Volume Six: Blue and White Porcelain Chapter Six: The Taoist Returning to the Mountains

At seven in the morning, Yaoguang drove Huo Mingkun out of the city.

“Where are we going, sis?” Huo Mingkun asked, swallowing the last bite of a large hamburger.

“We’re going to visit a true master. If we want to deal with what’s in that tomb, we’ll need talisman papers. This master comes from the Daoist Mountain School and is renowned for his skill in making talisman papers—but his work is so rare, even mountains of gold couldn’t buy it.” Yaoguang’s car was already onto the provincial highway.

“Oh, I see.” Huo Mingkun nodded.

After about an hour’s drive, they finally stopped in front of a Daoist temple atop a mountain. Yaoguang got out, handed over her calling card, and said, “Please announce: the Phoenix has come to visit.”

Huo Mingkun looked up and saw the plaque above the temple gate, inscribed with three vigorous characters: “Returning Mountain Temple.”

“Greetings, Honored One. Master said you can go straight to your usual spot—he’s waiting for you there.” The little Daoist boy at the gate saluted and let Yaoguang through.

Yaoguang returned the bow, then led Huo Mingkun up the steps and into the temple. Passing through the side door of the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, they continued inward until the temple ended and a green mountain rose before them. Yaoguang climbed higher; the mountain was not tall, and before long they reached the summit, where a vast platform stretched out. Upon it stood a beautifully crafted house, and before the house, a great tree shaded a stone table.

Standing at the door, Yaoguang shouted, “Old man, I’m here!”

A hearty laugh rang out even before the speaker appeared. “Ha ha ha! I cast the divination this morning and saw auspicious purple qi rising from the east. I was just wondering which divine being’s fortune it heralded—turns out it’s you, little one.”

A deep voice issued from within. Soon, the door opened, and out stepped an old man in white Daoist robes, long beard and hair flowing, a dust whisk in his hand. The breeze stirred his robes—a true image of Daoist transcendence. His eyes sparkled with vitality, his face was ruddy with health. He crossed the threshold and stood beneath the tree, smiling at Yaoguang.

“Old man, how have you been?” Yaoguang’s voice trembled slightly.

“All is well, all is well. And you, little one, you’ve grown even more distinguished,” the old Daoist replied, stroking his beard with a smile.

Suddenly, Yaoguang knelt and bowed three times to the old Daoist. Startled, Huo Mingkun also dropped to his knees in confusion.

“Oh, don’t! Please, don’t do that. Get up—don’t bring lightning down on my head.” The old Daoist pulled Yaoguang up with one hand and Huo Mingkun with the other. “Good child, you too, stand up.”

“Though I never formally became your disciple, I am still a registered pupil under you. As your disciple, it is only right to pay my respects. Let’s see who dares strike you down.” Yaoguang looked at the old Daoist, then suddenly threw her arms around him. “Old man, I’ve missed you so much.”

“Oh, come now, you’re a divine being and still crying?” The old Daoist patted her back in comfort, laughing. “Sit, sit!”

“Akun, this is Master Returning Mountain. During my years of cultivation, I was his registered disciple. That makes us almost master and apprentice. It wouldn’t be wrong for you to call him ‘Master’ as well,” Yaoguang said.

“Disciple Huo Mingkun greets Master Returning Mountain.” Quick-witted, Huo Mingkun immediately bowed after Yaoguang’s words.

“Good child, please, sit. There’s no need for so many formalities here.” The old Daoist smiled, then called to the attendant behind him, “Ling’er, serve the tea.” The little Daoist answered and soon brought out a pot of fragrant tea.

“Yaoguang, what brings you here this time?” Master Returning Mountain asked.

“To be honest, I’ve run into a thorny problem,” Yaoguang replied, pouring tea as she recounted Professor Zhou’s situation in detail.

