C90 Ghost Doctor

I was riding in a business van, with Xiaodao at the wheel, a trusted confidant of Second Master Lei. The trip to the small village wasn't too far off; we'd arrive in roughly four to five hours.

Upon learning of Zhang Ziliang's moniker, my curiosity piqued. "Ghost Doctor? Second Uncle Lei, why would someone be called that?"

Second Master Lei, always fiddling with his agate walnuts, offered a slight smile and spoke with an air of mystery, "It's said that Zhang Ziliang doesn't just treat the living; he can also treat ghosts."

"What? Treat ghosts? Can ghosts fall ill?" I asked incredulously.

With a light chuckle, Second Master Lei replied, "That's a question for the old man himself. His nickname stems from his unconventional healing methods. The remedies he prescribes are the stuff of nightmares—human bones, corpse oil, hair from female cadavers, and the like."

"It sounds less like healing and more like poisoning," I remarked, torn between laughter and dismay.

"Yet, in his hands, these macabre ingredients somehow bring about rapid recoveries, earning him the title of Ghost Doctor. You know, seventeen years ago, the seven of us were considered prodigies in the Supernatural World, each with our own specialty. I'd wager we were the strongest exploration team of our time," Second Master Lei boasted, though his pride was tinged with a hint of regret.

Echoing his unspoken thoughts, I added, "But that formidable team ventured into Murong Chui's tomb, and only four survived to tell the tale..."

"Yes," Second Master Lei sighed, "Back then, our group consisted of my elder brother Lei Zhen, myself, your father Half Immortal Zhao, Xiaodao's father, Ghost Doctor Zhang Ziliang, and Xiaodieh's adoptive father, the Grave Robber known as Crazy Dog. But for some reason, Crazy Dog betrayed us, breaking our contract with Lei's Brand and disappearing. Left with no choice, we recruited a Lieutenant General with tomb raiding skills to match the Grave Robber's... Oh, and let's not forget Colonel Allen from the United States."

"There was an American in your midst? What was his role?" I inquired, intrigued.

The colonel was a retired former Marine Corps officer, an expert in wilderness survival. Tragically, only the Lei brothers, your father, Ghost Doctor, and my older brother Lei Zhen survived, though Lei Zhen's legs were nearly severed, leaving him with only half his body..." Second Master Lei's face turned sour as he seemed to relive the horrific events, speaking with a palpable sense of dread.

"What...what exactly did you encounter in that ancient tomb?" I exclaimed, my concern for our current mission growing. How many of us would make it out alive this time?

Seeing my anxious look, Second Master Lei reassured me with a smile, "Changsheng, there's no need to fear. Most of the traps in the ancient tomb were already destroyed during our last visit. Over the past seventeen years, I've devised a foolproof plan... Changsheng, there's something else you should know. Only four people are privy to our ultimate objective: you, me, Xiaodao, and the Ghost Doctor we're about to seek out. You mustn't let anything slip."

I nodded, though I couldn't shake the feeling that his approach was somewhat insular, even selfish. And once we entered the ancient tomb, could we really keep the secret indefinitely? Surely he wasn't planning on revealing everything before we entered the main chamber...

As twilight set in, we finally reached the small village, but we didn't stop there. Instead, we headed straight for the hills behind it.

Soon after, Xiaodao found a clearing to park the car. Stepping out, I was taken aback by the desolate, eerie forest before us.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "Second Uncle Lei, isn't the Ghost Doctor's dwelling a little too secluded? Are you certain he lives in there?"

"You'll be even more astonished once we arrive," Second Master Lei replied with a chuckle, leading the way.

The evening grew darker, and the haunting calls of the geese echoed through the woods. The chill of the night wind grew sharper, carrying with it the scent of death.

Indeed, a graveyard appeared before us. As I stood there in shock, Second Master Lei led me to one of the graves.