Chapter 21: Investigating the Truth of Sima

  Sim Lin heard that I had a question to ask him, and he curiously approached me with a curious face. Seeing this, I patted his shoulder and said apologetically: "Fifth brother, this time everyone went to Mount Heng not only to help you fulfill your request to dig up the ancient tomb of Mount Heng, but also because I have something more important that needs your help. Maybe under the vast sky, only you can help your brother, don't blame me for being selfish."

  "Big brother, you're being too polite. We're all straightforward people, if there's something on your mind, just say it. As long as we're brothers, I'll do whatever I can to help, even if it means going through fire and water, I won't hesitate." Sima Lin saw that I had some concerns and quickly used his words to dispel my worries.

  "Alright, I'll get straight to the point. I've already told you about my trip to Miao Mountain in Guizhou a while back. Although it was supposed to be a mission to cure the deceased Miao King's Blood Eye, I ended up getting entangled with the Snake Spirit Pearl and later had to gather all of our brothers to take down that treacherous Mu Yunfeng. However, my true purpose for going to Miao Mountain was to search for clues to lift the curse on my master. Only our brothers and the King Elder of Miao Village know about this matter." I said with a pained heart, thinking of my master.

  "Ah! A curse - has Big Brother's master been cursed?" Sima Lin exclaimed.

  "Yes, my master was afflicted with a mysterious curse. The curse came too suddenly and he is now unconscious, on the verge of death. But before the curse took effect, he left me a letter with some ancient characters and an old drawing. At first, I thought those ancient characters were from the Miao language, so I borrowed the opportunity to cure the Miao king's bloodshot eyes and went to the Miao village to investigate. However, after asking around, I realized that those ancient characters were not from the Miao language. Later, with the help of Wang Changlao, I met a reclusive expert who had been in hiding for many years. Although he didn't recognize the ancient characters either, he told me that there is a type of person under heaven who must recognize these characters - people called 'Mo Jin Xiao Wei'. And you just happen to match all the characteristics mentioned by that expert, plus you coincidentally sent a letter asking Lao San to bring us together to go to Xishan Mountain to help you with your troubles. That's why we rushed to Henan to find you."

  "Brother, don't be so obsessed with this matter. What ancient characters and pictures? Please, brother, take out that letter of inheritance and let me take a look. If we can find some clues to break the curse from the letter, it won't be in vain for us brothers to have sworn an oath." Sima Lin said urgently.

  Seeing Sima Lin say this, I knew that my brother was also a righteous person. He hurriedly took out paper and pen. The letter of that day, because the spirit of the hidden upper person was burned in the wine pot with the method of Shi Da Zhao, could only be drawn according to the original ancient characters and ancient pictures in the letter. The sorrowful clouds in my heart had dissipated at this moment. It seems that the curse of the master is finally broken and there is hope.

  Sim Lin unfolded the paper and looked at it while gesturing with his hands in front of him. Everyone sat around him, their eyes full of expectation, watching him without daring to breathe loudly for fear of interrupting his train of thought. After a long time, Sim Lin furrowed his brow and muttered softly to himself.

  "I hope Old Five can recognize these ancient characters and pictures." I anxiously looked at Sima Lin's furrowed brow, but in my heart, I was worried that if even he couldn't recognize them, the clue to breaking the curse might be cut off.

  With a face full of expectation, he looked at Sima Lin, but saw him shaking his head with some helplessness and saying in a low voice: "Big brother forgives me for my incompetence."

  Simar Lin's words made me extremely disappointed, and the hope in my heart suddenly fell into a deep valley. Thinking about the days since I entered the ancient tomb to kill the copper corpse and break the illusion technique, I have experienced all kinds of hardships, but in the end, it was all for nothing. The master's curse still cannot be broken, and a wave of sadness surged up in my heart.

  Seeing my sad face, Sima Lin hurriedly comforted me: "Big brother, don't be sad. The ancient characters left in that letter, after I carefully studied them, according to my speculation, I dare say they are a kind of minority nationality script even more ancient than the ancient Miao script. Moreover, one of the characters should be the current 'night' character. Although I couldn't recognize all of them, I think some of my predecessors might know these characters - they have more experience and wider knowledge. This time, I will definitely seek their help; in a few days or at most a month or two, we will surely solve the mystery of these ancient characters and pictures."

  Listening to Sima Lin's words, he seemed to have seen a glimmer of hope again. He nodded and responded: "Then I'll trouble you, Fifth Brother. Big Brother will wait quietly in Chen Zhou for your good news. As soon as there is any news, send word to me."

  "This is the natural reason why I couldn't help this time, and it would make Brother worry and labor for Master's sake. As a younger brother, I couldn't share the burden or solve the problem, which makes me feel very ashamed. But please be at ease, your matter is my matter."

  I looked at Sima Lin with gratitude, thinking that from now on I had another good brother. Although my heart was filled with sorrow because I couldn't rescue Master immediately, it was also full of emotion. Looking around at everyone, I saw that they were all silent and knew that staying like this wouldn't achieve anything.

  "Brothers, let's go back to our rooms and get some rest. We have an early start tomorrow and a long journey ahead of us. It's time for a good night's sleep after this tiring day."