Chapter Twenty: The Mysterious Cave

  After entering the Black Tiger Fort, Yun Xiang Tian asked: "Tiger Uncle, is it true that you can't bear to kill Hu San Cai and Wang Qi?"

  Zhen Shantiger nodded painfully and said, "Yes, we've been brothers for so many years. If things hadn't gotten so big, I would have turned a blind eye and let it slide. But this time, it's too big, not only do the brothers in the village know, but even the village elder has been alerted. It can't be suppressed by force. I'm also at a loss for what to do."

  Yun Xiang Tian said softly to Zhen Shan Hu: "Uncle Tiger, is this okay?..."

  Zhen Shantiger listened and was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing and said with a smile: "Wonderful, wonderful, really wonderful."

  Zhen Mountain Tiger and Yun Xiang Tian stood in front of the Buddha Hall of Hei Hu Village, looking at the gathered brothers. Zhen Mountain Tiger said loudly: "Brothers, I have already informed the village elder that we will punish the traitors, Hu San Cai and Wang Qi, with the cliff-falling punishment. Do you have any opinions?" Looking at the silent crowd, Zhen Mountain Tiger paused for a moment before continuing: "Since no one objects, bring those two scoundrels here! We'll carry out the execution at noon today." Looking at Hu San Cai and Wang Qi who were tightly bound, Zhen Mountain Tiger said again: "Do you two have anything to say?"

  "Hu Sancai shook his head and said: 'Great master, I, Hu Sancai, have nothing to say. I stole the Black Tiger Token and set up a mountain stronghold in a dangerous location. It was originally a crime punishable by death, but unexpectedly, the great master and Cloud Young Master did not hold past grudges, and with righteousness, they lent a hand and saved my son, continuing the Hu family's legacy. However, I, Hu Sancai, have committed too many heinous crimes, and this great kindness cannot be repaid in this lifetime. I can only repay it in the next life.'"

  Wang Qi followed, laughing loudly and saying: "Tiger Big Brother, Yun Young Master. I, a humble one, can follow you through life and death once in this lifetime, and it's not in vain to come to the world for a walk. My family has already been saved, and there is no regret. Knowing that my crimes are numerous, I ask to die to atone for past wrongs."

  Looking at the two of them with no resentment, Yun Xiang Tian said quietly: These two people are as hard as iron, if they weren't controlled by someone and suffered a sneak attack, they would be considered to be quite capable men. Who knows what will happen to them after this incident...

  Only heard Zhen Shantiger say: "You two have already confessed. Let's execute at noon, your family members will be my family members from now on, you don't need to worry."

  Hu Sancai burst out laughing and said: "Good, the two of us are guilty and deserving of punishment. The master is so chivalrous that we have no more worries. I only regret that I couldn't kill a few little Japanese to vent my anger, but it's really a bit unbearable. I can only hope that Master and Yun Gongzi will kill a few more to help us two vent our grievances."

  Yun Xiang Tian suddenly said: "You two really have guts, dare to kill little devils?"

  Wang Qi smiled miserably and said, "Third Brother, it's all my fault for dragging you into this. Letting Young Master Yun see us like this, how can our Black Tiger Fort produce such a coward? That little devil of a Japanese has provoked us without reason, I'd love to flay him alive and eat his flesh, why would we fear that dog of a Japanese?" He spoke with gritted teeth. Hu Sancai also shook his head in frustration, smiling bitterly.

  Yun Xiang Tian smiled and said: "The two of you are indeed not disappointing the spirit of a great man, very good. Tiger Uncle, the Black Tiger Token has been returned to its rightful owner. Hu Da Ge and Wang Da Ge also have the determination to kill the enemy. We will let them go and continue to pretend to be in contact with the little devils, to understand their routes, so as to better eliminate them and protect our mountain stronghold from being threatened. Brothers, what do you think?"

  Everyone was sympathetic to Hu Sancai and Wang Qi anyway, and the mountain stronghold had not been damaged, so everyone shouted loudly: "Let's go, let's go..."

