Chapter 37 The Game
"Sigh, I'm destined to be a bachelor in this life. By the way, is your headache any better now?"
"It's alright. Being away from you has made me healthier. Sigh, Cheng-ge, why is this your fate?"
"A person's fate is predetermined by heaven, and I cannot choose it myself."
"No wonder Uncle Xiao advised my parents to leave this place. I cried for a long time back then. Actually, after Uncle He told me this today, I really hoped that she could accept your fate, so that you would have someone to take care of you. Unfortunately, I don't have that blessing."
"Alright, stop talking nonsense. I'm fine on my own. When I need something, I'll go about my business. When I don't need anything, I'll eat, sleep, and practice my Taoist arts."
Jiang Shuang lowered her eyelids and clasped her hands together: "Brother Cheng, if I leave you, do you hate me?"
Chen Cheng patted her head and said, "Silly girl, how could I blame you? I know my own destiny. You're not young anymore, it's time to find someone."
Jiang Shuang's tears fell like pearls. She and Chen Cheng were childhood sweethearts, but she had always been in poor health. It wasn't until Chen Cheng's master told her parents the truth that they moved away, keeping Jiang Shuang away from him.
Just as Xiao Quansheng said, after moving away from here, Jiang Shuang, who had always been frail and sickly, actually got better day by day.
"Xiaoshuang, don't be like this. This is my fate. We are destined not to be together. You should marry someone else. I will always be your brother."
"Waaaaah..."
Jiang Shuang ran out crying, a gesture she had made countless times before, a gesture born of desperation.
Chen Cheng stared at the empty courtyard, the words of the two women echoing in his mind: "Brother Cheng, I want to be your woman."
"I want to be with you, even if it means death."
"Brother Cheng, do you hate me for leaving you?"
"There is always a girl thinking of you, even though you are far away..."
"ah,,"!
Chen Cheng shouted loudly; the sound was so penetrating that it could be heard in the front hall and even by passersby on the street.
The days that followed were uneventful. Chen Cheng lived his life as he had said, eating, drinking, sleeping, and practicing, especially Taoist magic, one aspect of which was drawing talismans. Now his talisman skills were improving day by day. Just as Xiao Quansheng said, his talisman-drawing skills would surpass his own in the future. This was his talent!
That day, Chen Cheng had just finished practicing his skills and was resting before having breakfast when the phone rang. He picked it up and was immediately shocked: Bureau 709!
"Hello, this is Chen Cheng!"
"Comrade Xiao Chen, this is Tian Wenzhong!"
"Hello, Uncle Tian!"
"No need for formalities between us, uncle and nephew. Head to the bureau in the capital right now, I need to talk to you!"
"Okay, Uncle Tian, I'll get ready and leave soon."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Cheng felt a surge of excitement. This was the first time the capital had called to invite him since his master left, which meant they had encountered a very difficult problem.
Bureau 709 is a highly mysterious department in China, unknown even to many members of the public. It's essentially a non-natural research institution, a paranormal investigation bureau responsible for verifying major paranormal incidents reported by provinces and cities. It's small in number, but each member possesses extraordinary abilities: some have X-ray vision, some have superhuman hearing, some are invulnerable to weapons, some can pass through walls, some can move objects remotely, and so on. His master and various Taoist masters serve as special advisors. Before his travels, his master changed all his official titles to Chen Cheng. Of course, any incident that earns this unit's attention is undoubtedly extremely significant and scientifically inexplicable, such as the haunted 375 bus in Beijing, the thousand-year-old zombie case in Xinjiang, the Lop Nur paranormal incident, and the Yangtze River dragon incident.
Chen Cheng calmed himself down, called Lao Zhang over, and told him about his upcoming trip. Of course, he didn't mention Bureau 709, but simply told him to take good care of the house and to make a note of anyone who contacted him or anything important, so that he could deal with it when he returned. Lao Zhang was already used to the habits of the master and apprentice and said that he would definitely take good care of the house.
So Chen Cheng quickly packed up, had lunch, and prepared to go to Xi'an, then take the train directly to the capital.
Upon arriving in Xi'an, a familiar yet strange feeling lingered in Chen Cheng's heart. In this city, a woman who haunted his heart awaited him; if he so desired, she could appear before him in the next instant. Half an hour later, Chen Cheng boarded the high-speed train from Xi'an to the capital...
The carriage was bustling with people. Chen Cheng had originally booked a seat, but when he arrived, he found an elderly woman in her sixties sitting in his seat, holding a five or six-year-old child in her arms. Looking at her weathered face and the deep wrinkles etched into her skin, he was reminded of his deceased grandmother. He couldn't bear to send her away, so he squeezed his way to the junction of the two carriages. There were quite a few people there, but most of them were young. The only advantage of being there was that you could smoke without any restrictions.
Chen Cheng squeezed out a space, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a satisfying puff. Just then, he heard arguing coming from the other side. Chen Cheng had no intention of paying attention, but then he heard someone say, "What kind of business is it for you to be holding a dead person here?"
"She's not dead, she's my wife. I took her to the capital for medical treatment!"
"Not dead? Look, she's not breathing, her face is deathly white, and you still say she's not dead? What bad luck! Get off at the next stop and find somewhere to bury her!"
"You're talking nonsense! My wife isn't dead. She promised me she would stick to her word!"
"You're a fucking lunatic, clinging to a dead person like a wife."
"I'll teach you to talk nonsense!"
With a "bang," a person flew backward, and the people around him scattered.
Chen Cheng helped the man who had been kicked to the ground up and asked, "What happened?"
"There's this crazy guy who's holding a dead body. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen and even kicked me. I'm going to call the train police right now!"
Chen Cheng looked in the direction he pointed and saw an angry middle-aged man standing in the corner, holding a pale-faced, motionless woman in his arms. But she was definitely not dead; she had been cursed!
"Brother, what happened to your lover?"
Chen Cheng stepped forward and asked.
Seeing that the young man meant no harm and did not say his wife was dead like the others, the middle-aged man choked up and said, "She was already sick. I took her to the capital for treatment this time. I knew she would become like this on the train, but she didn't die. She still has a faint heartbeat!"
At this point, the man who had been kicked became even more agitated, shouting that he would find the train police and have them kick him and his dead wife off the train.
"Brother, you should be lenient when you can. His wife is not dead. Put yourself in his shoes, how would he feel right now?"
Chen Cheng spoke to the man who was still shouting.
"Not dead? Look at her face, how can a living person have such a color?"
The man continued shouting.
Chen Cheng ignored him and walked over to the man who was holding his wife, placing his hand on her wrist.
"What are you doing?"
The middle-aged man held the woman in his arms tightly as he angrily asked.
"Brother, don't be nervous, I can wake your wife up."
He used a Taoist mental technique to channel his spiritual power into the woman's body, and a miraculous scene unfolded: the woman, who looked like a dead person, groaned and then slowly opened her eyes.
"Huh? She's really not dead!"
The crowd began to discuss it.
"Yaoyao, Yaoyao, you're awake?"
The middle-aged man burst into tears of joy upon seeing the woman slightly open her eyes!Chapter 38 Encounters on the Train
The man who had been shouting just moments before silently stepped aside upon seeing this scene.
"Young man, thank you. Are you a doctor? Can you save her?"
"Brother, this isn't the place to talk. Let's hold on until we reach the capital!"
"Okay, okay, but my wife..."
