Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

A pile of children's dismembered limbs fell out of the bamboo box. The scene was indeed horrifying. Guan Songsheng had seen many people who used crooked methods to harm others. There were even cases of people who brought children along to mislead others. In fact, the children they brought along could very well be victims themselves. That's why he reacted so strongly and wanted to take them down immediately.

Cang was also shocked by what was in the bamboo box at first glance, but he immediately realized something was wrong. The severed limbs were indeed realistic, but in many details they were different from real corpses, at least they were different from the real severed limbs he had seen before.

Upon closer inspection, one can see that these severed limbs are very similar to the boy's body next to them, including the clothes worn on the torso. If these parts were put together, it would be a life-size doll modeled after the boy.

Based on the man's earlier statement about "stealing peaches," this was probably a tool they used in their magic trick performance.

"They are not bad people, change back."

The second half of the sentence was meant for Guan Songsheng, probably to pounce on him in one blow. When he rushed out, he turned into a wolf-like beast and hasn't turned back yet.

"fake?"

Guan Songsheng obediently transformed back into human form and picked up a severed hand from the ground to examine it, finally discovering a clue at the cut on the arm.

"But this is too realistic; it could easily fool some little vixens."

He had seen dummies before—paper, wood, cloth, clay—and the magic used to make them was incredibly diverse. These were among the best he had ever seen.

"What exactly do you two do? This isn't a technique that ordinary street performers could learn, and this rope..."

As he spoke, Guan Songsheng picked up the large bundle of rope on the ground. This hemp rope looked unremarkable, but there was more to it than met the eye. He threw the rope on the ground, and one end of the rope seemed to come alive, pointing straight to the sky. After reaching a certain height, it stopped and stood upright on the ground, like a staircase connecting the sky and the ground.

"This is the rope used to play the Immortal Rope. It's already made, so you can use it without really using any magic. This thing is not easy to make; it requires a specialist to make it."

Cang said that the father and son were not bad people, and Guan Songsheng believed him. But judging from this pile of things, they were definitely not ordinary people. They couldn't be let go as ordinary street performers.

“I once heard my master say that there are very few people who can wield the magic rope. Nowadays, most people rely on mechanisms hidden in the rope to deceive others. The last time he saw someone who knew this kind of magic was a sorcerer from the White Lotus Sect.”

It goes without saying what the White Lotus Sect is like now. There are good people, but there are far more bad people, and it's a mixed bag, very chaotic.

Upon hearing this, Cang looked up at the sky. The thick rope stretched straight into the clouds, standing there without any support. He had seen it clearly just now; Guan Songsheng had thrown the rope almost casually, and the magical power used in this action was less than that used to light a fire with a talisman. It was indeed a magical artifact that could be used by an "ordinary person".

Looking at the father and son on the ground, although Cang stopped Guan Songsheng from attacking people like a wild beast, the idea that people in front of him were demons had already taken hold. Seeing that Cang could control the whole situation with a flick of his whisk and that his various "treasures" were easily exposed, the man did not dare to make any rash moves and just stayed obediently with his son.

This attitude saved a lot of effort.

"What exactly are you doing? Tell me the truth."

"Father, a monster..."

"Demon...what demon? I'm a proper Taoist priest."

Having spent so much time with the people of the primordial realm recently, everyone has stopped taking his strange transformation methods seriously. Guan Songsheng has gradually forgotten that some of his characteristics are very different from what people currently know as Taoists. Compared to Taoists, Guan Songsheng's flexible transformation methods are more like the monster magic that the secular world believes in.

Moreover, he had just performed two illusions right in front of them, so his Taoist robe was no longer convincing. However, because of their fear, the man was quite honest in his questions, and without Cang and Guan Songsheng saying anything more, he revealed the purpose of his visit.

The father and son made a living by performing arts, but their business was always struggling. Their "divine rope" was indeed related to the White Lotus Sect. The man's ancestors were members of the White Lotus Sect, and they left their descendants some skills to make a living. However, in recent years, the White Lotus Sect's reputation has become increasingly tarnished, and there has been infighting within the sect. Many "descendants of the White Lotus Sect" who just wanted to live honest lives did not dare to use these skills to make money. If they were not careful, they could be imprisoned or even beheaded.