  Yun Xiangtian smiled and asked Zhen Shantiger, "Uncle Tiger, do you think it's okay?" Zhen Shantiger nodded vigorously. Yun Xiangtian turned around and waved his hand to stop the crowd from shouting, saying: "Everyone, quiet down! The great leader of the Black Tiger Fort has agreed to release Hu Sancai and Wang Qi, and let them continue to serve the Black Tiger Fort. However, Brother Sancai and Brother Wang Qi need to go down the mountain for a trip, to settle their families, in case the little devils notice something that would be unfavorable to our Black Tiger Fort. What do you all think?"

  With a burst of applause, Yun Xiang led Hu Sancai and Wang Qi down the mountain. That night, the Eighth Route Army Independent Brigade in Qilin Mountain received a radio transmitter and some important intelligence about the Japanese army at Lingfeng.

  Yun Xiang Tian returned to An Min Village after dinner and gave Hong Shan Gu a detailed account of the entire process of Hei Hu Village's treatment of Hu San Cai and Wang Qi. After listening, Hong Shan Gu suddenly asked seriously: "Yu Er, tell me the truth, are you from the Eighth Route Army?"

  "Eldest Aunt, do you want me to be a member of the Eighth Route Army? What's your view on them?"

  "Hey, you little scamp! I ask you something and you turn around and ask me instead. What's wrong, are you afraid I'll find out your secrets? You sly thing!" She let out a soft sigh and said, "Honestly, whether it's the Nationalist Party or the Communist Party, as long as they're genuinely fighting against the Japanese devils, I'll give them a big thumbs up. Sometimes I even suspect that Monk Uncle is with the Eighth Route Army - he often goes down the mountain for several days at a time and comes back saying how great the Communists are and how well the Eighth Route Army is doing. And then he wants me to go down the mountain with him to take a stroll around Qilin Mountain. Isn't that ridiculous?"

  Two people were chatting enthusiastically, when a person walked in from outside the door, it was Yan Xue. Yan Xue walked to the front of Hong Shan and bowed saying: "Greetings Mountain Village Master, Xue has paid her respects. Xue has been ordered by her master to specially invite Young Master Yun, to visit our humble abode for a short while, I wonder if Young Master Yun would be willing to follow me there?"

  Hong Shangu took over and said: "Now that it's getting late, can't Yu'er go tomorrow instead?"

  Yun Xiang smiled brightly and said, "Auntie, since they've invited us with such enthusiasm, it wouldn't be right to not go, would it? I think I'll just follow Yan Xue's lead this time. I've been in the mountains for so long without visiting her family, which was already my fault. If I were to make excuses and not go today, that would be even more unbecoming. What do you say, Auntie?"

  Hong Shangu still wanted to say something, but before she could open her mouth, Yan Xue rushed to say: "Since that's the case, Mountain Girl Village Master, Snow will take her leave. Cloud Young Master, let's go." She picked up the lantern and headed out.

  Yan Xue brought Yun Xiang Tian to the entrance of a cave. Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself, "Unexpectedly, behind my room where I used to catch birds, this mountain cave actually still holds secrets."

  Yan Xue lit three incense sticks at the entrance of the cave, knelt down and piously knocked her head on the ground three times. Then she said to Yun Xiang Tian: "You come and knock your head too!"

  Yun Xiang Tian was taken aback and laughed: "What? To see your master, you still have to kowtow first?"

  Yan Xue said in a low voice: "Don't talk nonsense, this is the incense for the heroic spirit in the cave. Quickly kneel down and kowtow."

  Yun Xiang Tian laughed and said, "Yan Xue, you're scaring me. What's with all the ghostly stuff? Isn't it all just an act? Are you trying to trick me again?"

  Yan Xue put her index finger to her lips and made a "shh" sound, saying in a pleading tone: "Be quiet, be quiet, don't startle the ghost inside. I'm just pretending, but it's not, hurry up and kneel down to kowtow, come on, you're so slow."

  Yun Xiang Tian no longer paid attention to Yan Xue, he picked up the lamp and said: "Miss Yan Xue, you can slowly kowtow here. I'll go in first and pave the way for you." With that, he stepped into the cave.

  Yan Xue didn't bow again, she got up and chased after him, following behind Yun Xiang Tian's back, muttering softly: "Don't blame him, don't blame him, this foolish kid doesn't know the depth of things, everyone don't blame him..."