"It's alright, she's just a little weak. You can feed her some liquid food or something. I'll stay here with you, she'll be fine!"
"Thank you, thank you!"
Through conversation, Chen Cheng learned that the middle-aged man was named Qi Kunshan and the woman was named Qin Yao. They were a middle-aged couple from Pingtai County in Xijing. Due to poor health, the wife had not yet had children. Recently, Qin Yao's health had been deteriorating, and she had even fallen into a coma. When they went to Xijing Hospital for a checkup, the doctor reviewed the test results and sent them home, saying that she had late-stage liver cancer and there was no need for further treatment. However, Qi Kunshan, who deeply loved his wife, could not bear to see her waiting to die at home. So, despite Qin Yao's objections, he sold their possessions and took her to the capital for treatment. Unexpectedly, she fell ill again on the train, which led to the scene just now.
"Brother, your wife wasn't having a seizure just now, she was struck by a curse!"
"What? A karmic collision?"
"Shh, Brother Qi, your wife is physically weak and easily comes into contact with bad things, and..."
"And what?"
"I told you not to be angry or agitated, but your loved one is indeed terminally ill and on her last legs. Even if she goes to a major hospital in the capital, she won't last more than three days!"
How did you know?
The man asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
"I am not a doctor, but my identity is rather special. I am considered a member of the Taoist sect. Just now, I could tell at a glance that your lover's body was being corrupted by evil energy. If I hadn't intervened, she would never have woken up again after tonight."
The man fell silent. Although he didn't completely believe in ghosts and spirits, he knew that some things simply couldn't be explained.
"Young man, do you have a way to save her?"
"The only thing I can do is to drive away the evil aura from her so that she can stay with you for two or three more days. If you let her stay in the hospital and go to the ICU, then the last time you spend with her will not be more than two hours!"
Qi Kunshan fell silent again.
After a long silence, he sighed and said, "When we get to the capital, I'll ask Yao Yao for her opinion first."
Around 11 p.m., the train slowly came to a stop at the West Railway Station in the capital. Tian Wenzhong originally wanted to send someone to pick him up, but he refused, saying that he would go there himself the next morning. He wanted to help Qin Yao get rid of the evil aura on her body tonight, and he had already thought of a good solution that would benefit both parties.
The group found a small hotel and booked two rooms. After entering the room, Qi Kunshan gently placed his wife on the bed. At this time, she was still in a deep coma with her eyes closed. If it weren't for Chen Cheng's Taoist qi protecting her on the train, she would probably have died.
"Brother Xiaocheng, what should we do now?"
"You don't need to worry about the rest. I will first remove the evil aura from her body, and then let her enter a period of lucidity before death. That way, you can stay together for two or three days as before."
"Well, maybe it's a relief that she's gone."
Qi Kunshan said sadly.
"Brother Qi, why don't you go out and buy some food and drinks? Your wife must be thirsty and hungry when she wakes up. When you come back, I'll help you wake her up."
Looking into Chen Cheng's sincere and bright eyes, Qi Kunshan nodded heavily, then opened the door and walked out.
After he left, Chen Cheng silently recited a spell. A red light flashed on the jade pendant on his chest, and a beautiful figure stood in front of him.
"Owner".
Lu Xiachan's ghost bowed to him and said...
"Lu Xiachan, have you gained any insights at my temple?"
"Reporting to my master, I meditate and contemplate every day, and it is so much more enjoyable than being in the porcelain vase!"
After saying that, he gave a deep bow to express his gratitude.
"That's good. Whenever you want to be reincarnated, just tell me at the temple. I can hear you, and I will help you pass on to the afterlife!"
"I understand, but I no longer wish to be reborn as a human and suffer the hardships of this world. I quite like the peaceful and tranquil life I have in your temple."
"Alright then, the reason I called you out this time is to help me absorb her evil aura. This will not only increase your cultivation level, but also save me a lot of trouble!"
Chen Cheng pointed to Qin Yao on the bed and said.
"Your servant obeys!"
After speaking, it slowly floated to the bedside, stretched out its hands towards Qin Yao on the bed, and then activated its ghostly power. A black aura rose from Qin Yao's body. This black aura seemed to be struggling as if it had a life of its own, but how could it be a match for Lü Xiachan, a thousand-year-old vengeful ghost? In an instant, it was completely absorbed into Lü Xiachan's soul.
After the evil energy was absorbed, Qin Yao on the bed seemed to feel much lighter. Although she was still unconscious, her complexion had improved considerably.
Lu Xiachan gave Chen Cheng a deep bow and then disappeared from sight, entering the jade pendant on his chest.
A moment later, Qi Kunshan returned to the room carrying a large bag of food and drinks. Chen Cheng gestured for him to go check on Qin Yao, as he had already seen that his beloved woman looked much better and felt a surge of excitement.
"Pour me a glass of water!"
"good".
Qi Kunshan immediately prepared a teacup and poured a glass of mineral water.
Chen Cheng took out a soul-soothing talisman from his bag, made a hand seal, and ignited the talisman with Taoist true fire, which made Qi Kunshan's mouth drop open.
He dissolved the talisman ash into a glass of water, then reached out and felt Qin Yao's pulse, circulating Taoist qi throughout her body. Qin Yao slowly opened her eyes.
"Kunshan, I, I thirst."
"Yaoyao, you're really awake. Let me get you some water."
In his excitement, Qi Kunshan even forgot about the talisman water from earlier and was about to go find the cup when Chen Cheng stopped him and pointed to the cup of talisman water.
"Oh, oh, I understand."
He nodded hurriedly, half-lifted Qin Yao, took the glass of water and brought it to her lips, watching her drink it all down.
"Kunshan, who is this...?"
Qi Kunshan witnessed Qin Yao's complexion gradually becoming rosy after drinking the talisman water, and she also seemed to have gained strength.
"This young man is our benefactor. If it weren't for him, you might have... you might have..."
As Qi Kunshan spoke, his eyes welled up with tears.
Qin Yao held her husband's hand but looked at Chen Cheng: "Thank you, young man, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"It's alright, sister-in-law. I can tell that Brother Qi cares about you a lot. He carried you the whole way on the train when you were unconscious."
"Brother Xiao Cheng..."
"Alright, Brother Qi, feed your wife something. I'm going to rest now. See you tomorrow morning."
"well".
Qi Kunshan was overjoyed and didn't stop until he saw him to the door, then closed the door and hurriedly ran back to his room.
Chen Cheng entered the room, lit a cigarette to calm himself down, then went to the bathroom to wash up before lying down on the bed and falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Chen Cheng knocked on Qi Kunshan's door. Qi Kunshan quickly opened the door and let Chen Cheng into the room.
"How did you sleep last night?"
"I slept very well, thank you."
Seeing Chen Cheng's smiling face, Qin Yao smiled back.
With the blessing of the Taoist talisman, her body entered a state of premature resurgence. Although Chen Cheng's Taoist skills were profound, he was helpless against her serious illness and could only enhance her last bit of energy to alleviate the torment of the disease.
"You're welcome. You're all loyal and kind people. I'm happy to be able to help you."
Chen Cheng then turned to Qi Kunshan and said, "Brother Qi, I have something to attend to, so I must take my leave now."
"Brother Xiao Cheng, can't you stay a couple more days?"
Qi Kunshan was extremely anxious. He had seen Chen Cheng's methods, and he would feel much more at ease if Chen Cheng were here.Chapter 39 Mine Accidents
"I'm sorry, Brother Qi, I really have something to do."
