Chapter 50: Skeleton Gatekeeper and Tigers, Oh My!

With a plan in place, Duan Wenxuan swiftly began preparations. However, before setting out, he visited Zong Cheng’s home. It was cold and deserted, indicating that Zong Cheng hadn’t been back for some time. After watering his plants, Duan Wenxuan locked the door and left.

Entering the Fifth Lanruo Temple world:

This world was far from peaceful. On his previous visit, Duan Wenxuan had encountered a scholar, a female ghost, a tree spirit, and a high-ranking practitioner from the mystical sects. Initially, he didn’t intend to involve himself again, but obtaining materials for the gatekeeper proved challenging in other worlds.

Upon returning to Lanruo Temple, he found it even more dilapidated than before. Duan Wenxuan went to Yan Chixia’s grave, paying his respects briefly.

“Having crossed paths with you, I took your copper sword and cultivation technique without permission; consider this as repaying my debt.”

Duan Wenxuan cleared the surrounding weeds, then followed the same path Ning Caichen had taken previously when leaving. During his first visit, Duan Wenxuan wasn’t aware of the nature of this world. This time, however, he dressed as a scholarly figure resembling Ning Caichen, wearing a wig and carrying a book basket filled with food behind him, while sporting a copper sword at his waist, giving off a distinct air of a Confucian scholar.

As Duan Wenxuan hurried along the path, his pace was swift. If not for the treacherous mountain terrain and fear of accidents, he would have considered bringing a motorcycle for even greater speed.

By evening, Duan Wenxuan finally spotted a narrow trail clearly worn by foot traffic. Following this path, he soon encountered two hunters returning with their game.

“A scholar?”

Duan Wenxuan promptly recited Ning Caichen’s backstory. The two hunters, hearing him detail his family situation, origins, and place names accurately, had no reason to suspect him. They immediately led Duan Wenxuan towards the village.

Upon arrival, Duan Wenxuan noticed that the village seemed relatively prosperous, with approximately three hundred inhabitants. One of the hunters, named Hu Dali, mentioned that riding a cart further ahead would reach Qingzhou Prefecture within two days. Being close to the prefecture naturally contributed to its prosperity.

Hu Dali, known for his warm hospitality, insisted on taking Duan Wenxuan to his home for dinner. At Hu Dali’s house lived Madam Hu, his mother, and his younger brother, Hu Xiaoli, around fifteen or sixteen years old. Their father had passed away long ago.

Duan Wenxuan joined them for dinner that evening. Later at night, despite his steady breathing, a sudden sensation jolted him awake discreetly. With heightened senses now, even the slightest disturbance caused the paper figurine to flutter wildly within his chest.

He heard a door quietly creak open, followed swiftly by a voice outside, “Brother, he’s asleep.”

“The scholar sleeps deeply. Let’s bring the meat over so Mother can eat quickly.”

“Understood. And you, why did you let him stay with us?”

“It’s good to do kind deeds occasionally. If we ever encounter a true master someday, it might prove beneficial.”

Duan Wenxuan couldn’t hear more after this; the Hu brothers were already moving away. Once certain no sounds remained nearby, Duan Wenxuan swiftly got up.

Following cautiously, Duan Wenxuan observed the Hu brothers first go to the kitchen, then together they lifted a long object and carried it towards Madam Hu’s room.

“Heavy as hell, just like they said,” Hu Xiaoli muttered, adjusting the item in his hands.

Carefully concealing himself, Duan Wenxuan watched as the Hu brothers entered Madam Hu’s room. He hid around the corner, catching glimpses through the cracks of the paper window. Moments later, a distinct scent of blood reached his nose, accompanied by crunching sounds reminiscent of gnawing on bones.

Recalling the shape of the object the Hu brothers had been carrying earlier, Duan Wenxuan instantly realized what it must be. Feeling physically uneasy, he turned to leave. He had his own matters to attend to and wasn’t like Yan Chixia, who would invariably intervene at any sign of injustice on the road.

However, as soon as he made to depart, his copper sword emitted a low hum and began glowing with a faint red light on its own accord.

Duan Wenxuan had never truly mastered this sword; much like its original owner, it possessed an unwavering determination to confront evil spirits without hesitation.

Now, their cover blown, the Hu brothers swiftly reacted by flinging open the door, confronting Duan Wenxuan standing there, sword in hand.

“As a scholar, have you taken up the orthodox path of cultivation?” Hu Xiaoli’s expression shifted dramatically, showing more fear than caution in his eyes. Earlier that day, he hadn’t detected even a hint of magical prowess from Duan Wenxuan.

At this point, Duan Wenxuan felt rather indifferent. Truthfully, he wasn’t scared at all; if things turned dire, escaping was merely a matter of seconds for him.

