Chapter 25 Xiangweng Temple ①①·Similar People: Ayin Who Loves Learning...
Lan Shuyin considers the word "also" to be very essential.
It was a question about both the snake-kissing ear and the blood orchid of the breathing soil, without appearing too deliberate.
If he answers, he'll inevitably reveal some information.
Kui Li chuckled softly, as if she could see through her thoughts.
"Whether it's valuable or not depends on who it is." His gaze swept over the ruins behind him. "For those seeking immortality, it's a death warrant, but if the method is unorthodox enough, it can also be a rare medicinal ingredient."
"A medicinal ingredient?" Lan Shuyin had a flash of inspiration and suddenly remembered the strange inscriptions on the inside of the stone coffin.
"Is it related to the Feng Zhi family's method of raising people? What's that called... the 'medicinal feeding and acupuncture point method'?"
Upon hearing this, Kui Li paused almost imperceptibly.
He turned his head, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, but quickly said, "Although the 'Huiwen Sui' grows alongside corpses and thrives in damp, shady places, it is an extremely yang creature. The older generation believes it can ward off evil spirits and protect against villains from all directions. As for using it to feed on corpses and burying it in burial sites..."
He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words, a fleeting gloom flashing across his eyes.
“That’s a cruel and irreversible, extremely Yin secret technique, it has nothing to do with that flower. Even if it did…” Kui Li’s voice deepened slightly, a hint of cold in her clear and gentle voice, “I also find my hands dirty.”
Lan Shuyin was speechless.
Her original intention was simply to find out more about Feng Zhi's family, but he misunderstood it as a questioning of her character.
Who would have thought that this person, who seems so casual and carefree, actually values his image so much?
Although she was inwardly grumbling, Lan Shuyin didn't show it. "That's not what I meant. I just suddenly thought of the inscription on the stone coffin and thought that the flowers growing around it were related to that kind of evil magic."
Kui Li shook his head, "It's just a method used by the coffin maker to guard against thieves."
As they talked, the person in front pushed aside the rocks and emerged from a hidden crevice in the rocks behind the mountain. Although the entrance had been sealed off after the tomb passage collapsed yesterday, the shifting rocks had unexpectedly created a narrow gap above.
As soon as he got away, Yao Huaiyu turned around and headed down the mountain without stopping for a moment.
Seeing this, Chen Bin rushed forward and blocked his way, asking, "Where are you going?"
Yao Huaiyu impatiently pushed his arm away, "The mission is complete, of course it's time to go back and report."
"No!" Chen Bin said firmly, not giving an inch. "We have to get to the stone tower first!"
"Are you kidding me?" Yao Huaiyu scoffed, his bruised face showing annoyance and fear. "Didn't you see what happened to your brother and the others? This place is very strange. I advise you not to be foolish. It's wise of you to get down the mountain as soon as possible!"
Chen Bin suddenly grabbed his collar, his eyes bloodshot. "You promised my brother that you would fulfill the Jiang family's request for him! Are you going to go back on your word?"
Seeing that the two were on the verge of conflict, Lan Shuyin silently took two steps back to avoid being accidentally injured.
As she stepped back, Wei Li subtly took a step forward, using most of his body to shield her from view, creating a subtle protective stance without completely blocking her view of the scene.
Lan Shuyin was taken aback, her gaze falling on the young man's tall back and the back of his head, a hint of surprise flashing through her mind.
This person may seem aloof, but in crucial moments they are quite considerate and thoughtful, and know how to protect others.
The thought had barely formed in her mind when she involuntarily recalled his cold-blooded methods towards Qi Weiwei yesterday, and immediately tried to justify it in her mind: Hmm, this gentlemanly demeanor is probably only effective on the living. Dealing with ghosts is another matter entirely.
"That was due to circumstances, it was a strategy!" Yao Huaiyu said coldly. "The rules of the bureau are to prioritize the preservation of our living forces! To let me risk my life for the sake of a dead man's obsession? What a joke!"
"Rules? You're talking to me about rules?" Chen Bin laughed angrily. "When you lied to me, used me, and took it upon yourself to deal with my brother, did you ever think about the rules? Are promises so worthless in your eyes?"
"What's a promise worth? Going to the stone pagoda now would be suicide!" Yao Huaiyu completely lost his patience, pushed the person away with all his might, and then turned around without hesitation and ran down the mountain at an astonishing speed!