“Ah, from what you describe, this is no ordinary zombie. It’s likely evolved into a ghost-zombie. Regular zombies have only two souls, but a ghost-zombie is different—it has one soul and three spirits in the body, while the remaining two souls and four spirits exist in the form of a fierce ghost. This will be difficult to handle. You must first destroy its physical body before dealing with the ghostly part, or else it won’t work. Yes, I’ll help you with this,” Master Returning Mountain agreed. “But ordinary talismans won’t suffice. Wait here, I’ll fetch something.”

Just then, Yaoguang said, “Wait, I have it.” She took out talisman papers, cinnabar, and an inkline from her bag, all bought from the Ghost Market.

“You’ve come well prepared,” the old Daoist remarked. “This quality can only be found at the Ghost Market. You’ve seen him, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have. Yellow Spring is still the same. I’m sorry, old man—I could save his life, but not his heart,” Yaoguang said, her expression dim.

“Oh, you mustn’t blame yourself. Yellow Spring’s obsession isn’t so easily changed. The outcome he faces now is the price of his stubbornness. Being stuck in a dead end is like a dream—some people wake and move on, others stay lost forever. Still, you did well to visit him. Enough about that—let’s discuss how to deal with this.” The old Daoist waved the past away and turned his attention to the talisman papers before him. “Gold, silver—excellent materials. Yellow Spring’s wares are still top-notch. Yaoguang, I’ll make the talismans, and you protect me. Once the talismans are ready, I’ll go down the mountain with you. This thing must be dealt with before it fully awakens, or it will bring calamity to all within a ten-mile radius.”

“We must hurry, old man. The tomb has already been robbed—he’s likely been disturbed, but he hasn’t fully awakened yet,” Yaoguang replied.

“Then let’s not waste time. I’ll get the necessary items.” With that, Master Returning Mountain returned to the house. Soon, several Daoists came up the mountain, swiftly setting up an incense altar before quickly departing again. The little Daoist boy was also sent away.

“Sis, should I go down too?” Huo Mingkun asked.

“No need. Stay here and use your Yin-Yang Eyes to watch,” Yaoguang replied.

“Heh, young man, you’re blessed,” Master Returning Mountain said, smiling at Huo Mingkun.

“Uh?” Huo Mingkun was bewildered by this.

The old Daoist said no more but began to burn incense and offer prayers. The talisman papers were lined up on the altar. Master Returning Mountain gathered his energy, calmed his mind, and entered a meditative state. No one knew how much time passed before his robe began to flutter as if caught in an invisible wind. He slowly lifted one leg and began to perform the mystical Daoist pace, each step seeming arduous and heavy. Yaoguang watched silently. Huo Mingkun activated his Yin-Yang Eyes and saw faint golden light gathering behind the old Daoist. With each step, the light grew brighter. After thirty-seven steps, the golden light had condensed into the shape of a person—a Daoist shadow standing behind the master.

The steps continued, each one making the shadow clearer. Master Returning Mountain’s eyes were fixed and unblinking, but sweat beaded and fell from his brow, his face turning pale.

Yaoguang sat cross-legged, lifted her hand, and sent a surge of spiritual energy into the old Daoist’s crown. With this steady infusion, his color improved, and his steps became less laborious.

Time seemed to stretch on. The shadow behind the old Daoist became sharply defined. At last, he stopped, sat cross-legged, and swiftly formed a series of hand seals, chanting incantations. His fingers moved so quickly Huo Mingkun could barely tell one from another; it seemed as if he had many hands at once.

Suddenly, Master Returning Mountain opened his eyes, strode to the altar, seized the red brush, and began to draw talismans. Huo Mingkun saw the golden shadow behind the old Daoist guiding his hand swiftly across the talisman papers. When the last stroke was complete, Yaoguang shifted her spiritual energy and sent a golden beam into the master’s crown. The old Daoist set down the brush and intoned a final incantation. Instantly, all the talisman papers blazed with golden light. Only then did the master pause, exhaling deeply as the golden shadow faded away. Yaoguang withdrew her power.

“Are you alright, old man?” Yaoguang asked, quickly placing a medicinal pill in his mouth.

“I’m fine, I’m fine—ha, it’s done. That was no easy feat,” said Master Returning Mountain, wiping his brow.

