As Su Qing continued to explain, the second strange occurrence at the Dai family hotels was even more disturbing. According to reports from the guests, every night at a certain hour, they would hear the sounds of someone dancing outside. But when they opened the door, no one would be there. The security cameras also showed nothing. Yet, every single guest heard the sounds, which were unsettling enough to cause widespread panic. Over time, the Dai family’s hotels went bankrupt, and the family’s business empire crumbled.

This wasn’t just about their businesses—their family connections, their fortunes, everything was in decline. The once mighty Dai family had gone from being a top-tier family to a second-tier one.

Desperate, the elderly head of the Dai family sought the help of experts. After much investigation, they discovered the source of the family’s misfortune: the ancestral tombs.

The Dai family owned a sprawling mountain graveyard, housing the remains of their ancestors for centuries. As far as families go, they were one of the most well-preserved ancestral tombs in Zhonghai. Legend had it that their family had prospered because the tomb was situated along a dragon vein—what many believed to be the key to their family’s power and success. However, recently, something had gone wrong. Word was, the tomb had been cursed and turned into a place of undead spirits. According to the rumor, all the bodies in the tomb had turned into zombies.

What caused this? No one knew. But it was said that someone had cursed the graveyard, setting up a deadly trap to bring disaster upon the Dai family.

The Dai family had already tried hiring several experts to break the curse, but none had succeeded. In the end, in a desperate move, they offered a one-million-yuan reward for anyone who could solve the curse. This is where the Old Master had come in, and why they were all gathering here tonight.

After hearing all of this, it became clear to me. The reward wasn’t just a prize—it was a challenge. Anyone who could break the curse would claim the one million. As someone who practiced the art of Yin tattoos, I figured why not give it a shot? The opportunity to make money and see a different side of the world was too tempting to pass up.

Money was more precious than ever to me right now, and I wasn’t about to let this chance slip away, especially considering how little I respected that icy woman, Dai Jie Ying. She could look down on me all she wanted, but I was here for the money, not for her approval.

I asked Su Qing if she could take me with her. I wasn’t certain I could break the curse, but the chance to learn from other experts in the field was something I couldn’t pass up. Besides, I’d already planned to visit the internet café later, since Old Zhang had said the “old lady” wouldn’t show up until 3 a.m. This cursed tomb investigation wouldn’t interfere.

Su Qing looked reluctant. To be honest, she wasn’t interested in going herself—after all, the one million wasn’t much of a temptation for her. She knew that breaking this curse was nearly impossible, and with her current skill level, the chances of success were slim.

But I didn’t give up. I promised her that if she helped me out, I’d waive the two million debt. That seemed to change her mind. She sighed and agreed. “Fine, fine. But don’t blame me if things go wrong. I’m only doing this because you insist. Don’t expect me to do anything heroic.”

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“Deal. I won’t expect anything from you except to show me the way,” I replied, making it clear that if we were going into this, we were going in as a team, but ultimately, it was every man (or woman) for themselves.

At 8 p.m., Su Qing arrived, dressed in all black. Though the attire was somber, she still carried that playful air about her. She was the same, no matter what she wore.

She took me and Xiao Zi Xing in a car, and we soon found ourselves at the foot of a mountain.

The mountain was imposing and surrounded by thick forests and flowing rivers. The trees were lush and towering, and the peak seemed to pierce the sky.

“Great feng shui here!” Xiao Zi Xing exclaimed, eyes gleaming with excitement. “This isn’t just a rumor, it’s real! The dragon vein’s presence is so strong here. Look at the mountain’s peak—do you see it?”

“Hmm... It looks like... the head of a dragon,” I replied, squinting at the distant peak.

“Exactly! And see how it seems to be lifting its head? That’s the dragon raising its head pose! This is the land of prosperity. Whoever’s buried here will rise to greatness!” Xiao Zi Xing said with a sense of awe.

This seemed odd. If the mountain was as auspicious as he claimed, why would someone want to sabotage it? Who would place a curse on such a powerful site?

We spoke for a while longer, and then made our way up the mountain. By the time we reached the entrance, there were a number of bodyguards guarding the site, but fortunately, one of them recognized Su Qing and allowed us entry.

It took about half an hour to climb, but eventually, we arrived at the main burial ground. The entire mountain was dotted with graves, but the primary area of interest was located a bit lower, on the “dragon’s waist” according to Xiao Zi Xing. This was where the first ancestor had been buried, and it was said that anyone who received the blessing of this ancestor would soar to greatness.

When we arrived at the main grave site, I saw that there were about twenty or so people gathered around, all of them older men, discussing something in hushed tones.

Nearby was a large tomb with a very ornate tombstone. The tomb was open, and as we edged closer to get a better look, I could see the body inside the coffin.

To my horror, the corpse was well preserved—its skin had an eerie pallor, and strange black fur was growing from its neck. Its fingers were long and sharp, and two disturbing zombie fangs protruded from its mouth. This was no ordinary corpse; this thing looked like a real zombie. The sight made my blood run cold. It was far more terrifying than any zombie I had seen in movies.

I wasn’t the only one shocked. Even Xiao Zi Xing, who had been in this business for years, looked visibly unsettled. These weren’t the harmless ghosts or spirits we usually dealt with; these were the kind of undead that could tear you apart.

The crowd of “experts” around us seemed unmoved by the sight of the corpse. Most of them were elderly, with only a few young faces here and there. This wasn’t a crowd of ordinary people—they were all seasoned practitioners in the Yin arts, though none of them appeared to be too young.

Su Qing whispered to me, “You think this is bad? This is just the beginning. The whole mountain is filled with the remains of ancestors that have turned into zombies. If you’re bitten, you’ll become one of them.”

I couldn’t believe it. The entire mountain? How could so many graves have turned into zombie burial grounds? This was beyond terrifying.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of icy eyes staring at me. I turned around and saw Dai Jie Ying glaring at me, her face twisted in anger. She was clearly not happy that I had snuck in, but with so many people around, she didn’t dare make a scene. She merely glared at me, hoping I would leave on my own.

Not a chance. I wasn’t about to back down now.

I ignored her death stare and looked ahead. Among the people standing near the coffin, I noticed a man in a Taoist robe. He had long white hair and a beard, his face kind and wise. Beside him was a blind man wearing dark glasses and holding a cane. Both men seemed to be of the same age.

Behind them, I saw Dai Jie Ying helping an elderly man in a black suit. He looked to be in his seventies or eighties, and I guessed he was the head of the Dai family—the famous Dai Lao Ye.