Chen Bin staggered to his feet, his eyes practically spitting fire, his roar echoing through the valley, "Yao Huaiyu! You bastard! Don't run!"
Watching the two disappear into the end of the mountain road like arrows, Lan Shuyin stared in disbelief, muttering to herself, "That speed... it's such a pity they're not going to the Olympic Games to win glory for the country."
She remembered something and turned to look at Wei Li beside her, only to see him leaning against a rock, looking at her with a faint smile on his lips, neither saying he would leave nor stay.
She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Kui Li, are you a treasure hunter?"
Kui Li leaned back, his posture relaxed, and nodded quite frankly, "Yes." As if seeing through her hesitation, he added generously, "Ask me anything you want to know."
His posture suggested that he would answer any question she asked.
Lan Shuyin's face lit up with joy, and she immediately asked, "So, how good are your lock-picking skills?"
"..."
The confident smile on Wei Li's lips faltered slightly, clearly not expecting that after so much buildup, her question would be this.
But he quickly chuckled, seemingly understanding her intention, and calmly straightened up. "Let's go, let's go take a look."
The two avoided the main gate and went around to the back gate of Xiangweng Temple. The slanting afternoon sunlight cast long shadows of the stone pagoda, adding to its loneliness.
On that heavy, low white stone door hung an old lock, its surface stained with copper rust but its structure sturdy.
Kui Li touched the brass lock, his slender fingers lightly tracing the keyhole before he swiftly and deftly took out two uniquely shaped, delicate tools from his satchel.
Lan Shuyin was admiring his technique when she suddenly heard him ask without turning his head, "Aren't you afraid of being cursed for going in so persistently?"
"I'm scared," she said honestly. "But I won't touch her, so the curse shouldn't be on me, right? Besides... there are some things I want to understand more than just unseen and intangible legends."
Upon hearing this, Wei Li turned his head to look at her, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. At the same time, he deftly twisted his wrist, and the copper lock opened with a click.
The tower was dark inside, and the familiar yet strangely rich fragrance was very strong.
Lan Shuyin, with a clear goal in mind, headed straight for the inscription in the corner. Just as she was about to take her headlamp out of her backpack, she heard a soft "snap"—
Kui Li found an old switch hidden behind the door. A dim yellow light bulb hanging from the ceiling lit up, its light weak but enough to dispel the darkness.
The interior of this stone tower is round at the top and square at the bottom, with walls constructed of stacked stones, bearing large traces of faded and peeling murals. In the center of the tower stands the mummified body of Venerable Xiangweng, surrounded by a thick layer of dust, clearly indicating it has been neglected for a long time.
Lan Shuyin adjusted the camera's focus, carefully photographing the inscriptions on the black stone tablet.
Noticing Kui Li's gaze fixed on her, she couldn't help but look up. "Aren't you going to look around?"—Why are you staring at me like that?
Kui Li curled her lips and said, "This place is not interesting without you, A Yin."
He pronounced "A-Yin" in a slightly teasing tone, and Lan Shuyin's heart skipped a beat for no reason. She inexplicably thought of Boss Wei, who used to call her that too.
Speaking of which, the two of them do have somewhat similar voices, except that Wei Li's voice is clearer and his tone always carries a hint of nonchalant frivolity.
Boss Wei, on the other hand, was more gentle and reserved.
"What are you thinking about?" Kui Li's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Lan Shuyin gave a vague "hmm" and pointed to the stone tablet, "I'm studying what's written on it."
Upon hearing this, Wei Li finally moved. He slowly walked to her side, bent down, and examined the black stone tablet, weathered by time and with faded inscriptions.
Seeing him reach out to touch the monument, Lan Shuyin instinctively grabbed his wrist. "Don't touch it! I touched it yesterday and fell right down."
Kui Li paused, withdrew his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on the inscription.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, “It’s in the style of Wei stele, and the characters are very blurry due to its age.” He paused, then added, “It roughly records the origin of this Venerable Incense Master.”
His finger hovered above the surface of the monument, slowly moving along the deep and ancient strokes, as he murmured:
“Feng Zhi’s daughter, a native of Qiangquan.”
"He was versed in the netherworld from a young age and possessed a compassionate nature. He used his body as a vessel to receive wandering souls and suppress resentment."
"At the age of coming of age, his spirit returned to the ruins, his body remained incorrupt, and his form was immortal. He was the incarnation of Venerable Xiangweng."