"Kunshan, if Brother Xiaocheng needs anything, just let him handle it. He's already helped us a lot."
"Alright then, I'll see you off."
Chen Cheng knew he had something to say, so he nodded, smiled at Qin Yao, and turned to leave. Qi Kunshan hurriedly followed.
Chen Cheng stopped at the top of the stairs and said, "Brother Qi, I understand how you feel. Even if I were here, your wife would only have three days at most. Her body is already severely overworked. In these few days, if she can act like a normal person, you can take her out for a walk and have some good food. You have already done your best. Don't be too hard on yourself."
With tears welling up in his eyes, Qi Kunshan said, "Yes, I understand. In any case, on behalf of my loved one, I thank you again!"
After saying this, he bowed deeply to him, and Chen Cheng hurriedly helped him up. At this moment, a white aura slowly entered his body. This was not telekinesis, but a reward from heaven for doing the right thing. Could this white aura change his destiny? He wondered if Zhang Qian, who was still thinking about him, would also have this white aura enter her body like last time.
After saying goodbye to Qi Kunshan, Chen Cheng hailed a taxi and arrived at an office building on Central Avenue, where he dialed Tian Wenzhong's number.
"Uncle Tian, I'm downstairs now."
"Okay, I'll send someone down to pick you up right away!"
Bureau 709 is a mysterious entity that some Chinese people have heard of, but they all remain skeptical, as most people don't really believe in supernatural phenomena. The office building in front of you is just an exterior; the entire three underground floors are actually Bureau 709, but the sign is quite outrageous: Jin Gang International Trading Company.
Soon, a young and capable man walked towards Chen Cheng: "Mr. Chen Cheng, my name is Lin Feng. Please come with me. Team Leader Tian is waiting for you!"
"This is troublesome!"
Lin Feng smiled and walked inside first.
The lobby on the first floor is just an ordinary office building lobby, but it is luxuriously decorated. There are several pretty young ladies at the front desk, and the sides of the elevator entrance are covered with gold-plated signs of various companies and their respective floors.
Lin Feng entered a separate elevator, pressed the button for the second basement level, and exited the elevator. There was another access control door. He brought his eyes close and passed through iris recognition. The glass door opened smoothly, and after walking a distance through the corridor, he arrived at the lobby. The lobby was spacious and bright. Many staff members were seen walking quickly, some carrying thick stacks of documents, some typing on keyboards, and some answering phone calls from all over the world. It was a scene of tension and busyness.
The two walked through the lobby and came to the door of an office with a sign that read "Group 3" on the door.
Lin Feng knocked on the door: "Team Leader Tian, Mr. Chen Cheng has arrived!"
"Please invite him in."
A majestic voice rang out.
Lin Feng gestured for Chen Cheng to come in, and Chen Cheng smiled in thanks before pushing the door open and entering.
Because it was a basement, the office was brightly lit, and behind the large desk, Tian Wenzhong, a man in his fifties with gray hair, was writing something.
"Hello, Uncle Tian!"
"Okay, Chen Cheng, please have a seat. I'll finish reviewing this document."
"Okay, you go ahead with your work."
After saying that, he sat down on the soft sofa.
About five minutes later, Tian Wenzhong closed his pen and put it on the table. He got up, sat down on the sofa opposite Chen Cheng, picked up a bottle of water from the table, unscrewed it, and handed it to Chen Cheng.
He immediately took it with both hands, opened the bottle cap, and took a sip.
"It's been more than two years since I last saw you. You've grown taller, but your appearance hasn't changed much. You still look like a cool bastard, haha."
"Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Tian."
"I haven't heard from your master, have I?"
"No, he hasn't contacted me since he left. His phone is always off when I call him!"
"That old fellow has gone off to avoid trouble. How about handing this business over to you? Are you settling in well?"
"It's alright, maybe my master wants to train me."
"It's great that you think this way. He once told me that you are a promising talent who can carry on his legacy and make it great. He has a worthy successor."
After a pause, Tian Wenzhong continued, "I've called you back this time because there's something I need your help investigating. Master Qianhe from our third group and Master Jingyang from Longhu Mountain are both busy and can't get away, so I've called you back to help the other three in the group. Here's the information, take a look."
Chen Cheng took the documents handed to him with both hands. The first page had large red characters: Investigation Report on the No. 1 Mine Accident at Anping Coal Mine in Xijin Province.
The investigation revealed that Anping Coal Mine, a state-owned enterprise, experienced a major accident in July of last year during operations at its No. 1 mine shaft. The accident resulted in the deaths of 87 miners and the disappearance of 8 others, causing direct economic losses of up to 1.9 billion yuan. The investigation determined that the accident was caused by excessive methane concentration. The safety officer at the time was negligent and failed to take timely measures, leading to an explosion in part of the mine shaft. The chain reaction caused the roof of the mine to loosen and collapse, resulting in a secondary accident within the mine shaft.
After reading the first report, he picked up the second one and began to read it carefully, his expression turning serious. This report, submitted by Anping Coal Mine, detailed a series of bizarre events they had encountered.
The report mentions that after a year of rectification and infrastructure reinforcement, Mine No. 1 resumed production in June of this year. However, on the very first day of work, a series of strange incidents occurred. According to the miners, the underground lights would suddenly dim or go out, plunging them into darkness. Even more disturbingly, several miners heard cries for help and weeping while working, but when they looked around, they found nothing. One miner shouted that groundwater was seeping in, and everyone rushed to find the source of the water, only to find blood on their hands, and nothing else. In addition, some miners experienced physical discomfort and mental confusion. They were all healthy middle-aged men who had undergone medical examinations before going down the mine and met the standards!
These abnormal phenomena have caused great panic and unease throughout the mining area, threatening not only the lives of miners but also seriously affecting the normal production of Anping Coal Mine No. 1. In response to this situation, the mine and the local government have taken a series of measures, but the problem does not seem to have been resolved. Currently, No. 1 Mine is temporarily closed to prevent further accidents from occurring.
However, this also means that it will cause certain economic losses to the mining area and the country every day. Under such a difficult situation, the local government and the mining area requested that the capital send special talents to help them find a solution as soon as possible and restore the normal production order of the mining area.
What are your thoughts?
Tian Wenzhong asked as he saw him put down the documents.
After a moment of thought, he said, "87 people, how much resentment and evil energy must they have gathered? Strangely, the mine was airtight, and 87 corpses were found. Where did the 8 missing people go?"
"Yes, I was also wondering at the time if these 8 people were directly vaporized in the explosion? This mission is quite tricky. Here's what I'm thinking: with Master Xu leading the team, you, along with Bai Tou Weng and Ma Guangzu, can form an advance team to conduct an on-site investigation. If you can handle it, then do it; if not, wait for Master Qianhe or Master Jingyang to finish their business before rushing over to meet up with you."
Chen Cheng also recognized the Taoist Master Xu that Tian Wenzhong mentioned. His full name was Xu Gongyi, a member of the orthodox Maoshan Taoist sect. Maoshan is known for its talismans and Taoist arts. It is said that Taoist Master Xu's Taoist arts are average, but Maoshan talismans are already painted in purple. Maoshan talismans are divided into gold, silver, purple, blue, and yellow. Gold talismans are the most powerful, but require the caster to have a matching level of Taoist cultivation, as they also consume the most energy.Chapter 40 Which bastard is missing me?