Although this "Immortal Rope" is considered a family heirloom, one can't just keep it hidden away forever, especially since it can't be sold directly for money. So, taking advantage of the White Lotus Sect's recent weakness and the fact that no one is paying attention to them, they can quickly practice it to earn some money.

The man's method of making money was the "peach theft" that Cang had just heard. The process was that he would set up a magic rope, let his son climb up to pick the "immortal peaches," and then throw down the broken fake corpse from above, making the onlookers think that his son had been discovered and killed by people in the sky.

The purpose of this development is to frighten the audience, and then the man can easily make money by playing the victim. Finally, he can "revive" his son and make another round of money. One show is enough for the father and son to finish their performance and leave to continue in another town.

As for why they came to this desolate place, it's because recently, there have been a lot of convoys of high-ranking officials and dignitaries coming and going in Changqing County. They are all from other places, saying they are coming to Changqing to worship Buddha. However, the most famous monk in Changqing has long passed away, and the reputation of his remaining disciples is not enough to attract so many people to worship.

The town was bustling with activity, but there were also many people. The father and son planned to perform for the officials in Jinan during the Spring Festival. If they were to practice at this time and be seen by others, their plans would be ruined.

“I heard from some outsiders that a high-ranking official colluded with the White Lotus Sect and caused a big incident. Many places are cracking down on arrests. Some officials couldn’t stand it and fled to other places in advance.”

The man suspected that the high-ranking officials and nobles who came from outside were hiding from this. If this trend continued, their fact that they were descendants of the White Lotus Sect would be discovered sooner or later. Rather than hiding any longer, he might as well make some money and leave quickly.

"Isn't it normal for high-ranking officials to be in the White Lotus Sect? Why are they only arresting people now? What were they doing all this time?"

Aside from their identities as descendants of the White Lotus Sect, the father and son in front of him were just ordinary people. Guan Songsheng did not believe the rumors they had heard.

One reason for the complex composition of the White Lotus Sect's followers was their loose rule of "laypeople becoming monks," meaning that as long as the person involved intended to keep it secret and did not reveal their magical abilities, no one would know. In fact, many who joined when they were young continued to participate in the White Lotus Sect's affairs after becoming high-ranking officials, but they simply kept quiet about it.

However, one thing is true: the government has indeed been cracking down on the White Lotus Sect recently, and it seems poised to launch a renewed offensive and crush it outright.

"Where did the technique for making these mannequins come from?"

Cang was more concerned about this. The fake corpse was so realistic that it could easily fool ordinary people. However, when the man said he was a descendant of the White Lotus Sect, he did not mention that his ancestors had this kind of skill.

"This...this method came from a shaman. I traded some things passed down from my ancestors for this technique."

The fact that the White Lotus Sect sorcerer could leave behind the Immortal Rope for his descendants shows that he must have been quite powerful. He must have left behind more than just one magical artifact. But the sect has declined, and by the time it reached the man, he couldn't even read. Even if it contained some powerful magic, he wouldn't understand it. In the end, he traded it with someone else.

He has connections with the White Lotus Sect, but has no connection with the current White Lotus Sect. He possesses strange magic, but only does so to make a living. It was just a coincidence and a misunderstanding that Cang met this father and son here.

"It's time to go find Jianzi Xianji."

After confirming that the father and son were harmless, Cang decided to leave them alone and took Guan Songsheng, who still wanted to say something, back to the mountain. He probably still wanted to argue that he was not a monster, but Cang felt that he could no longer argue, and the child was convinced that Guan Songsheng was a monster.

At the entrance of the snake cave, the giant snake, covered in wounds, was forced to stick its head out. The little dragon grabbed its scales and pressed the snake's head to the ground, unable to break free.

Or rather, it has stopped struggling.

"This big worm is quite tough, but its base doesn't look very good, and its scales aren't worth much. Otherwise, I could have skinned it and given it to my cousin."

The giant snake itself was unwilling to come out; it was the little dragon that crawled into the well, beat it up, and forcibly pulled it out. It was basically all thanks to the brute force of the other dragon.

"Master, when I went in, I saw that the bottom of the well was built with bricks and stones, and it was well constructed. It was obviously dug with great effort. By the way, there was also a strange-looking dead snake inside."

"Something even stranger than this one?"

Liu Qingyuan tapped the giant snake's head with his whisk. Not only was the snake large, but it also had many demonic characteristics, making it impossible for Liu Qingyuan to even identify its species.