  Yun Xiang Tian turned back to look at Yan Xue with a cold smile, but found that she didn't seem to be pretending. She was closely following behind Yun Xiang Tian, nervously looking around in all directions, one hand grasping the hem of his clothes, appearing somewhat flustered and frightened. Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself: Could it be that she really got scared here? If so, then this is too amusing. You wanted to dress up as a ghost to scare me, now let the ghost scare you instead. This is called retribution. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but want to laugh, feeling a bit pleased with himself.

  As they walked further, Yun Xiangtian felt Yan Xue becoming more and more tense. He also felt a bit tense himself. The ground of the cave was already littered with scattered human bones, either skulls or severed limbs. Yan Xue no longer grabbed his collar but instead held onto his hand. Yun Xiangtian clearly felt that Yan Xue's hands were trembling. Now he understood why Hong Shangu didn't want him to come at night, and why Yan Xue was so afraid, wanting to burn incense and pray. Was there really a ghost here? He didn't believe it; as a materialist, he didn't believe in the existence of ghosts in this world. But what was that thing up ahead? Yan Xue's hands wrapped around Yun Xiangtian's arm, and she whispered in panic: "Ah, he's coming! He's coming! I told you to kowtow and make an offering, but you didn't listen. What do we do now?" Yun Xiangtian handed the lamp over to her hand and patted Yan Xue's still-clinging left arm with his right hand: "Don't be afraid, move aside, I'll deal with him."

  The corpse had a purplish-red scalp that was split open, revealing a dark red skull. The rotting flesh on its face hung down in chunks, as if it might fall off at any moment. Its body was covered in a nauseating substance that looked like pus, emitting a stench like rotting meat. Its belly was swollen and round, with some areas already bursting open, intestines dangling from the rotten skin, swaying back and forth as it moved. It slowly approached Yun Xiang Tian, its mouth still gasping for air with loud, gurgling sounds.

  Yun Xiang Tian felt his whole body numb, his sweat-soaked clothes clinging to him. He suppressed the fear in his heart and prepared for a fatal blow. Suddenly, Yan Xue let out a shrill cry. Yun Xiang Tian turned around to see a white skull tightly embracing Yan Xue. He quickly turned back to rescue her, only to see Yan Xue swinging a lantern at the skull, accompanied by a clear ringing sound and Yan Xue's terrified voice. The cave was suddenly plunged into darkness.

  Yun Xiang Tian shouted out Yan Xue's name, feeling his way towards her position. Suddenly, he felt a tight grip around his waist. He quickly used his waist strength to sink down, striking backwards with his right elbow. All he heard was a dull thud, and Yun Xiang Tian felt a wave of stench wash over him. The force binding his waist disappeared, and he kicked back with one foot, only to hear a low rumbling sound. He knew he had kicked against the stone wall of the cave.

  Ignoring his own pain, Yun Xiang Tian shouted out Yan Xue's name again, feeling his way towards her direction. His left foot was grabbed once more and pulled backwards. This time, he didn't care about fear; he used his left foot to anchor himself and kicked at the place where his foot was being held. His chest was heavily struck, and he fell to the ground. Just as all hope seemed lost, a whistling sound came from the entrance of the cave, followed by a light moving towards him.

  A middle-aged woman came, about the same age as Hong Shangu. He helped Cloud Soar Tian up and asked, "Are you seriously injured?" Cloud Soar Tian shook his head and said, "It's okay, not serious." He dragged his injured leg towards Yan Xue. Yan Xue was not injured, just fainted from shock. Only then did Cloud Soar Tian feel at ease, slowly sitting down beside Yan Xue and calling out her name. When he saw Yan Xue slowly waking up, he finally had time to turn around and talk: "Who are you? Thank you for saving us."

  A middle-aged woman pointed at Yan Xue and said: "My surname is Wang, she is my slave, and you are Yun Gongzi, Yun Xiangtian?"

  Yun Xiang was startled in his heart and thought to himself: She is the master of Yan Xue, so she must be the female leader of the Ghost Village. He then stood up and said: "I have seen Madame Wang."