Chen Cheng did not recognize the other two. Tian Wenzhong said, "The old man with white hair is named Bai Xiao. He is only in his thirties, but he was born with a full head of white hair and his body is exceptionally tough. We once experimented on him, first by cutting him with a knife, then by hitting him with a hammer, but neither of us could do any damage to him. Finally, at his request, we shot him in the leg with a gun. The amazing thing is that the bullet did not pass through his body. Instead, it was as if it hit a hard alloy plate. The bullet was flattened. The place where he was hit was just a red mark. He is completely indestructible."
"Ma Guangzu is also a person with special abilities. He can breathe fire at any time and the fire burns as hot as normal fire. Although they are not Taoists, they have strong thinking abilities and their brainwaves are not easily interfered with. These people are currently the three strongest groups of combatants. With you added, it will be even more powerful!"
"Thank you for your recognition, Uncle Tian. I will definitely cooperate well with the senior colleagues."
"Okay, I'll notify them to come over right away. You guys meet up and discuss it. The government officials and mine leaders from Xijin have been sitting still for a long time. Shaft No. 1 is the main shaft of Anping Coal Mine. If it doesn't work for a day, it will be a loss of hundreds of millions!"
Chen Cheng nodded in agreement.
A short while later, they all arrived at Tian Wenzhong's office.
"Hello, Master Xu!"
"Hey, this is Xiao Cheng. It's been more than two years since I last saw him."
Master Xu smiled and extended his hand to shake hands with Chen Cheng.
Tian Wenzhong introduced the group again before sitting down and saying, "The accident at Anping Coal Mine this time is quite serious, and the capital is also taking it very seriously. As the advance team, your first priority is to protect yourselves. I know about Elder Xu and Chen Cheng's Taoist skills. With Elder Baitou and Xiao Ma, you are a powerful combination. Once you get there, follow Elder Xu's instructions for specific actions, and you can make decisions as needed."
After a brief meeting, the four bid farewell to Tian Wenzhong and set off. The sooner they resolved this matter, the sooner they could help the country recover its losses.
The group's vehicle was a domestically produced Jeep. Its advantages were that it was sturdy and durable, powerful, and suitable for all kinds of roads, making it easy to traverse mountains and rivers. Its disadvantages were that it was noisy and a bit bumpy.
The old man with white hair was driving, Master Xu was resting with his eyes closed, and Ma Guangzu was playing on his phone with headphones on. He was about the same age as the old man with white hair and had a similar personality. Both of them were aloof and didn't like to talk. Chen Cheng was also doing nothing, passing the time by watching the scenery rushing by.
Apart from the Taoist priest, the other three took turns driving. After having lunch and resting at a highway service area, Chen Cheng continued driving towards Xijin.
After a six-hour journey, the group finally met with local and mining leaders in Jichang City, Shanxi Province. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they followed the two lead vehicles for another two hours before arriving at the Anping mining area.
As they got out of the car, a fresh and cool breeze greeted them. This was a natural open space surrounded by mountains, like a tranquil oasis in nature.
Anping Coal Mine is a large-scale operation with over 30,000 employees and their families. As a result, the mining area is well-equipped, resembling a bustling town with restaurants, bars, department stores, and other amenities to meet the daily needs of the miners and their families.
Upon arriving at the canteen of the mining area's office building, the staff had already prepared dinner. Knowing that the people sent by the capital this time were "special talents" from the 709th Regiment, the local leaders naturally dared not neglect them. After consulting with Xu Gongyi, the staff removed the drinks and sat down to eat according to the order.
The local leaders were Liu Wenbo, the mayor of Jichang City, and Chang Jian, the deputy mayor. Accompanying them from the mining area were Fu Lei, the top leader, and Tao Ran, the second-in-command.
At the dinner table, Fu Lei recounted the events again, sending chills down the spines of Liu Wenbo and Chang Jian.
Hsu Kung-yi said that after finishing his meal, he would go to the site to conduct an on-site inspection before making a conclusion.
Although Liu Wenbo and Fu Lei could resolve the matter here sooner, they said they should rest first and work tomorrow. However, Xu Gongyi refused, saying that nighttime was the time of day with the heaviest yin energy, and that they might be able to make a discovery if they went then.
Liu Wenbo and the others naturally agreed, and praised them for their dedication, which was admirable. They didn't take his high-sounding official words to heart.
After dinner, Liu Wenbo and Chang Jian made an excuse to leave and return to Jichang City. Fu Lei and Tao Ran personally escorted them to their arranged rooms, gave them some instructions, and made arrangements for the people who would guide them later before leaving.
"My plan is to first check out Mine No. 1 and see how dangerous things are inside. Everyone, take a rest first, and we'll set off after midnight!"
After agreeing, the group returned to their respective rooms.
Chen Cheng had just lit a cigarette and sat down on the bed when there was a gentle knock on the door.
Upon opening the door, Chen Cheng saw Xu Gongyi and quickly ushered him in, closing the door behind him and offering him a cigarette.
"Xiao Cheng, I feel like the atmosphere here is a bit strange. Can you feel it?"
"Mr. Xu, you know I don't know much about feng shui, so I didn't sense it."
"Sigh, I can't really say. Tonight might not go too smoothly. I know you're also a master of talismans. Tonight, we need to work together well, one in front and one behind, with the old man and Ma Guangzu in the middle. Although their brainwaves are stronger than ordinary people and they are not easily attacked by ghosts, we still need to be careful. After all, it's not as simple as just one or two."
"Old Xu, what I'm most worried about is that this place has become a place of malevolent spirits. It's been so long, and no one in the area has come up with a master to perform a ritual to deliver the souls of the dead? With so many souls gathered together, if it really is a place of malevolent spirits... it's terrifying to even think about!"
Xu Gongyi looked at him approvingly and nodded: "Your thoughts are the same as my worries. Just now Fu Lei told me that after the accident, they invited a high monk from Sendai Mountain in the Western Jin Dynasty to perform a three-day and three-night ritual. They thought everything was fine before they resumed mining. Who knew it would turn out like this? They had no choice but to report it to the capital."
"Hiss," Chen Cheng gasped.
"You've performed rituals for three days and three nights, but the spirits of the dead still haven't been saved? Either they're filled with deep resentment and don't want to leave, or a yin-gathering formation has formed here, making it impossible for them to leave!"
"Yes, if the resentment is deep, it's easier to handle. But if it forms a Yin-gathering formation, then it will be troublesome."
Xu Gongyi exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke slowly.
"Alright, you should rest for a while too. You've had a long journey today, and you still have work to do tonight. You'll know whether it's a bend or not once you get through it."
Xu Gongyi stood up and walked out. Chen Cheng quickly saw him to the door before returning.
Master, where are you now? If you were here, I wouldn't have to worry about the Yin Gathering Formation, or even if the Ghost King came. Chen Cheng lay on the bed, thinking to himself.
Deep in a mountain in Yunnan Province, thousands of miles away, the moonlight shone like silver on the ground. An old man in gray was meditating and breathing exercises when he suddenly sneezed three times in a row.
The old man rubbed his itchy nose and cursed under his breath, "Which bastard remembered me?"Chapter 41 Exploring the Well
It was soon midnight, and the four of them were all ready to go. To give them courage, six mine security guards led the way in two cars and took Xu Gongyi and the others to a parking lot near Mine No. 1.
