The old Taoist priest, looking hurried, his wide robe fluttering in the wind, left the temple with a group of officers, their steps quick as a gust of wind. They traveled non-stop for a full day, until the familiar outline of Pixian County came into view; they were now in the vicinity of Chengdu Prefecture.
As soon as he stepped into Pixian County, the old Taoist's gaze settled on a figure—an old acquaintance. This man was from Dujiangyan, his eyes revealing a cunning and forthrightness born of years of experience in the martial world. He had spent his childhood navigating the harsh realities of life, his scars like badges of honor, each one telling a thrilling story. He used to frequently visit the Taoist temple wounded, always carrying a heart full of sincerity, never empty-handed. Over time, their friendship deepened.
Despite his constant fighting and killing, he's incredibly adept at navigating interpersonal relationships. Currently, he serves as the deputy regimental commander under Liu Xiang, responsible for logistics. While nominally in charge, he also secretly engages in the resale of military supplies, and his methods are remarkably sophisticated, allowing him to thrive in this complex and murky environment.
"Deputy Commander Yu, haha, it's been a long time! You've really been promoted!" The old Taoist priest smiled broadly, his eyes filled with the joy of reuniting with an old friend. He strode towards Deputy Commander Yu and firmly grasped his hands.
Deputy Commander Yu also greeted him with great enthusiasm: "Taoist Master, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you! I've called you here because there's a thorny issue."
"Oh? What could possibly be troubling you?" The old Taoist priest asked, intrigued.
"Not far from here in Pengshan, there is an ancient tomb. It is said to be the tomb of a general under Zhang Xianzhong during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. When the general was defeated in Chengdu and fled, he passed through Pengshan and was buried there. There are dozens of boxes of gold, silver and jade artifacts inside, which are priceless!" Deputy Regiment Commander Yu said, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light.
"This sounds like a big tomb, but can't your army handle something like this?" the old Taoist asked doubtfully.
"Hey, you wouldn't believe it. Villagers nearby stumbled upon a burial tomb containing dozens of people, all women and children, who appeared to have been killed in a panic. We've been searching for the main tomb entrance for over ten days with over a hundred men, but we're still at a loss." Deputy Regiment Commander Yu frowned, his face full of helplessness.
The old Taoist stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "It seems this tomb is no ordinary one."
“Yes, that’s why I thought of you, the successor of Yunjizi from the Qingcheng Mountain Taoist Temple. Your special skills might be able to survey the area within a hundred meters of this tomb!” Deputy Commander Yu looked intently at the old Taoist, his eyes filled with anticipation.
The old Taoist waved his hand slightly, "Rest for a day, we'll set off for Pengshan tomorrow." His voice echoed in the air, exuding an unquestionable authority.
Night fell silently, as dark as ink. The old Taoist priest drifted off to sleep on his couch, yet his brow furrowed intermittently in his dreams. A hidden legend seemed to churn in his mind. It was a folk rhyme, like an ancient incantation, sung for centuries through the ages. Who could have imagined that this rhyme would ultimately become the "secret to finding" Zhang Xianzhong's vast treasure? Just a few years ago, the mystery of this century-old rhyme was slowly unveiled, the legend confirmed, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. "Stone dragon faces stone tiger, gold and silver worth millions, whoever can decipher the riddle, can buy Chengdu Prefecture," these simple words have lingered over Jiangkou Town, Pengshan District, Meishan City for far too long. Like a magic key, it has drawn countless people onto the perilous path of pursuing Zhang Xianzhong's treasure.
The next morning, before the sun had fully risen and only a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon, the group of several hundred people were already busy. After a quick breakfast, the horses pulling the carts snorted and pawed the ground incessantly, seemingly impatient to get started. The procession marched in a grand procession towards Meishan and Pengshan, kicking up clouds of dust along the way.
After two long days of travel, a majestic mountain came into view. At its foot, a mysterious force seemed to beckon. After venturing more than ten miles into the mountain, a small valley came into view. The valley was lush and verdant, like a green ocean; a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if telling ancient stories. A clear spring flowed down the mountain, forming a pond about an acre in size, its water shimmering like a mirror. The mysterious tomb lay a hundred meters away on the mountainside. The tomb appeared extremely simple, only two meters deep. The remains had already been removed and placed on the mountainside, exuding a desolate air. The tomb was empty, devoid of any artifacts or even a trace of an entrance. The old Taoist frowned slightly and slowly said, "It's getting late. We'll explore the surrounding area again tomorrow." His words echoed in the valley, carrying a heavy tone.
At midnight, in the stillness of the night, the tent flap was gently lifted, and the old Taoist priest emerged like a ghost. Moonlight spilled onto the pond beside the camp, creating shimmering ripples. Alone, the old priest first paced clockwise around the pond, each step seemingly imbued with a certain rhythm. Within moments, his internal energy activated, and a faint light seemed to flow around him. Then, he walked counter-clockwise, his steps steady and deliberate.
Just then, the old Taoist priest suddenly paused. He keenly sensed something unusual in the middle of the pond. There was a large pit there, and inside the pit, he could vaguely make out a pile of objects, but the darkness made it impossible to see what they were. However, the old Taoist priest had already made up his mind, so he turned around and went back to his tent to sleep.
The next morning, the sunlight dispelled the morning mist. The old Taoist led Deputy Commander Yu to the small pond. He calmly pointed to the middle of the pond and slowly said, "What you are looking for is in the middle of this pond. Have someone drain the water, and you will find it." Upon hearing this, Deputy Commander Yu's eyes lit up, and his face lit up with joy. He hurriedly called for people to drain the water.
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