our scouts found their bodies in a small forest three hundred miles out. They must have been ambushed. There were also corpses of Red Lotus Sect’s unique ‘Heavenly Soldiers and Generals’.”

“Leave us,” Li Guangzhi waved the man off, his face murderous. “Now even the pretense has been dropped! They dare to send assassins directly. Once this is resolved, I will send an army to eradicate these remnants and rebels!”

“I will see Master Pudu off for the last time.” Zhou Xun’s face was expressionless. Ignoring the other generals and martial figures in the tent, he walked out alone. Zhou Qian scratched his head and followed.

The corpse of Pudu, along with those of other martial men, lay in the center of the camp, surrounded by piles of firewood and branches. Pudu’s robe was stained with blood; his face was grim, eyes blazing with fury—a sign of his valiant death.

“The first time I met Pudu, he was only six, hadn’t yet become a monk. He was soft-hearted as a woman, would even cry if his pet bird got hurt. Later, as a monk, he was always kind to others, chanting Amitabha all day,” Zhou Xun recalled, expressionless.

“When the world fell into chaos, I next saw him on a battlefield. The Han King and Shu King ambushed a Hu army. That was the first time I saw Pudu kill. The battle was brutal, a slaughterhouse, and Pudu killed two hundred fifty-nine men, a hundred more than I did. It was the first time I’d seen someone’s killing skill surpass my own.”

“Later I asked him why. He said, ‘The world shouldn’t be this way! All beings suffer, better dead than alive, the common folk treated as livestock, men not as men, Buddha not as Buddha.’ He said after sitting before the statue for seven days and nights, he realized the word ‘kill’: as long as he eradicated the wicked, cleansed the world with blood, then spread the Dharma and save all beings, peace would return, and the world would be pure and harmonious.”

“When peace was restored, he told me he’d been wrong. The wicked are still human, should be reformed through the Dharma, not slaughtered. He said he’d counted—he killed 11,367 people in his life. That was sin, and he must repay it, so he started saving people and doing good deeds, for thirty years straight.”

The firelight flickered, illuminating Zhou Xun’s face.

“I thought he’d never kill again, but he did. I didn't expect it would be his last act.”

“Even the bald donkey Pudu is gone. Another old comrade lost,” a gruff voice from beside sounded—Tu Yong.

“Tu, have you not caused enough trouble lately? Maybe it's time to settle past grudges as well!”

“Hmph! Court matters can wait, but Pudu’s vengeance must be taken now,” Tu Yong said, his face dark.

The blaze burned for a full hour. After the flames died, Tu Yong exclaimed, picking a few white, finger-like objects from the ashes, uncertain, “Are these relics?”

“Master Pudu’s merits are complete,” Zhou Qian sighed.

“What nonsense!” Tu Yong scoffed, tossing them to Zhou Qian. “Keep them for yourself, nephew.”

A few days later, the remaining two groups arrived, but casualties were heavy. It was said the Red Lotus Sect leader had concocted a strange black mist—any caught within had their flesh rot and bones shatter, their minds confused, unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Seven days later, the Qi River’s water level dropped by two fathoms. Li Guangzhi decided to begin excavating the First Emperor’s tomb.

The Qi River still surged, but the current had weakened. Afang Mountain, like an ancient warrior, stood firm against the roaring river dragon, though its old adversary could no longer withstand the erosion of time.

“It’s ready,” said an official surnamed Zhao, nodding. Li Guangzhi, expressionless, waved his hand. The soldiers stripped to the waist, building a floating bridge with planks, iron nails, and tree trunks.

“Let them go first. We need every moment,” Li Guangzhi said to his deputy.

The deputy waved the command flag, and several strangely equipped soldiers stepped out from the ranks: bronze ghost masks, probing claws, bulging ink bags, and a massive bronze-and-iron umbrella on their backs.

“Tiger, are those the Tomb Raiders?” Zhou Qian whispered to Wang Hu.

Wang Hu nodded, pointing to the lead officer, dressed like a Tomb Raider, except his umbrella was pale gold and three candles were tucked in his belt.

“That’s Officer Qiu, Song Yu. The finest geomancer of his generation.”

“How does he compare to the famous Mountain-moving Daoist of years past?”

“Song Yu is his son. They say his geomancy has surpassed his father,” Wang Hu murmured.

Several small boats were ready. The Tomb Raiders led the vanguard toward Afang Mountain, while the others discussed their next moves.

“General Song told me before: the First Emperor’s tomb is the pinnacle of the sixteen kingdoms’ mechanical arts, and had Daoists find the mountain and burial spot, harnessing the earth’s forces. Only those of immortal caliber can break it; but the art of fate, fifty leaves one, and this ‘escape route’ must be above the Qi River!”

“A thousand years of erosion has destroyed the tomb’s outer traps. Now, when the water falls three fathoms, we use water power to open the tomb. Six keys are required—two are with me, one with Sword Immortal Zhou. One imperial key is damaged, another is in the Red Lotus leader’s hands, the last is missing. We have only a fifty percent chance. Everyone must act according to plan!”

All nodded. Before arriving, General Li had already assigned tasks perfectly, and even the proud martial men had to respect his skill and leadership.

“General! Smoke signals at twenty-six fathoms on Afang Mountain!” reported a scout.

“Well done, General Song!” Li Guangzhi clapped. “Mark the spot!”

“Report! Tomb Raiders have reached Yinglong Gate! Recommend stationing camp forces!”

Li Guangzhi nodded. “Deploy fifty Tiance Secret Guards.”

“If it’s Yinglong Gate, then the key is mine,” Zhou Xun produced a gilded dragon-patterned key, about a foot long, with a dragon head.

“Brother Zhou, Yinglong Gate is yours!” Li Guangzhi nodded.

“Liling Gate has been found!” Li Guangzhi looked around. “Master Wei, Chief Tu, you two take this gate!”

“As for Jiao Gate, I will personally lead the troops!” He turned, “Would young Zhou be willing to lend me your strength?”

Zhou Qian hesitated; if he remembered correctly, this wasn’t his assigned task, but he nodded, “It’s only right.”

Meanwhile, on a distant mountain, the Red Lotus leader frowned. He looked to be around forty or fifty, with white brows, no beard, and a solemn face.

“We can’t stop them now, but once the First Emperor’s tomb is opened, every extra entrance is another chance to seize the treasure,” he turned, “Ren Xie, if you and I led all our men in a direct assault, could we win?”

“No chance,” said Ren Xie, master of the Evilman Valley, shaking his head. “Li Guangzhi is a cunning commander. He’s arranged the Heavenly Gate formation—twenty-six nodes, each guarded by martial experts, with Tiance Secret Guards as the formation’s tail. Once entangled, you’ll be slaughtered.”

“If we want success, we must risk everything,” Lü Cunwen shook his head. “You know, this is our last chance. There’s no way back.”

“What do you mean?”

“If we can't have it, neither can they. Even if they succeed, it must cost them dearly!” Lü Cunwen said, word by word.

“I agree!” A young monk emerged from the darkness.

“As long as the Palace Lord consents,” Lü Cunwen bowed slightly.

After Linghu Ye killed the Palace Lord of Dalabcuo Palace years ago, this esoteric sect had found inheritance once again.