The head of the security team was named Yang Kui, a retired soldier, so he was relatively bold. He pointed in a direction and said, "Leaders, the entrance to Mine No. 1 is over there."
Following the direction of his finger, the group looked at a dark building that stood alone, seemingly swallowed by darkness. Behind it were towering mountains, stretching endlessly like a winding dragon. Under the cover of night, these mountains appeared particularly eerie, giving off a heavy sense of oppression. The surroundings were completely silent; not even the chirping of insects or the calls of birds could be heard. Only the sound of a gentle breeze added to the eeriness and mystery.
Several security guards couldn't help but sigh as they recalled the days when the place was bustling with workers day and night, and the lights were always on.
"How do we get into the mine?"
Xu Gongyi clearly knew nothing about the mine.
"We will bring the electricity up first. You will ride in a cage down the shaft to the bottom of the mine, which is more than 400 meters deep. But I don't think you can ride the monkey car. The miners said that there is basically no electricity in the mine. You will have to walk through a tunnel that is several kilometers long to reach the surface. After walking along the horizontal tunnel for a short distance, you will reach the mining area."
"And what about when we come back?"
"There are elevator-like buttons in the shaft; just press them."
"What if the shaft also loses power?"
Ma Guangzu asked.
"No, the shaft uses a dual power system. If the power goes out, the automatic generator will immediately start generating electricity."
Yang Kui patiently explained.
Xu Gongyi nodded and stopped talking, striding towards the mine entrance.
The others turned and followed.
Six security guards mustered their courage and followed behind them.
In the darkness of night, the mine entrance resembled a monster with its mouth wide open, waiting for someone to willingly offer themselves up.
The group arrived at the building entrance. Yang Kui and several security guards went into a small room, turned on the power switch, and the room was immediately brightly lit, so bright that people had to squint to keep their eyes open.
The hall was surrounded by leaves and trash, which looked very out of place with the bright lights. Rows of cabinets lined the walls, some of which were locked. This was probably where the miners changed clothes before and after get off work. Not far away, a sign on the wall above a small door read: "Caution: Slippery Floor," which was probably a public shower room.
Yang Kui brought four brand-new safety helmets with headlamps to the four men: "The shaft is over here. I wish you a safe return!"
Xu Gongyi nodded to him and followed him to a place that resembled an elevator. Yang Kui pressed a button, and the cage door slowly opened. The group stepped inside.
Unlike an elevator, which is airtight, this is more like a large iron cage welded with steel bars. It's quite spacious and can probably hold more than twenty people.
Xu Gongyi reached out and pressed the "down" button on the side of the cage. The cage door slowly closed and then began to descend, getting faster and faster. Along with it, the hearts of the people plummeted.
"Each of you should carry a talisman close to your body. It can save your lives if you are in danger!"
The old man with white hair and Ma Guangzu didn't understand, but Chen Cheng was an expert. Looking at the purple talisman in his hand, he thought to himself that Old Xu had really gone all out this time. If this talisman were out there, it would be priceless!
So he carefully put it away and placed it close to his body.
Although the two men didn't understand, they knew Xu Gongyi's abilities. If he said he could save lives, then he definitely could!
A moment later, the cage slowly came to a stop. Once it was completely still, the cage door opened, and all that could be seen was endless darkness ahead, with only a sliver of light shining from inside the cage.
The oppressive scene made everyone's hearts sink, but Chen Cheng quickly adapted. The moment he stepped out of the cage, two eerie blue lights appeared in his eyes.
With a few "snap, snap" sounds, the four men turned on their headlamps one after another.
"I led the charge, Chen Cheng was last, followed by Bai Tou Weng and Ma Guangzu!"
Xu Gongyi took out a money sword made of five emperor coins and said, "The so-called five emperor coins refer to those made during the reigns of the five emperors of the Qing Dynasty: Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing. These copper coins have gone through the vicissitudes of time and passed through the hands of countless people. They carry a lot of human energy and yang energy and are one of the nemesis of yin spirits!"
The four quickly changed formation as he instructed. Chen Cheng actually wanted to walk in front because he had ghost eyes and could see even in the darkest of times, but he couldn't explain this to Xu Gongyi for fear of affecting his credibility. However, he also took out a peach wood sword from his bag and held a talisman in his left hand.
After the group moved forward for several dozen meters, they came to a series of small cranes that looked like carousels, each large enough for one person to ride. These were probably the monkey cars that Yang Kui had mentioned.
After walking about two kilometers along the monkey car, there was another turn. However, this road was much wider than the one we had come from and there were two railway tracks, which must have been for the small trains that transported coal uphill.
At this moment, the temperature in the originally hot and humid mine cave dropped significantly, which made people feel very comfortable. Even Ma Guangzu and Bai Touweng knew that something was amiss.
Xu Gongyi stopped in his tracks, and the others quickly followed suit. "Old Xu, what's wrong?"
The old man with white hair asked.
"We're almost there. I can feel the heavy yin energy here. Everyone be careful!"
After speaking, he slowly walked forward. Chen Cheng looked around and saw different hideous faces flashing on the coal mine walls around him, like a scene from hell. These should be the spirits of the dead here. These ghosts alone could not harm the group. He did not tell the three people in front of him because even if he did, Ma Guangzu and Bai Touweng would not be able to see them, and Xu Gongyi would not be able to see them either if he did not use his Taoist magic to open his Heavenly Eye.
"Master, be careful ahead, this is Yin Sha Town!"
Lü Xiachan responded to Chen Cheng's warning through telepathy.
Chen Cheng suspected from the beginning that a Yin Sha Town had formed here, which was why the ghosts of the dead miners were sealed here and unable to leave. Instead, other ghosts were harvesting their Yin energy and using it as nourishment. Lü Xiachan was a thousand-year-old vengeful ghost and was very sensitive to this Yin Sha energy, so she sensed it as soon as she stepped into the formation.
"Old Xu, be careful, a Yin Sha Formation has formed here!"
However, it was too late. The group had already stepped into the formation. Suddenly, a strong wind swept through the suffocating mine, accompanied by a bone-chilling cold. Black mist rose before their eyes, and even the helmet lights on their safety helmets could not penetrate.
Xu Gongyi shouted, "Supreme Lord Laozi, by your command, I order you to obey!"
A burst of talismanic fire rose from the black mist, and the surrounding black mist seemed to come alive as it quickly evaded it, revealing the four people.
"Come closer to me!"
The three quickly moved closer to him, with Ma Guangzu and the old man with white hair already in a defensive stance.
After the talisman fire went out, the black mist pressed down on the group again. This time, the cold air was intense, and even Chen Cheng felt a chill run down his spine!
"Blazing Flames!"
Ma Guangzu shouted and stretched out his arms, sending two streams of flame shooting out four or five meters away, sweeping around them. The black mist was temporarily slowed from enveloping the four people, but it still slowly approached, seemingly unafraid of such flames.Chapter 42 Fierce Battle
"Guangzu, stop. That's just ordinary flame, not the karmic fire of Taoist talismans. It won't work against evil energy."
Seeing that the black mist was about to engulf several more people, Xu Gongyi spoke to Ma Guangzu while taking out another purple talisman.
"May the Supreme Lord Laozi hasten his decree, by the law!"
The talisman fire reignited spontaneously without wind, and the black mist indeed retreated a great deal. However, after the talisman fire went out, the black mist retreated quickly but rose even faster. Just as Chen Cheng was about to make a move, Xu Gongyi closed his eyes and rapidly formed hand seals.
