C95 The Human Heart

The secret door closed slowly, and the tomb reverted to its original state, entombing the Ghost Doctor beneath the earth.

"Changsheng, what's the matter? You seem lost in thought," Second Master Lei said, patting me lightly and startling me.

"It's nothing, really..." I replied, shaking my head. The image of the word "death" above the Ghost Doctor's head lingered in my mind.

Was I seeing things, or was the Ghost Doctor afflicted by the same mysterious curse as me?

I took a deep breath and walked away with Second Master Lei, occasionally glancing back at the tomb. I couldn't shake the feeling that the Ghost Doctor and I shared something in common.

Could it be...

"Second Uncle Lei, why does the Ghost Doctor choose to live in this tomb? It's hardly a place for the living," I asked, my curiosity piqued. I had meant to ask the Ghost Doctor when we were alone, but his subsequent revelations were so astonishing that I'd forgotten to inquire.

"You know as well as I do, Changsheng," Second Master Lei explained, "that if a person is infiltrated by Yin Qi, it can lead to illness or even death. But the Ghost Doctor is quite the opposite! He would die if he stayed away from Yin Qi for too long. He even carries corpse oil and human bones with him when he travels. That's why I prefer you not get too close to him."

A chill ran through me. The Ghost Doctor's condition was identical to mine. Could it all be due to the curse?

But I've been this way since childhood, and the curse only manifested recently...

"Changsheng, you look troubled. What did the old man tell you earlier?" Second Uncle Lei inquired.

"The Ghost Doctor revealed that the 'death' mark on my hand is actually a curse. He mentioned that there's information about this curse on the walls near the blood pool," I responded truthfully, though I kept to myself the Ghost Doctor's warning to be wary of Second Master Lei.

Second Master Lei gave my shoulder a reassuring pat, saying, "Don't worry, Changsheng. I am certain we can break this curse. Once we reach Murong Chui's tomb, we'll examine the blood pool and figure out exactly what this curse entails. The mural there might even hold the key to lifting it."

I nodded in agreement. Second Master Lei let out a cold snort before adding, "Changsheng, this old man is as inscrutable as his ghastly appearance. We can never see through what he's really thinking. Back in the day, the six of us were straightforward men, always the first to charge into any fray. But this old man, he was like a ghost, always lurking in the shadows. He never shared with us the things he told you! And now he claims he's the only one who wouldn't harm Half Immortal Zhao. Can you believe that?"

"I... I don't believe it either," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. I wasn't sure who to trust, but one thing was clear: the upcoming visit to Murong Chui's tomb was bound to be more complicated than Second Master Lei had made it out to be.

Second Master Lei and I climbed into the car, ready to make the overnight journey back to the county town. As we drove, he occasionally furrowed his brow while gazing out the window. Concerned, I asked, "Second Uncle Lei, what's bothering you? Is it because the Ghost Doctor refused to join us?"

He sighed softly and managed a wry smile. "You might think I took it easy when I spoke to the Ghost Doctor, but finding someone else who understands inscriptions, has medical knowledge, and can communicate with spirits is no easy task."

"Actually, Second Uncle Lei, I have someone in mind who might be suitable," I said, a hopeful note in my voice. "He may not be versed in medicine, but when it comes to dealing with spirits, he's second to none. And importantly, he's likely familiar with inscriptions too."

"Who is this person?" Second Master Lei inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Upon hearing my suggestion, Second Master Lei nodded in approval, his smile genuine. "This man sounds promising. Most importantly, he's not the type to have ulterior motives or to play mind games with us, unlike the Ghost Doctor."

"Exactly," I agreed, smiling. I knew deep down that Deaf Zhang was incapable of such deception; he was simply not that cunning.

Four hours later, we arrived back in the county town. Without pausing for rest, Second Master Lei set out to recruit additional help. Meanwhile, I phoned Deaf Zhang and briefed him on the situation.

Just as I was about to discuss his compensation for the task, Deaf Zhang immediately accepted the offer without hesitation. His eagerness moved me deeply.

Two days later, Deaf Zhang arrived in the county from Long White Mountain. Meanwhile, Second Master Lei had successfully recruited his final assistant. When I discovered the identity of this individual, I was taken aback by surprise!