“Are you eating people?” Duan Wenxuan countered, posing the question back at them.

Hu Dali’s expression shifted rapidly as he hastily said, “Scholar, considering we treated you well during the day and provided perfectly normal food, even if your mission is to eliminate evil, could you spare our mother later?”

“Dage, why are you boosting his confidence? Whether he can defeat us or not remains to be seen,” Hu Xiaoli growled, his voice barely resembling that of a human.

Duan Wenxuan furrowed his brow; it seemed the Hu family were no longer humans. This indicated there might be an abundance of monsters and spirits in this world, suggesting it was a realm where humans and supernatural beings coexisted.

As Hu Xiaoli charged towards him, Duan Wenxuan remained unfazed. However, he had a more straightforward method - commanding the Greedy Pot to extract both of Hu Xiaoli’s kidneys instantly. In a brief moment, Hu Xiaoli’s accumulated strength abruptly waned, causing him to collapse backward, clutching his stomach and howling in pain.

“Xiaoli, Xiaoli…” Hu Dali never intended to fight; instead, he tried to restrain Hu Xiaoli. Suddenly, without warning, Hu Xiaoli began to wail, his vital energy visibly fading at an alarming rate.

At the same time, Duan Wenxuan flexed his left hand slightly, feeling the contentment emanating from the Greedy Pot.

Creak.

Madam Hu’s room suddenly opened. Despite her frail and aged appearance with silver hair, her face and chest were covered in blood. With evident terror, she emerged, knelt before Duan Wenxuan, and bowed repeatedly. “Immortal Master, spare my two sons. It was I who consumed humans; they never partook. If you don’t believe me, use your powers to interrogate them. All the sins lie solely on me; please let them go.”

At this point, Duan Wenxuan resolved to eliminate evil and uphold justice once and for all.

Seeing his copper sword hum with readiness, tears streamed down Hu Dali’s face as he pleaded, “Immortal Master, have mercy on my mother. When her spiritual awareness was undeveloped, she did eat humans. However, after learning to assume human form through illusionary magic, she met my father. From then on, she repented and abstained entirely from eating meat.

Now, my mother is old, and years without consuming flesh have weakened her vitality greatly. She is nearing the end of her life. My brother and I couldn’t bear it, so we specifically helped at the morgue, dealing with unclaimed bodies, bringing them back for my mother to consume.

We’ve never killed a living person ourselves. Although we ate human remains, considering our family’s long history of assisting neighbors and often protecting the village from wild beasts, please spare us.”

Only after hearing Hu Dali’s account did Duan Wenxuan realize that their entire family were tiger demons. Madam Hu had married a hunter over twenty years ago, but as a demon, her presence with humans brought misfortune to their fate. Unable to bear leaving her husband at the time, she inadvertently caused his demise. Since then, she remained living in this village.

Of course, these were one-sided claims, and Duan Wenxuan would not blindly trust them. That night, he instructed the family to take the wailing Hu Xiaoli back to their room without stepping outside. He then planted his copper sword by the door, ensuring they couldn’t leave even a step.

Early the next morning, Duan Wenxuan ventured out alone, strolling through the village and engaging in conversations with some of its elderly residents. As a scholar, he found them awake early and eager to chat due to their idle hours, though communicating was challenging due to their local dialect and often slurred speech.

After considerable effort, Duan Wenxuan discovered that the villagers held a favorable opinion of Hu Dali’s family. They praised the Hu brothers for their immense strength and natural prowess in navigating the mountains, making them highly successful hunters. During times of hardship, the brothers assisted the villagers in hunting and guided them to find mountain ginseng and medicinal herbs. The proceeds from selling these items were shared among everyone. Additionally, there had been no incidents of sudden disappearances within the village.

From what he gathered, it seemed the Hu family’s story might indeed be truthful.

When Duan Wenxuan returned, the Hu family was trembling and hiding in Madam Hu’s room.

After Duan Wenxuan retrieved his copper sword, Hu Xiaoli had transformed back into a large, striped tiger. His injuries were too severe to maintain human form any longer. Had Duan Wenxuan removed his heart at that moment, he would have perished instantly.

“All right, I’ve spoken with the villagers, and indeed, your crimes do not warrant death. However, fate decides life and demise. Madam Hu, when you chose to live as humans over twenty years ago, consuming people should no longer be part of your existence. If discovered by the villagers someday, they would surely capture and slay you like beasts.”

Hu Dali wept uncontrollably, “It’s my fault; my mother never wanted this. Unable to bear her passing, I stole those corpses.”