"Therefore, the statue is erected here for future generations to worship and to forever guard the sacred mountain."
The inscription was simple, and his voice was steady and clear, each word seeming to strike the heart.
Lan Shuyin seemed to see a girl who was firmly bound by the fate of her family and the shadow of the times, and after being drained of her last bit of value, she was imprisoned here with the title of a god.
She was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Isn't her name written on it?"
"What?"
“There’s only ‘Feng Zhi’s daughter.’” Lan Shuyin pointed to a spot on the stone tablet and pressed, “Where’s her own name? Isn’t it written here?”
"Perhaps it's due to some kind of taboo or controversy." Wei Li's answer was ambiguous. He turned his head, his gaze probing her face. "Are you interested?"
His question was vague, it was unclear whether he was referring to the Fengzhi family, the physical statue, or specifically the inscription on the stele.
Lan Shuyin hesitated for a moment, then decided it was appropriate to reveal some of the truth, and said seriously, "To be honest, I've recently encountered some trouble, which I think is related to the Feng Zhi family. Do you think this physical body might be the Feng Zhi Zhaoxue mentioned in the cenotaph below?"
Kui Li remained silent.
Seeing this, Lan Shuyin sighed inwardly. If this matter hadn't involved her, she truly wouldn't have wanted to press others about a secret they wouldn't discuss.
She raised her eyes, gazing at Wei Li who was so close to her, and continued to press, "Just now in that basement, your reaction when you saw that portrait... You know the girl in the painting, right?"
“I just didn’t expect there to be a painting hidden here…” Kui Li’s lips moved slightly, and after a long pause, a rare and complex emotion flashed across his eyes, as if some kind of weighing was emerging.
After a moment, he sighed softly, “It’s alright to tell you. That portrait is the work of… an old friend of mine. She painted quite a lot, and over the years, I’ve been collecting her works that have been scattered around. But this one is different. She once gave it to me herself, and then destroyed it in front of me. I always thought she really destroyed it, but I never expected…”
"An old friend?" Lan Shuyin was taken aback. Her first thought was, a friend despite the age gap? After all, the painting looked quite old.
But listening to his description, the unusual pauses and reminiscences in his words made me instinctively feel that it was a woman.
And it should be a woman of similar age to him.
An almost absurd conjecture flashed through Lan Shuyin's mind like lightning, only to be suppressed by reason.
Lan Shuyin carefully chose her words and tentatively asked, "Is your old friend a member of the Feng Zhi family?"
"Yes and no." Wei Li seemed to quickly recover from the momentary gloom, her tone returning to its usual light smile. "She was born into the Feng Zhi family, but she ran away when she was very young and gave herself a new name a long time ago. If she heard someone say that she was from the Feng Zhi family, she would definitely be furious."
Lan Shuyin paused, feeling a little embarrassed to say what she was about to say, but still asked with a blush, "Um, could I see her?"
She knew that this request was somewhat abrupt. At best, she and Wei Li were just casual acquaintances who had met a few times; they were only slightly more familiar than strangers.
He didn't even know her full name—she only mentioned that her surname was Lan and told him to call her "Sister Yin," but he never asked.
But the thought that her old friend might know more about Feng Zhi's family made her unable to resist asking.
However, Wei Li did not show any sign of being offended; she simply sighed helplessly, "She's gone."
Lan Shuyin's heart sank to the bottom, and her face showed undisguised disappointment.
Perhaps her disappointed expression was too obvious, a hint of doubt flashed in Wei Li's eyes, "Are you looking for someone from Feng Zhi's family?"
"Mm." Lan Shuyin nodded.
"Why?" he pressed, his gaze becoming focused.
“Sigh, this is a bit…” Lan Shuyin hesitated for a few seconds before finally deciding to tell the truth, “It might be a bit bizarre, but it seems that someone has mistaken me for someone from Feng Zhi’s family and has been targeting me.”
She recounted in detail how she started receiving strange black envelopes a year ago.
Logically speaking, she should have been extremely cautious about such a secret matter that involved her own safety, since anyone who appeared seemingly by chance could be the mastermind behind it all.
But for some reason, she had a gut feeling that Wei Li wasn't the one.
Even though they had only known each other briefly, this inexplicable sense of trust was exceptionally clear.
After listening to her story, Wei Li remained silent for a long time.