Yaoguang went to look and gasped in astonishment. “Old man, are you insane? Fifteen talismans—five gold, ten silver—you made them all?”

“Yes, indeed. Such fine talisman paper shouldn’t go to waste,” the old Daoist boomed with laughter.

“I’ve seen the Mountain School’s prowess, but this is monstrous. And you used the Supreme Elder Lord’s method, too.” Suddenly, Yaoguang seemed to realize something. She seized his wrist, then burst out laughing. “So that’s it! You… You’ve already, ha ha ha…”

“Heh heh,” Master Returning Mountain grinned slyly.

“Phoenix, what are you two laughing about?” Huo Mingkun finally couldn’t help but ask.

“Let me explain. Whether a talisman succeeds depends not only on the maker’s power but also on the quality of the paper. Yellow is ordinary, blue is middling, purple is superior, silver is rare, and gold is legendary. Usually, creating a purple talisman is already impressive. Silver is the mark of a true master, and gold is nearly impossible. Most can barely manage a single silver talisman—because the process demands immense power. The maker must perform the mystical steps, hand seals, incantation, invocation, drawing, and empowerment all in one seamless flow. Any error and all will be for naught—the maker could suffer backlash, even death. The maker’s power determines which deity responds and what methods are used; the color of the talisman depends on the deity invoked. But this old man used the Supreme Elder Lord’s method and made fifteen at once! That’s insane. Why is he so powerful? Because he himself is already at the level of a god. In Daoist terms, he’s reached the Golden Core stage, the threshold of ascension. Do you understand now?” Yaoguang explained to Huo Mingkun.

“Yes, I understand,” Huo Mingkun nodded.

“Little one, take these talismans and keep them safe.” Master Returning Mountain carefully placed the talismans in an embroidered pouch and handed them to Yaoguang.

“You keep them. I don’t need them. Once we’ve dealt with that thing, you can have whatever’s left, along with the cinnabar and inkline—they’re all yours,” Yaoguang said, waving her hand.

“You don’t want them?” Master Returning Mountain was surprised.

“No, they were meant for you anyway. If it weren’t for that thing, all of this would be yours,” Yaoguang replied.

“Haha, you’re as generous as ever, little one. Enough talk—we must set out at once. Every day that thing remains is another day of danger,” Master Returning Mountain declared.

“Agreed,” Yaoguang nodded.

Once the old Daoist was packed, the three descended the mountain together and drove back to Yaoguang’s villa, where Xuan Chen was already waiting.

“Phoenix, everything you asked for is ready. But I don’t understand—what do you need all this for?” Xuan Chen looked bewildered at the gear laid out before him. “And why do we have to dress like hikers? What’s this all about?”

There were Luoyang shovels, threaded steel pipes, climbing ropes, waterproof mining lamps, tactical flashlights, and—most baffling of all—two black donkey hooves…

“Hee hee, tomb raiding,” Yaoguang replied with a mysterious smile.

“Tomb raiding?” Xuan Chen was even more astonished.

“Oh, you’re as mischievous as ever, little one,” Master Returning Mountain said. “That Zhu Guangxuan has already become a zombie. We must find his tomb and deal with him, or he’ll become a great menace. Without these tools, how would we get inside the tomb?”

“Oh, so that’s it,” Xuan Chen finally understood.

“We set out at once for Zhu Guangxuan’s tomb,” Yaoguang announced, gathering everyone.

“Bring the two SUVs around,” Yaoguang called at the door. “Also, two satellite phones, GPS, radar detector, six walkie-talkies, and five short swords—load them up.”

“Yes, miss,” the attendants responded, quickly preparing two black SUVs and parking them before Yaoguang.

“Alright, comrades, let’s move out!” With a wave of her hand, everyone piled into the vehicles, which sped off toward the outskirts.

“Yutang, I’m heading to Zhu Guangxuan’s tomb. Please look after Professor Zhou,” Yaoguang sent a message to Yutang. Receiving a reply, she floored the accelerator, and the car shot forward into the distance.