“Immortal Master, we’ve thought it through. From today onwards, we will leave the village and plan to live in the mountains. Once I die, I wish to be buried there.” Madam Hu appeared utterly worn out. In truth, she knew her sons yearned for the freedom of living in the mountains, but she had stubbornly insisted on staying.

Moreover, for over twenty years now, ever since their first act of cannibalism, she realized that regardless of circumstances, they could never truly blend with the villagers.

Duan Wenxuan did not object, and that very day, the Hu family began packing their belongings. However, Hu Xiaoli still appeared weak and listless; it seemed unlikely he would fully recover anytime soon.

The Hus acted swiftly, stating they intended to take Madam Hu to Qingzhou Prefecture for medical treatment before promptly heading back into the mountains. In contrast, Duan Wenxuan lingered in the village for another day, diligently inquiring about the location of the morgue.

A so-called morgue typically consisted of dilapidated temples, rundown Daoist monasteries, or abandoned houses left unrepaired for years. After minor repairs, these places were used to store corpses temporarily.

These bodies mainly belonged to travelers who died away from home or solitary individuals with no known kin. If unclaimed after several days, the morgue caretakers would bury them.

Those living at the morgue were usually homeless elderly people. Their livelihood depended on receiving payment when someone claimed a body. For unclaimed corpses, they stripped off any clothing or possessions, which became theirs. Additionally, if anyone came to pay respects, the caretaker, regardless of dietary restrictions, would partake in the leftover offerings after the rituals.

Near Qingzhou Prefecture, with its frequent travelers, there naturally existed a mortuary.

When Duan Wenxuan arrived, he saw a half-blind old man squatting on the dilapidated threshold of the mortuary, clutching a thin bamboo cane. The elderly man had disheveled hair, wore tattered and dirty clothes, his face lined with signs of hardship.

Hearing faint sounds, the old man shifted slightly to make room beside him.

Duan Wenxuan approached and placed a few slices of ham-filled bread and a bottle of milk into the old man’s hands. These items were hastily retrieved from the present world just moments ago.

Understanding Duan Wenxuan’s gesture, the old man eagerly began devouring the bread.

To him, it was the most delicious treat he’d ever tasted - soft, sweet, and fragrant. Even the unclear liquid, which he presumed was ‘water,’ was consumed ravenously as he huddled in the corner.

Duan Wenxuan walked past the old man, casually strolling around the mortuary. His purpose for coming here was to find a suitable skeleton for the gatekeeper role, as the only required material was a set of bones. Thus, Duan Wenxuan immediately thought of this world, knowing that Ning Caichen had mentioned staying at various places along his journey, including mortuaries.

For obtaining suitable bones, there was no better place than a mortuary.

After wandering around, Duan Wenxuan didn’t find any appropriate candidates and decided to stay at the mortuary, waiting like a farmer hoping for a serendipitous catch. The old man, seemingly indifferent, paid little attention to his presence.

Often, the elderly caretaker would quietly sit somewhere, his gaze hazy and unfocused. His life had lost its meaning; he was merely awaiting death.

Duan Wenxuan showed no intention of conversing with the old man either. However, during meal times, he consistently shared some food with him - bread, congee, eggs, steamed buns…

Over the course of two or three days, the old man’s initially numb expression gradually regained a hint of liveliness. Suddenly one day, the elder went out specifically to fetch water and washed his face.

“Young man, what brings you here?” the old man unexpectedly spoke on the fourth day.

During these few days, several corpses were brought in, but none proved suitable. Those delivering the bodies weren’t surprised to see Duan Wenxuan residing at the mortuary; after all, a poor scholar living such a way wasn’t entirely unusual.

“I’m searching for a specific type of skeleton, unfortunately, these deceased ones here are too ordinary.”

Duan Wenxuan’s request was utterly shocking and unconventional, yet the old man remained remarkably calm. Having lived with corpses for many years, transporting, burying them, and even consuming offerings meant for the dead, he had long ceased to fear anything.

”…Follow me,” the old man said hesitantly. “I’ve buried some peculiar bodies here; perhaps their remains will suit your needs.” With unsteady steps, he led Duan Wenxuan away from the mortuary.

In a densely wooded area at the back of the mountain, designated as the old man’s burial ground, they ventured forth.

“Underneath this spot lies a notorious child trafficker,” the old man explained. “About five years ago, while attempting another abduction, he met his match and was brutally beaten by the household guards until he was barely recognizable. When he arrived at the mortuary, still clinging to life, I witnessed him take his last breath.”

“I heard that during his kidnappings, he could transform himself into a small monkey. He would lure children to secluded areas, which allowed him to repeatedly succeed in his crimes.”

This indeed sounded extraordinary.

Without hesitation, Duan Wenxuan began digging. His efforts were not in vain. Although the internal organs inside the unearthed body had undoubtedly decayed completely, the skeleton itself radiated a significant amount of malevolent energy.