His eyes were lowered, and his long, thick eyelashes cast a light shadow on his face, obscuring most of his expression.
If she had to describe it, Lan Shuyin felt that the warm light outlining him made him look very cold.
However, Lan Shuyin didn't pay attention, thinking it was just an illusion caused by the dim lighting. She even sighed self-deprecatingly, "Tell me, am I unlucky?"
As if startled by her words, Wei Li raised her eyes, first slowly shaking her head, then curving her lips into a gentle smile, "You became a blogger because you yearn for the unknown and are passionate about exploration, so naturally you will attract some extraordinary events to come to you, waiting for you to uncover the mystery."
"Isn't it amazing how everything in the world is interconnected by cause and effect, and how things attract each other when they resonate with the same frequency?"
Lan Shuyin was taken aback.
When Wei Li gets serious, he seems to possess a unique charm. No matter how complex or difficult a matter is, when he speaks about it, it always takes on a convincing and comforting perspective. And it always sounds exceptionally reasonable.
Just like now, after hearing his explanation, the lingering gloom in her heart strangely dissipated somewhat. The dark hand lurking in the shadows no longer seemed so unsettling.
...
The mountain wind swept through the withered branches, bringing with it a desolate, mournful sound.
Yao Huaiyu carried Chen Bin, whom he had knocked unconscious, and hurried down the rugged mountain path. He deliberately avoided the path he had come by, his figure moving quickly through the dappled shadows of the trees until he reached the long-abandoned forest ranger station at the foot of the mountain.
Yang Hao and Lin Mu, who had been anxiously waiting there, rushed to greet Yao Huaiyu as soon as he appeared from the woods. "Captain Yao! You've finally arrived..."
The conversation abruptly stopped—not only because they noticed Yao's disheveled appearance with bruises and swelling, but also because they noticed Chen Bin on his back.
"What's going on?" Yang Hao asked in surprise.
Without pausing, Yao Huaiyu deftly removed Chen Bin from his shoulder and transferred him to Yang Hao's shoulder. "Keep an eye on him. We'll discuss the details when we get back."
His expression was not good, and Lin Mu, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but ask, "Captain Yao, what about the Soul-Guiding Necklace..."
Yao Huaiyu dusted off the corner of his clothes and said in a serious tone, "Xiangweng Temple is a dangerous place. The situation is unclear right now, and the information may not be accurate. Let's not act rashly. Let's go back and discuss it further."
“But…” Lin Mu was a little unwilling, but was stopped by a sharp look from Yao Huaiyu.
“No buts.” Yao Huaiyu said decisively, “Whether to advance or retreat, I know what I’m doing. At least we’ve already got those few Earthbound Spirits.”
Having said that, he said no more, turned around and strode towards the parking lot. Yang Hao and Lin Mu exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and confusion in each other's eyes, but they could only suppress their questions and quickly follow, carrying Chen Bin on their backs.
...
"Kui Li, how much do you know about Feng Zhi's family? For example, how should I find them?"
"As far as I know, the Fengzhi clan disappeared fifty years ago. It is unclear whether any branches have scattered elsewhere. But the main line is probably extinct."
"Then, there's no other way?"
"Not necessarily. I can try to find out. What exactly do you want to know?"
"I want to know about this person, 'Feng Zhi Zhao Yin'."
The road down the mountain was rugged and long.
Lan Shuyin recalled her conversation with Kui Li before they parted, and felt a heavy weight pressing on her heart.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin, that name is that stone.
Her intuition told her that there must be a connection between "Feng Zhi Zhao Yin" and "Feng Zhi Zhao Xue". Perhaps they were twin sisters, different names for the same person, or perhaps it was related to inheritance?
But suspicion is just suspicion. Without evidence, should we risk unknown dangers to study that ominous mummified statue up close?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Lan Shuyin suppressed it—the risk was too great; she couldn't gamble with her life.
A sense of powerlessness quietly spread.
The clues seemed so close, yet shrouded in mystery. Wei Li agreed to help inquire, but what were the chances? Besides waiting passively, what else could she do? And which direction should she begin her investigation from?
"girl!"
Suddenly, a hoarse but powerful call came from behind her, interrupting her thoughts.
Lan Shuyin suddenly turned around and found that the person who had called out to her was the old man who had repaired locks in front of the temple earlier. His back was severely hunched, but his steps were unusually steady, and he caught up with her in a few steps.
