C63 Ghost Gate

When I came to, I found myself no longer at Hundred Ghost Slope but back at the Mountain Protecting Craftsman Old Master's home, lying on a heated brick bed with Deaf Zhang sitting beside me.

Seeing me awake, Deaf Zhang quickly expressed his concern, "Changsheng, are you okay?"

I shook my head, my mind still foggy, but physically I felt back to normal, with no lingering oddities. I looked past Deaf Zhang, realizing that my so-called ability to 'avoid misfortune' had indeed vanished.

Suddenly, I felt just like anyone else—no longer needing to consume the dead, nor able to see death... No, that's not quite right. It was only temporary.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I sat up. Noticing Deaf Zhang's healthy appearance, I could tell he was out of danger and as energetic as ever.

"Mr. Ergou, was it you who brought me back after I passed out?" I inquired.

Deaf Zhang nodded, "I came to the next morning and saw you were still out cold, so I carried you back here."

"Well done, Mr. Ergou, you even remembered the way back," I said with a smile. Deaf Zhang scratched his head and chuckled, "Truth be told, I was actually lost, but luckily I ran into the old master halfway. By the way, Changsheng, what happened after I passed out? Where's the Evil Taoist?"

I recounted the subsequent events to Deaf Zhang. He sighed upon hearing it, dismayed that the Evil Taoist had managed to elude us once more.

"Changsheng, who is this Xie Wuxie you speak of? How does he always show up to save you at just the right moment?" Deaf Zhang inquired. I shook my head, equally puzzled by the mystery.

Just then, the Mountain Protecting Craftsman Old Master returned from the hills, bringing with him wild game and mushrooms to prepare a hearty lunch for us. He was aware that our departure was imminent.

With the Evil Taoist having slipped away once again, Deaf Zhang and I no longer had any reason to remain at Hundred Ghost Slope.

Deaf Zhang initially ventured to Hundred Ghost Slope with the intention of subduing the ghosts that resided there. To his surprise, he discovered tens of thousands of spirits, far beyond his capacity to control.

Despite being aware of the formidable presence at Yin Spirit Mountain, Deaf Zhang's master sent him there as his final wish, likely as a test of his mettle.

My own journey to Hundred Ghost Slope proved fruitful, aligning with my foster father's predictions. I uncovered clues about my origins.

Yet, in solving some of my past puzzles, I inadvertently stumbled upon a myriad of new enigmas. My quest to uncover my past unexpectedly entangled me in a significant event within the Supernatural World.

I must keep my secret closely guarded; revealing it would make me a marked man, the focus of all attention.

As noon approached, we shared a meal with the Mountain Protecting Craftsman Old Master. Before departing, I was compelled to visit a fabled site: the Ghost Gate.

My reasons were twofold: not only to quench my curiosity but also because I was certain of its connection to an event fifteen years prior. Additionally, I had a hunch that the Evil Taoist was the very same Taoist who had unlocked the gates to the Underworld.

The old man recounted a tale from the Qing Dynasty, where a Taoist unleashed numerous malevolent spirits by opening the Underworld's door. Thankfully, the timely intervention of three Heavenly Masters from Dragon Gate Sect, Mao Mountain, and Dragon Tiger Mountain sealed the Ghost Gate.

My suspicions about the Evil Taoist stemmed from two points. First, Deaf Zhang's master mentioned a connection between the Evil Taoist and Wen Qiyun, the seventy-third grandmaster of the Mao Mountain Sect, suggesting the Evil Taoist's Qing Dynasty origins.

Most compelling was the Evil Taoist's own words during our confrontation. He boasted, "I never imagined that after more than two centuries, it would be you two rascals who would compel me to employ this tactic once more. You should consider it an honor."

This period coincides precisely with the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty.

Furthermore, when he brandished the Yin Tiger Talisman, the Evil Taoist proclaimed, "In the face of this supreme power, not even the Heavenly Masters of Mao Mountain, Dragon Tiger Mountain, or the entire Dragon Gate Sect can oppose me!"

With everything aligned—the time, place, and characters—it still puzzled me what the Evil Taoist's true intention was for trying to open the Underworld two hundred years ago.

That afternoon, we finally made our ascent to the mountain adjacent to Hundred Ghost Slope. Gazing up from its base, I caught a glimpse of a corner of the enigmatic Ghost Gate.

Climbing to the summit filled me with excitement and anticipation. Yet, upon reaching the Ghost Gate, a sense of disappointment washed over me. Before me lay nothing but ruins. The Ghost Gate was not only partially collapsed, but it also seemed smaller in scale compared to the city gate towers in the ancient town.

The chilling and formidable presence the name "Ghost Gate" suggested was nowhere to be felt. Doubts crept in—how could such a modest barrier hold back legions of elite troops?

I let out a sigh and turned to the elder beside me. "Old Master, how did the Ghost Gate fall? Was it always this size?"

"It is said that it was destroyed by the combined forces of three Heavenly Masters during the Jiaqing era... Changsheng, I can see a hint of disappointment in your eyes. But what you're seeing is merely the rear section of the Ghost Gate. Once you behold its front, you'll be utterly astounded!" The old man replied with a mysterious smile.