For a gatekeeper, the more menacing the aura, the better.

The first set of bones could be used, but with the possibility that better ones might exist, Duan Wenxuan followed the old man’s guidance and excavated several more. Many were already severely decayed, while some possessed ominous energy, yet none compared to the initial find.

“We’ll stick with the first one,” Duan Wenxuan decided firmly.

After retrieving the skeleton, he generously left some food for the old man along with a set of bedding and clothes. Then, Duan Wenxuan returned to the present world with the skeletal remains.

With the materials in hand, crafting the gatekeeper was straightforward.

Upon activating the connection through the gate, Duan Wenxuan noticed something gathering and brewing within the previously lifeless skeleton.

Crack.

Suddenly, the once motionless skeleton stood up on its own. Its body appeared hollow, and within the empty eye sockets floated two eerie white lights.

Clink-clink

The skull’s jaws opened and closed, producing no sound due to the absence of a throat or tongue. As the skeleton rose, the stains on its bones were instantly cleansed by flickering white flames.

“This is our gatekeeper, well worth the several days I spent here,” Duan Wenxuan exclaimed joyfully, tapping the skeleton, which resonated with hollow echoes.

The urgency to create a gatekeeper stemmed not primarily from facilitating travel by scattering coordinates across the present world. Instead, the most critical reason was for Duan Wenxuan’s defense against other door symbol holders. With a gatekeeper, he gained an additional layer of security during confrontations with other symbol owners.

With this thought, Duan Wenxuan waved his hand, and the skeletal figure instantly disappeared.

He then walked to his bedroom and stepped through the gate placed within the wardrobe. This time, surprisingly, Duan Wenxuan did not experience any disorientation or dizziness. On the contrary, he felt remarkably clear-headed during the transition between worlds, and faintly, he even saw the image of the skeleton guarding at the gate.

“Not bad.” After conducting some tests, Duan Wenxuan finally expressed satisfaction.

Having resolved this matter, Duan Wenxuan retrieved the green cocoon he had previously stored away. Compared to before, the cocoon now radiated an even more vigorous yet restless vitality. He knew that the consciousness within yearned to emerge, and delaying further would likely prove unwise. Although Li Kingdom’s Jiangshan Shen festival was still days away, he could no longer afford to wait.

The green cocoon in his hand trembled several times.

“Calm down, no need to rush. I’ll find a good place for your emergence,” Duan Wenxuan said with a smile, gently tapping the green cocoon. It then quietened down.

One day later.

Duan Wenxuan paid a high price to join a tour group heading towards Yilan City. Even now, many people, mostly young, were still traveling there.

The Gate of Sin and Virtue incident had caused An City’s original transportation routes to collapse. At that time, a large number of individuals fled, avoiding the Gate of Sin and Virtue area out of fear it would envelop the entire city, trapping them inside. While some could escape, others were local residents with nowhere else to go.

Recently, the Gate of Sin and Virtue situation was barely resolved, leading An City to establish a dedicated team to traverse through its vicinity and transport supplies back into the city. Currently, they still dared not send large numbers along the eastern loop line, as although immediate death was unlikely, many feared losing their souls’ freedom after passing away.

As of now, An City’s prices have slightly recovered but remain relatively high.

To elaborate on this tour group, it was actually privately organized. The leader was a middle-aged woman with a loud voice, “Everyone, be cautious throughout the trip, and most importantly, keep your money safe. You all know why we’re going to Yilan City, but let’s make it clear beforehand: our responsibility is solely to bring you there; anything else is not our concern. This fee may seem high, but once the trip is over, you mustn’t cause any trouble afterward, understood?”

Most participants in this tour group were well-off financially.

Duan Wenxuan quietly sat at the back of the bus, discreetly calming down the agitated green cocoon once again.

The journey involved transferring from a train to a coach, as obtaining plane tickets at this time was virtually impossible. The trip took a long time, the service was poor, yet the cost remained exorbitantly high. On the third day’s evening, the group arrived in Yilan City. The middle-aged woman patted her pants, signaling she had fulfilled her duty only up to this point, before departing.

Most individuals in this tour group were not short on money.

Yilan City was originally a small town on the outskirts of Hanming Country, characterized by its cold weather and sparse population. With few major industries, it typically remained quiet and subdued. However, this time, the place had become bustlingly lively, with hotel room rates skyrocketing to exorbitant levels.

Duan Wenxuan subtly maneuvered away from the group he arrived with, dispersing from them before blending into the crowd. The green cocoon could no longer wait, so Duan Wenxuan planned to swiftly change his appearance and enter the Li Kingdom from Yilan City.