As she approached, the old man didn't say much. His cloudy yet sharp eyes stared at her for a long time, as if trying to find some familiar trace in them.
"Grandpa, is there something you need?" Feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze, Lan Shuyin asked in confusion.
“Those who truly revere her… have never abandoned Xiangweng Temple.” Suddenly, the old man spoke out of the blue.
He looked toward Xiangweng Temple, his voice hoarse and stubborn with a sense of vicissitude, “Those people wanted her to slowly decay like that, but the believers refused. They worked desperately to keep her resting place clean and dignified, even after they were martyred, they still did the same.”
Lan Shuyin was stunned for a moment before she realized what the old man was talking about.
Were the volunteers she saw at Xiangweng Temple really dead?
The old woman turned her gaze back to Lan Shuyin, her eyes filled with a complex mix of sadness, hope, and a hint of hatred that Lan Shuyin couldn't decipher, which inexplicably made Lan Shuyin's heart tighten.
"I just want her to know that not everyone has abandoned her. There are still many people in this world who are doing their own thing... to cherish the little bit of memory she left behind."
After saying this, the old man seemed to have lost much of his energy, his back appearing even more hunched and aged. He stopped looking at her, silently turned around, and staggered away into the forest he had come from.
Although she felt puzzled, Lan Shuyin didn't take it to heart. She just thought the old man spoke fluent Mandarin, and as for anything else...
Older people are bound to be talkative and prone to rambling, often reminiscing about life to everyone they meet.
...
Back at the hotel, they were sure to be subjected to a "double whammy" from Li Yang and Xuan Bingbing.
The two of them went back and forth, firing off accusations at Lan Shuyin for acting recklessly and completely disregarding her own safety.
Lan Shuyin was initially upset, but their sudden outpouring of concern actually eased much of the pent-up frustration in her heart.
She tried to defend herself, saying, "I just went hiking, what danger could there be? You guys are exaggerating."
Li Yang was speechless for a moment, but Xuan Bingbing reacted quickly, immediately taking out her phone, opening a local news push, and almost shoving the screen in front of Lan Shuyin's eyes, "Hiking? Look for yourself! The news said that Xiangweng Temple was closed at noon!"
Lan Shuyin took a closer look and saw that the news headline was concise and eye-catching: "Sudden situation at Xiangweng Mountain, police urgently close the mountain for investigation."
The accompanying photo shows yellow police tape and the glaring lights of police cars, with several officers on duty at the entrance to a mountain road. But at the edge of the photo, a figure wearing an airtight white protective suit is walking towards the top of the mountain.
Xuan Bingbing's tone carried a hint of lingering fear, "I saw online that rockfalls have been particularly frequent in Xiangweng Mountain lately, and you could get hurt just walking on the road! I think there was an official expedition team that... just like that, they were wiped out. It's really worrying to see you go to a place like that by yourself! We don't dare call you casually, afraid that you'll be distracted in that dangerous environment, so we can only worry helplessly. We were just saying that if you don't come back by six o'clock, we'll call the police to look for you!"
Seeing that things were not going well, Lan Shuyin immediately made a painful decision, sincerely admitted her mistake, and deeply reflected on her rash behavior.
After her two friends gave her another long and earnest lecture, they finally took pity on her and let her go.
Lan Shuyin slipped back to her room, closed the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.
The day's events left her physically and mentally exhausted. But she forced herself to cheer up and first checked the computer.
There are no new messages in the blog backend.
I tried to contact them with a slim hope, but there was no response, which was expected, so I wasn't too disappointed.
Lan Shuyin sighed softly, straightened up, took off her dusty coat, and went into the bathroom. She turned on the shower and let the warm water pour down over her head.
Surrounded by the sound of water, she began to review and analyze the situation.
Xiangweng Temple, Kuili, and those seemingly resurrected "ghosts"...
One incident after another flashed through my mind.
A calm thought suddenly surfaced: After all that she's been through, is she still a normal person now?
As she came out of the bathroom, Lan Shuyin subconsciously glanced under the door.
It was empty; there was nothing there.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a sense of inexplicable disappointment.
Logically speaking, since she once again set foot in a sinister place like Xiangweng Temple, that black envelope should have reappeared, right?
Was her judgment wrong? Was there another reason for the appearance of that letter?
After standing at the door for a while, Lan Shuyin slowly lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking silently—will there be any more strange and bizarre things tonight?
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