I was beginning to regret agreeing to this plan, so I suggested, "Chen the Earthworker, perhaps we should try a different approach, consider some other methods."

"No need," he shook his head, "Chen the Logistician is right; this is the quickest way. Besides, it's not certain that I'll die. We from Old Bai's Family have our unique skills."

"Unique skills? What kind of unique skills, Chen the Earthworker?" I was curious about the special abilities he referred to.

He didn't answer directly.

"Let's go. You two, follow me," he said, picking up a stone with a grave voice, "Using the stone as Awakening Wood, and the cave as the altar, let's give it a try."

Sure enough, as soon as we entered, those creatures jumped out again, arms raised, stones in hand, ready to strike.

Chen Jiansheng's eyes bulged with fury.

"Snap! Snap!" He struck the wall with the stone twice in quick succession.

He then chanted loudly:

"Six parts under a piece of Awakening Wood, from the Monarch down to his subjects. A Monarch commands his officials with a piece, and the officials guide the masses with theirs!"

His tone quickened and intensified as he continued:

"A monk preaches the Dharma with a piece, a Heavenly Master speaks of Ghost Gods with one. A single piece of Awakening Wood traverses the world, speaking of mortals, spirits, and all humanity!"

These words, sounding like some sort of incantation, just by hearing them and witnessing the stone substituting for Awakening Wood fall, I felt a rush of blood to my head, and my whole body stiffened.

The Mountain Goblins in front of us, holding stones, were similarly transfixed, as if in a daze.

"Quick, leave this place!" Chen Jiansheng urged loudly, his voice like the enlightening consecration.

Coming to my senses, I glanced at Red Sister, supporting my injured arm.

Red Sister, with a cold expression, looked at Chen Jiansheng and uttered a single word.

"Go."

And so, we walked through the midst of the Mountain Goblins, who were all dazedly staring at Chen Jiansheng, not attacking me or Red Sister.

Having passed through the goblin throng, Chen Jiansheng's laughter echoed from behind.

"Ha-ha, ladies and gentlemen, today, we're not recounting the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, nor are we telling The Divine Sealing of Strange Tales. Today, let's narrate a tale.

"Wu Song Fights the Tiger!"

"Legend has it, within the boundaries of Qinghe County, there was a Griddled Pancake seller..."

As Red Sister and I ventured further away, the voice of Chen Jiansheng faded into a whisper behind us, until, emerging from the cave, his voice was lost altogether.

In the world of tomb raiding, descendants of the Southern Sect and the Northern Faction were at odds, nursing a deep-seated grudge. Unexpectedly, in the end, it was he who saved us.

Looking back now, the principles behind the Ghost Book elude me still, yet I have some inklings.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The technique resembles hypnosis, akin to that practiced by master hypnotists of the modern era. They can lull you to sleep with a well-known tale right before your eyes, just as a mother might cradle you and read a fairy tale to coax you into dreams. You listen and, before you know it, you're asleep.

These exotic and erotic skills, if not inherited within the sect...

They are ineffable, indescribable.

......

After exiting, Red Sister and I waited outside for half an hour, but Chen Jiansheng did not appear.

Red Sister cast a deep glance back at the cave entrance, said nothing, and did not linger. She helped me away.

Before us lay a steep slope, untamed by paths, overgrown with wild grass.

Once I grasped the lay of the land, I understood something. This massive underground palace structure was split into two levels, shaped like a tilted hourglass funnel. We were perched on the connecting line at its center.

Looking up from the base of the slope, it seemed endless.

Red Sister, supporting my arm, began to help me climb the slope step by step.

The grass was short, the dew on the path soaked our trouser legs and drenched our shoes.

After half an hour's climb along the slope, a faint mist arose, rendering everything around us slightly ethereal, as if we had stepped into a dream.

"Let's rest a bit, Cloud Peak," Red Sister said, helping me to sit on the grass. Much like mountain climbing, I was indeed tired.

Just then, my stomach betrayed me with a couple of grumbles.

Red Sister spoke weakly, "We lost a backpack when we fell, and we've run out of the little biscuit dry food we had left," she said, gazing at the endless slope with a furrowed brow. "I don't know how much longer it will take to climb up. We need to eat something, even if it's just fruit. Cloud Peak, stay put and wait here. I'll look around nearby to see if I can find something edible."

After Red Sister temporarily departed, I was left alone sitting on the grass.

At first, I wasn't too worried, but as time passed, the fog thickened.

I could once see the path we had taken, but now, looking down, I could barely make out anything, engulfed in a blanket of white.

As time ticked by, I grew fearful.

With the sudden onset of dense fog, Red Sister surely couldn't see me. I feared for her safety, that she might misstep into danger.

Every two or three minutes, I would stand in place and shout loudly, "Red Sister! Red Sister! I'm here! I'm right here!"

I hoped she would hear me, that she would find me by following the sound of my voice.

But my plan had failed.

I waited for a long time, shouting until my throat felt like it was on fire, but there was no reply from Red Sister, nor did she appear.

I didn't dare to leave, knowing that in such situations, when two people are separated, it's best for one to stay put. If both start wandering, they might end up even further apart.

As dusk turned to darkness and the fog remained thick, I went from sitting to lying down, my stomach growling with hunger.

I thought of holding out, waiting for dawn when the fog would lift, and by then Red Sister would surely find me.

Cold and hungry, as these thoughts circled in my mind, I fell asleep on the grass.

The night was pitch black, probably well into the latter half.

In a daze, I thought I heard Red Sister calling me.

"Cloud Peak, Cloud Peak, come here, I'm over here."

Startled, I sat up abruptly.

The sudden movement was too much, and it jarred my injured arm, causing me to gasp in pain.

Surrounded by darkness, I sat on the ground, ears pricked, listening intently.

"Cloud Peak, Cloud Peak, come here, I'm over here." The familiar voice came from behind me; there was no mistake, it was Red Sister's voice.

Following the direction of her voice, I cautiously made my way through the darkness.

As I walked, I shouted, "Red Sister! Red Sister! Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

Voices came through the darkness.

"Cloud Peak, Cloud Peak, come here, I'm over here."

I stopped in my tracks, frowning, sensing something strange.

Red Sister had called out three times, but crucially, she repeated the same phrase each time, with the same tone and pace!

Swallowing hard, I couldn't give up and tried shouting once more, "Red Sister, where are you?"

Sure enough...

"Cloud Peak, Cloud Peak, come here, I'm over here."

Four times! Red Sister's response was exactly the same each time!

My face turned pale, and I quietly took a step back.

Reaching into my pocket, I felt the small hard object I had stowed away earlier – the Crow Box Amulet that Yao Yumen had given me, claiming it could ward off evil. I had taken off the necklace because it was in the way and put it in my pocket.

Clutching the red-threaded Crow Box Amulet, my mind began to race with wild thoughts.

The fog was too thick, the ground damp. Had Red Sister slipped and fallen to her death?

Was this her ghost coming to find me?

Perhaps Red Sister's spirit, not wanting me to stay here alone, was trying to take me with her to keep her company. (To be continued)

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