"All methods lead to the same source!"
With a loud "boom", Xu Gongyi's body flashed with golden light, sweeping away the surrounding black mist!
"Old Xu!"
Chen Cheng was shocked. This was a secret technique of Taoism, which involved burning a portion of one's mental energy to increase the Taoist Qi several times over. However, doing so would undoubtedly result in a thousand injuries to the enemy and eight hundred to oneself. While inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, one's own cultivation would also decline or even be injured due to burning a portion of one's mental energy!
As the surrounding black fog dissipated, the lights on the top of the mine seemed to have power but also poor contact, flickering on and off, accompanied by a "sizzling" sound of sparks.
Xu Gongyi and Chen Cheng's hearts sank at the same time. The real culprit had come out. The black mist from before was just the spirit of the Yin Sha Formation. After it was broken, the evil spirit that set up the formation was revealed!
In the dim light, the four of them discovered seven figures standing with their backs to them on either side of the mine wall. Chen Cheng could see clearly that they were dressed as miners and that they were real people, not ghosts!
"Master, they are ghost cultivators, their cultivation is over a thousand years old, they are just usurping the place!"
Chen Cheng understood. He had been wondering where the people who had disappeared in the mine had gone. He wanted to find them alive or dead. It turned out that their bodies had been taken over by ghost cultivators, and their original ghosts had probably either been eaten by these ghost cultivators or sealed in the Yin Sha Formation as nourishment.
"Are they the missing miners?"
The old man with white hair called out.
"Strictly speaking, this is just their body, not their true selves!"
In the flickering lights, the seven people slowly turned around, their pale, lifeless faces and dark eyes staring intently at the four.
Xu Gongyi took a deep breath, gripped the money sword in his hand, and said, "We were careless tonight. We will fight and retreat. Once we get out of the Yin Sha Formation, they will be helpless. We will join Daoist Qianhe or Master Jingyang to destroy the Yin Sha Formation and exterminate these ghost cultivators!"
Chen Cheng smiled bitterly to himself. This Yin Sha Formation was unpredictable, and its spirit was extremely powerful. Moreover, there were seven ghost cultivators involved. The information stated that eight people were missing, which meant that an even more powerful ghost cultivator was hiding in the shadows. Tonight was likely to be a dangerous night, and the group might just perish here!
The seven ghost cultivators swayed their bodies slowly, like zombies. Suddenly, they accelerated and rushed over, their mouths opening and closing, making "whoosh" sounds!
Chen Cheng dodged forward and thrust his peach wood sword into a person's body. It felt like he had stabbed a stone. Only then did he realize that if he used a peach wood sword to stab a ghost, it would be a sure hit. But this was a ghost cultivator whose body was that of a dead person. To the ghost, it was as if the other party was stabbing it with an unsharpened wooden stick, causing no real damage.
Like Xu Gongyi's money sword, it has now become useless.
But the old man with white hair played his part. He punched two ghost cultivators, sending them staggering back several steps. But they felt no pain and instead charged forward expressionlessly. Strangely, they even started moving, like martial arts masters, dodging left and right as they attacked the old man with white hair.
"Five Thunder Palms"!
Seeing the two ghost cultivators grabbing at him, Chen Cheng put away his peach wood sword, took a step back, and chanted a spell while forming a hand seal. A large golden handprint was then imprinted on the two ghost cultivators. The Five Thunders was the most powerful and fierce divine technique of the Thunder God. This is what some people mean when they make a solemn oath with the Five Thunders!
Unable to withstand the immense power of the Five Thunderbolts, the two ghost cultivators were sent flying backward by the golden handprint, crashing straight into the stone wall. Two humanoid ghostly figures emerged from their skulls, while the miner's corpse instantly collapsed. Chen Cheng knew this was the ghost cultivator's true form that he had unleashed. He flashed forward, took out a talisman, and ignited it with Taoist qi, striking one of the ghostly figures. Only when the ghostly figure tumbled and burned did Ma Guangzu and the White-haired Old Man, who were engaged in battle, see a ball of darkness being burned and swirling by the talisman's flames.
Just as another ghostly figure was about to enter one of the miner's corpses, Chen Cheng unleashed another palm strike with the "Five Thunder Palm" technique. This time, the figure was closer and arrived faster. Before it could even enter the miner's corpse, it was blasted to pieces by a booming golden handprint!
Chen Cheng killed two ghost cultivators in succession, which made Xu Gongyi overjoyed. The other two were also greatly encouraged. Ma Guangzu reached out and unleashed a raging fire, burning the clothes and hair of one of the ghost cultivators to ashes. However, the ghost cultivator, still naked, charged forward and punched Ma Guangzu. Ma Guangzu did not have the indestructible body of the White-haired Old Man. He would be seriously injured even if he was not killed by the punch. Just then, a voice was heard saying "Imperial Edict!"
At the crucial moment, Xu Gongyi affixed a talisman to the ghost cultivator's body, causing it to slow down and karmic fire to ignite where the talisman was affixed!
"Brother Ma, bring out the fire!"
Hearing Chen Cheng's loud reminder, Ma Guangzu snapped out of his shock and unleashed a burst of flames. The ghost cultivator was instantly engulfed in flames, its true form trying to break free of its body, but it was bound by Xu Gongyi's talisman and could not escape. Moments later, the ghost cultivator and the miner's corpse were burned to charcoal by the karmic fire and the open flames.
After taking down one more, the remaining four ghost cultivators charged forward with a "whoosh" as if they wanted to tear the group apart.
"Oh no, we're out of purple talismans!"
Xu Gongyi shouted that he had used his limited number of purple talismans several times tonight. These were the ones he had saved up over the past year, and each one required a lot of effort to draw!
"Brother Ma, fire at my hand!"
Then Chen Cheng took out the purple talisman that Xu Gongyi had given him, made a hand seal, used Taoist energy to ignite the talisman, and then stretched out his hand to aim the talisman fire at the two ghost cultivators!
Ma Guangzu knew what he was going to do, but even an ordinary open flame would harm Chen Cheng!
"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for!"
Ma Guangzu gritted his teeth, reached out and unleashed a raging flame. The bright flames rushed onto Chen Cheng's hand and clashed with the karmic fire. Instantly, flames shot into the sky, like a fire dragon shooting towards the two ghost cultivators!
Just like before, the two ghost cultivators instantly detached from their bodies. One ghostly figure was burned to ashes by the fire of the two, while the other escaped!
"Five Thunder Palms"!
Chen Cheng unleashed another golden handprint, which was about to strike the ghostly figure when a burst of black energy transformed into a giant fist that blocked the attack. As the two collided, a faint yet incredibly cold shockwave sent a shiver through everyone's hair.
Although the two could not see Chen Cheng kill the ghost, they saw two more miners' corpses fall and remain motionless, which meant that two more had been taken down. Their morale soared. Only Chen Cheng knew that the real culprit had arrived this time!
All that was heard was a wild scream, and the remaining two ghost cultivators slowly retreated to the side!
Another fist formed from black mist came flying towards Chen Cheng from the void. Damn it, this guy has no sportsmanship. He didn't even show up before throwing a heavy punch!
Chen Cheng silently chanted an incantation, and a golden Tai Chi diagram appeared in front of him, absorbing the fist formed from the black energy into the Tai Chi diagram. This was his life-saving artifact, the Golden Shield Tai Chi!
