Volume Two: The Secret Burial in the Gorge Chapter 147: The Promise

Was it really as Third Uncle said? I looked toward the old stall owner, who silently nodded, clearly confirming Third Uncle’s account. It was the old stall owner who had set fire to that withered tree, which in turn destroyed the earth cavity beneath it. The vine we used to escape was also prepared by him.

Yet, Third Uncle gazed at the ruins, shaking his head repeatedly.

When I inquired why, he sighed and said, “The half-dead symptoms that Chu Liuyan and I exhibit likely stem from exposure to the parasitic miasma here. After many twists and turns, although we clarified the disappearance of those two couriers, we still haven’t found a way to cure the half-dead. Now that this place has collapsed again, it seems this is our fateful calamity.”

Ma Su pondered and said, “Perhaps the gentian powder Zhou Zheng mentioned could treat this parasitic condition. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to catch many earth dragons. Maybe I could go down again and try my luck?”

Third Uncle glanced at Ma Su and smiled, “What’s this? The old fellow is so eager this time—is it to repay the Daoist’s life-saving grace?”

I recalled that when we were besieged by the mountain dogs, Third Uncle indeed saved Ma Su. No wonder Ma Su hadn’t spoken of it then but clearly understood. His willingness to venture down now might well be for the reason Third Uncle suggested. But hearing Third Uncle say so, Ma Su’s face flushed somewhat.

Ma Su glared at Third Uncle: “Old Daoist, I remember the favor you did for me. I owe you no debt, but I’ll catch an earth dragon to repay your life.”

He then turned around, preparing to descend.

Since the situation below was uncertain and we had just escaped danger, it was unwise for Ma Su to risk himself again.

Third Uncle waved his hand: “Enough, old fellow, don’t throw a tantrum like a child. The Daoist’s life doesn’t need your repayment. The fire below hasn’t been extinguished yet; if you go down now and lose your old life, it won’t be worth it. Besides, those earth dragons have long been burned to death—where would you catch any?”

I stared at the ashes and ruins left by the fire, my heart heavy with emotions. The hope of healing Chu Liuyan and Third Uncle had been completely consumed by the blaze. But I could hardly blame the old stall owner. After all, if it weren’t for his diversion tactics, we would have been devoured by those mountain dogs and ghouls long ago.

Guided by the old stall owner, our group finally left Mount Duyang and returned to his few thatched huts.

By the time we arrived at his home, it was already deep into the night. The old stall owner was quite kind and personally prepared some pancakes for us. Though his hands had once picked bones—a thought that made me queasy—we had been starving for over a day and night. The aroma of the pancakes overcame my revulsion, and we devoured them all. That night, we slept at the old stall owner’s home.

The next morning, waking to the dazzling sunshine outside the window, I once again felt the preciousness of life. Yet, thinking of Third Uncle’s half-dead symptoms, a weight pressed down on my heart.

We had barely escaped last night, and our minds were in turmoil. Only at dawn did we formally thank the old stall owner.

He waved it off but then quietly called me aside. Looking around to ensure no one was near, he whispered, “Boy, you haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?”

I was momentarily stunned, then recalled.

The old stall owner and I had an arrangement: he promised to help rescue someone, and in return, I was to lend him the five-emperor coin of Jiaqing I wore. Though he said it was a one-year loan, I knew such a precious item would be hard to get back once handed over.

Still, having given my word, I couldn’t go back on it. I only knew the coin was valuable and offered some protection against evil spirits, but I hadn’t felt anything extraordinary beyond that. There must be other talismans with similar powers.

When the old stall owner asked, I took the coin from my neck. I had removed it once in the earth cavity and later retrieved it from Third Uncle during our escape.

I handed the coin to the old stall owner.

His face flushed with excitement; his hands trembled slightly as he accepted it.

Carefully securing the coin on his person, he smiled and said, “Good boy, you keep your word. I like that. Rest assured, I’ll return this item to you in a year, no ifs or buts. When the time comes, just come find me.”

I waved my hand: “It’s only right. I promised you and won’t go back on my word. I’ll come visit you again in a year.”

He nodded, then said, “Since you’re without this talisman’s protection, I feel bad. Let me give you two things as compensation and thanks.”

With that, he produced a cloth pouch from his belongings and opened it.

Inside was a tooth. It was clearly a beast’s tooth—yellowed with age, long and sharp, evidently capable of snapping many bones. A red thread was threaded through it, allowing it to be worn around the neck.

The old stall owner placed it around my neck and explained, “This tooth came from a fight I witnessed a couple of years ago in the cliff valley—two mountain dogs, one black and one gray, battling for dominance. Both were grievously wounded. I saw the black one bite through the gray one’s throat but died from exhaustion shortly after. I kept its canine tooth until today. This tooth wards off evil spirits. Wear it.”

I had heard from Third Uncle that many folk talismans exist to repel evil. This black dog’s tooth was among them.

The ancient rites record that dogs are “creatures of utmost yang,” possessing the power to dispel and subdue yin evils. Their most formidable deterrent is their sharp teeth. Now I understood that these mountain dogs were a kind of sand wolf. The mountain dog king was essentially a wolf king, and naturally, the wolf king’s teeth were even more potent. By that logic, this wolf tooth was a true treasure. I hadn’t expected the old stall owner to part with it so readily.

This also indirectly confirmed how precious the five-emperor coin was.

Next, the old stall owner opened a backpack he had carried up the mountain.

He took out a glass jar, similar in size to a canning jar, sealed at the top. Placing it before me, I immediately saw several worms tangled inside.

I was dumbfounded, pointing silently at the jar.

For those worms were none other than the earth dragons we had painstakingly sought—the very creatures Ma Su called ground dragons.

The old stall owner chuckled: “When I burned that withered tree, my bone-picking hands were quick enough to catch these five worms. I know you need them badly, so I’m giving them to you. But don’t tell the others yet—I’m afraid if they knew, they wouldn’t let you give me the coin.”

(End of chapter)

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