Even so, Chen Cheng took several steps back!Chapter 43 Ghost Cultivator
Such powerful ghostly energy!
"Master, this is a thousand-year-old ghost cultivator. His true form is the ghost of a general!"
Lu Xiachan spoke up again to remind him.
A thousand-year-old ghost cultivator? A general? Could there be a general's tomb nearby? Were those seven ghost cultivators his subordinates?
Chen Cheng's mind raced.
At this moment, a tall miner slowly emerged from the shadows, expressionless, staring at the crowd.
Xu Gongyi saw all of this, and the other two also took several steps back when they saw the incredibly brave Chen Cheng. Although they couldn't see what happened, it was definitely related to the tall miner, no, to be precise, it was the ghost cultivator who had possessed the corpse!
"Humans and ghosts are on different paths. Although you have cultivated into a ghost cultivator, you have usurped the throne. Isn't that against the way of Heaven?"
"Hahaha, the will of Heaven? This general has killed countless enemies for the country, only to be accused of treason by that tyrannical emperor and have 109 members of my family killed. Does that not violate the will of Heaven? I escaped with the protection of hundreds of loyal subordinates, hiding everywhere, fighting dozens of battles along the way, and only seven of my men remain here. Does that not violate the will of Heaven? We were cultivating in peace in these mountains, and you disturbed us by digging a tunnel, ruining our feng shui. Tell me, is that not against the will of Heaven?"
"This matter is from the dynasty you lived in, which should be more than a thousand years ago. You should have already let go of all your resentment. Why don't you take your remaining two subordinates and re-enter the cycle of reincarnation?"
"Hmph, although I have been dead for a thousand years, my resentment has not subsided. To make me re-enter the cycle of reincarnation? I think they want to throw me into the eighteenth level of hell. I have killed countless people in my life, how can I be reincarnated again? I was born a hero, and I will die a ghost of valor!"
After saying that, the ghost cultivator stopped talking and rushed towards Chen Cheng at a speed much faster than the previous seven. He had been observing from the shadows for a long time and found that this kid was the most powerful among the four. He would take him down first and then deal with the remaining three. The souls of Taoists were a great tonic!
Chen Cheng was startled and hurriedly dodged. Then he stretched out his hand and gathered his Taoist energy here. This was the Vajra Finger that his master had taught him. The gathered energy was even more powerful than the Five Thunder Palm!
The ghost cultivator recognized the danger and turned to dodge. He leaped into the air, his hand transforming into a claw, and reached for Chen Cheng's crown. Chen Cheng rolled away to avoid it, and a burning talisman shot towards the ghost cultivator, but Chen Cheng flicked it away with his hand. It seemed that ordinary talismans had no effect on him.
"Blazing Flames!"
Two beams of fire shot towards the ghost cultivator's back, but he didn't even turn his body, continuing to attack Chen Cheng as if he was determined to take him down.
"May the Supreme Lord Laozi command this swiftly!"
Xu Gongyi had secretly taken the two purple talismans from Bai Touweng and Ma Guangzu, and while the ghost cultivator was suppressing Chen Cheng, he stuck both of them on its back!
The purple talisman was still more powerful than the yellow talisman. The ghost cultivator's back was ignited by karmic fire. Having already tasted the benefits, Ma Guangzu mustered his last strength and shot out bright flames again. Just like before, the ghost cultivator's body was engulfed in flames, roaring and rolling incessantly.
"Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Qian, Xing!"
Seeing how difficult it was to deal with, Chen Cheng chanted the Nine True Words of Taoism while rapidly forming hand seals. When he finished chanting the last word, his whole body shone with golden light, and he struck out with a palm. The golden handprint with Taoist talisman landed on the struggling ghost cultivator on the ground!
It was instantly sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the stone wall.
Seeing him lying motionless on the ground, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, while Chen Cheng, completely exhausted, plopped down on the ground.
Xu Gongyi, panting, stepped forward and said, "This guy is amazing. Is this a complete solution now?"
"wrong"!
Chen Cheng suddenly raised his head and looked at the two subordinates of the ghost cultivator general, who were standing there motionless. Since they were so loyal to him, if he were to be reduced to ashes, they should do everything in their power to avenge the ghost cultivator general!
Then he looked at the Ghost Cultivator General who had fallen to the ground. He saw that he had stood up again. His clothes and hair had been burned off by the fire. His face was numb, but the ferocity in his eyes was chilling.
Everyone thought to themselves that this was the end. Xu Gongyi had run out of talismans and was exhausted. Ma Guangzu's strength was already depleted. If he were to use his Blazing Flame again, it would probably only be a small flame like a lighter.
Although the old man with white hair possessed an indestructible body, he had almost exhausted his internal energy after the fight. Chen Cheng was even worse off; he had been fighting beyond his limits all night, and the last palm strike he unleashed was his last bit of Taoist energy. Now, he was just like an ordinary person.
The four men watched the ghost cultivator general approach them with a sinister smile, their faces filled with despair. Xu Gongyi even closed his eyes.
Just then, a red shadow shot out from the pendant Chen Cheng was wearing and wrapped directly around the General Ghost Cultivator's body.
"Goodbye, Master, run!"
After delivering the last message, Lü Xiachan's ghost instantly disappeared into the miner's corpse, and the two thousand-year-old vengeful ghosts began their struggle!
"Lü Xiachan"!
Chen Cheng shouted and saw the miner's body shaking violently. He knew that Lü Xiachan was buying them a chance to escape, so he yelled, "Run!"
So the four of them stumbled and ran back the way they came, and the two ghost cultivators under the general's command were about to give chase.
"Five Thunder Palms"!
Chen Cheng shouted, startling the sentient ghost cultivator into stopping in his tracks. This kid had killed several of their brothers. Taking advantage of the fight between Lü Xiachan and the general ghost cultivator, the Yin Sha Formation was no longer binding them, and the four of them quickly escaped from here, supporting each other as they stumbled and ran back the way they came.
Fortunately, the two ghost cultivators did not have the general's orders and did not give chase, watching them escape.
After an unknown amount of time, the group staggered back to the cage, pressed the switch, and the cage rose slowly but gradually increased in speed.
As Chen Cheng walked out of the main hall of Mine No. 1, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The three, who were in no better condition, were shocked and quickly half-embraced him and lay down slowly.
"Is anyone here? We're coming out!"
The old man with white hair shouted at the brightly lit security room.
A moment later, the security door opened gently, and a trembling voice rang out: "Are you the four leaders who came down to the mine?"
"It's us! Come quick, someone's injured!"
The last thing Chen Cheng saw on screen was several stumbling figures running towards him. His vision went black, and he fainted.
When Chen Cheng opened his eyes again, it was already afternoon. He was lying on a hospital bed in the mining area. Chen Cheng tried to shake his head. He had been dreaming ever since he fell into a coma. The faces of Lü Xiachan, Zhang Qian, Jiang Shuang, and his master flashed by. He wanted to call out, but he couldn't make a sound. He wanted to grab, but he couldn't grasp anything. He had been in a daze and had been sleeping like this until now.
The nurse next to him noticed that he was awake and hurriedly went to his side: "You're awake? Don't move around, you have an IV drip in your arm!"
Chen Cheng struggled to lift his head and saw that there was indeed a needle stuck in his wrist.
Where are my companions?
Chen Cheng asked weakly.
"They're in another room. I'll go get the doctor!"
"No need, I know my own body!"
After saying that, he reached out to pull out the needle.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong with you? You've been unconscious for a whole day, and you're pulling out the IV as soon as you wake up? You still need to be hospitalized for observation for a few more days!"
Unfortunately, he was completely powerless at the moment and was forcibly pressed onto the bed by the nurse!Chapter 44 Jingyang ZhenrenTwo doctors rushed over upon hearing the news. This was a patient personally visited by the top official of the mining area, so these junior doctors dared not neglect him. Following behind the doctors was an elderly man with white hair.
The doctor first listened to his heartbeat and then measured his blood pressure, and said, "There's nothing seriously wrong with you. It's just a side effect of overwork. You'll be fine after a couple of days of rest!"
"Thanks"!
"You're welcome"!
After the doctor left, the old man with white hair walked to his bedside and said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, we would probably all have died there!"
"Brother Bai, what are you saying? We're a team, and we can't escape if even one person is missing!"
Chen Cheng was the one who contributed the most this time, as all of them could see. Although they were all mortals and couldn't see the spectacular scene, Xu Gongyi was a discerning person. After he used up his last talisman, he lost his greatest reliance. If it weren't for Chen Cheng's profound Taoist skills, he would have really been defeated here.
"How is Mr. Xu?"
Chen Cheng then asked.
"He is resting in another room. You two were the most tired this time. Ma Guangzu and I are fine!"
The old man with white hair said somberly.
"That's because your bodies are different from ordinary people. I envy your indestructible body. In a battle, you would be invincible!"
Chen Cheng said with a grin.
"Sigh, it's fine to deal with ordinary people, but it's useless against these ghosts even if you have all the skills!"
"Brother Bai, don't underestimate yourself. It's already quite remarkable that you managed to hold off two ghost cultivators. That's why we can entrust our backs to you so you can fight with all your might!"
Although the old man with white hair was aloof, he was also a wise man. Hearing his words, I felt much more comfortable and was deeply moved.
The two chatted for a few more minutes before the old man with white hair left.
Chen Cheng looked helplessly at the half-empty bottle of medicine left. He took out his phone with his other hand, turned it on, and saw several messages. He was struck by the thought that they were from Zhang Qian.
"I was restless last night and didn't sleep well at all. Did you go out to catch ghosts again?"
It's 9:30 in the morning.
Why aren't you replying to my messages?
It's 10:10 AM.
"Are you really not going to talk to me anymore? I've already done this much, what more do you want?"
It's 1:30 PM.
Could she be telepathic with me? I almost died in the mine last night, could she sense that? It can't be that magical.
"Little sister Sisi, my phone died, so it's not on. I'm fine, don't worry!" (Adding a smiley face.)
Zhang Qian replied instantly: "You bad guy, where are you?" along with an angry emoji.
"I've come to the capital. An old acquaintance of my master asked me to do him a small favor!"
"Is it dangerous"?
"Eat and play all at once, no danger!"
"I miss you".
Chen Cheng fell silent. No matter what he did, it would only hurt this devoted girl.
"I know you mean well, but I just can't help it. I'll come see you when you get back, stay with you for a while and then leave. If we're not together, you won't be able to control me, right?" (accompanied by a funny face and a smiley face).
"good".
Chen Cheng replied that Zhang Qian on the other end did not reply to the message again, either because she was busy or because she was happy.
After a while, the IV drip finished, and the nurse removed the needle. Just then, Xu Gongyi walked in.
"Xiao Cheng, are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Xu. I'm much better!"
"Sigh, I was careless this time. Luckily no one was hurt, otherwise, how would I explain myself when I got back!"
"Old Xu, you don't need to blame yourself. We were just the advance team, and the situation between us and the enemy was unclear. If it were someone else, the result would be the same."
"Hmm, I feel better now that you say that. By the way, Xiao Cheng, was the ghost that jumped out of your dojo also a vengeful spirit? Raising ghosts is a major taboo in the Taoist sect!"
"Old Xu, it's not a ghost I raised," Chen Cheng recounted the whole story of Lü Xiachan to him in detail.
"In that case, Lü Xiachan is a pitiful person. It was willing to sacrifice its soul for you, so it can be considered to have feelings and loyalty!"
"Yes, it doesn't want to be reincarnated because it doesn't want to be born as a human again, so it can be considered to be free from this!"
Chen Cheng then asked, "Old Xu, have you told Team Leader Tian about the situation here?"
"I told him this morning that I explained everything to him in detail. He told us to rest here for two days and that someone would come to meet us then!"
"It's Master Qianhe and his group?"
"Team Leader Tian didn't say, and I didn't ask. We'll find out when the time comes!"
At this moment, Tao Ran, the second-in-command of the mining area, personally invited everyone to dinner. At the dinner table, Fu Lei and Tao Ran took turns probing into the situation in the mine, but Xu Gongyi brushed it off lightly. They were just ordinary people, and saying too much would only make things worse.
Another night passed, and Chen Cheng slowly opened his eyes, stretched, walked out of the room, and went outside the mining area to stretch his body. The battle the night before last was the most difficult and dangerous one since he parted from his master. His mental power was almost exhausted. After a day and a night of repair, his strength had recovered by more than half. It was also this battle that made him realize his own insignificance and that he still had to work hard to cultivate the Dao.
And so, the group rested in the mining area for five days. During these five days, he was not idle. He kept pestering Xu Gongyi to teach him how to draw talismans. Maoshan talismans, along with Longhushan and Gezaoshan, are known as the three great immortal mountains of talismans. The talismans his master taught him were also orthodox Taoist talismans, but his master never mentioned which sect it belonged to. He didn't know if it was because he didn't want to mention it or if there was another reason!
Xu Gongyi was so bothered by him that he grew fond of him and taught him several talismans, instructing him to practice diligently, starting with the yellow talismans.
Chen Cheng was born to do this. In just two days, he drew a blue talisman, which amazed Xu Gongyi, who called him a prodigy. Xu Gongyi had spent two years drawing yellow talismans before he could draw a blue talisman. Could this kid draw a gold talisman in time?
On the afternoon of the sixth day, Chen Cheng was practicing drawing talismans diligently. Although he could draw blue talismans, his success rate was not very high. Often, he would lose half of the magic he had infused into the talismans. However, he was not discouraged and focused intently on drawing while thinking.
"Xiao Cheng, Master Jingyang is almost here. Let's go and greet him!"
Xu Gongyi pushed open the door and entered, saying.
"Okay, let's go!"
As a junior, Chen Cheng naturally had to greet Master Jingyang, who was of the same generation as him. This morning, Team Leader Tian had already notified several people that the one coming to provide support was Master Jingyang, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.
The group quickly walked out of the hotel arranged by the mining area and met up with the top leader, Fu Lei, and Tao Ran. As soon as they stepped out, they saw a black minivan parked steadily on the side of the road. Its body lines were smooth, exuding an air of understated luxury.
The electric car door slowly opened with a soft "hum," and an elderly man in his sixties stepped out. He wore a loose-fitting long robe, his hair was tied in a bun, and his black and white hair was neatly combed, giving him a dignified and imposing appearance. His snow-white beard fell to his chest and swayed gently in the breeze.
The old man's appearance reminded the group of the phrase "ethereal and otherworldly." His steps were steady and powerful, each step carrying a calm and composed aura. His eyes were deep and sharp, revealing an extraordinary insight.
This is the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, Master Jingyang, who is in charge of the Third Investigation Team of Bureau 709!