That's strange enough. What else is in the well?

"It wasn't very big, just average-sized, but it had something like a rooster's comb on its head, making it look like a sacrificial offering."

"A crested snake? That thing is extremely rare, and it's a great ingredient for making medicinal liquor. Is it at the bottom of the well?"

Upon hearing this, Peng Haiqiu became excited.

“I think that snake has been dead for quite a while, and all the venomous snakes around it are avoiding that spot, so it definitely won’t be able to be used to make wine.”

"Xiao Yu, pull this snake out completely. Jian Feidao and I will go into the well to take a look. You guys wait here for Master Guan and Master Xian to return, and we can interrogate this big guy while we're at it."

When the Third Prince first recommended the little dragon to Liu Qingyuan, he was a little surprised. This little dragon was not surnamed Ao but Yu. It was said that it took the surname of its mother's side. The specific name was not mentioned, but that did not prevent it from being addressed.

The giant snake's size was just enough to fit within the maximum diameter of the well opening; without dragging the snake out completely, no one else could get down into the well.

"Count me in, I haven't seen a crested snake in years."

Peng Haiqiu wanted to join, since he was a free spirit and not afraid of poisonous snakes, so Liu Qingyuan agreed.

The fact that the well could hold such a large snake, and that the little dragon could fight inside without it collapsing, demonstrates the size and sturdiness of the space at the bottom. In Liu Qingyuan's opinion, this space at the bottom is more like a large cellar than a well.

"These snakes are unlike the ones outside."

Having been attacked by venomous snakes in the snake pit before, Jian Feidao immediately took his sword and came down. There were also many venomous snakes in the well, densely packed on the ground, but they did not attack people. It was unclear whether they were too intimidated by the little dragon to move, or whether they did not know how to act without the giant snake that was their backbone.

The walls on all sides are made of bricks and stones, and in some places you can see broken pieces of wood sticking out, making the whole space look like a secret room built underground.

"...It feels like we've entered a strange place."

Liu Qingyuan looked up. The well opening above her head was just a small circle when viewed from below. In addition to the dim environment at the bottom of the well, there was a pungent smell of rotting corpses. There were many white bones scattered on the ground, piled up haphazardly, and it was impossible to tell whether they were human or animal. No matter how much the little dragon rushed in and fought, it quickly beat up the giant snake and dragged it out. Apart from the snakes that lived here, no one could stand the smell.

"These days have been full of surprises..."

Peng Haiqiu took out a precious pearl from his sleeve, which illuminated the surroundings. He then turned around and found that the other two people were glowing white in the light.

"...You two are more like immortals than I am."

Looking at the two "white-clad immortals" next to him, and then at his own simple scholar's attire, Peng Haiqiu wondered if he should change his look.

"Is this a luminous pearl?"

"No, this is a refined pearl."

With the light, the three quickly found the crested snake corpse that the little dragon had mentioned. The corpse was placed on a small platform, a spot where all the venomous snakes avoided, making it the most deserted corner in the area.

Peng Haiqiu's lighting was excellent, allowing Liu Qingyuan and the others to see the details on the corpse very clearly. However, upon closer inspection, a problem arose: the "crown snake" corpse was fake.

Well, the snake is a real snake, and the rooster's comb is a real rooster's comb, but the snake is just an ordinary venomous snake, and the rooster's comb on its head is a rooster's comb that was forcibly sewn on.

This "crested snake" is not only fake, but also artificially created. It was made using special techniques to resemble a specimen and placed here, truly resembling a sacrificial offering.

"It was man-made."

After realizing that the "crown snake" was actually a snake, Peng Haiqiu was greatly disappointed.

"These people, it's one thing to fake auspicious omens, but why make a fake crested snake? It has nothing to do with auspicious omens."

“These marks on the ground indicate that the giant snake usually coiled up here.”

Liu Qingyuan walked around the small platform where the "crown snake" was placed. There were no snakes coiled around it. There were deep and wide indentations on the ground, as if left by a giant snake crawling. When the little dragon pulled the giant snake out, it struggled even more, as if there was a treasure in the well that needed to be protected.

But there was no gold or silver treasure in the well, only piles of venomous snakes, a fake "crested snake" specimen, and a pile of bones left over from being eaten, the remains of what could be human or animal.

"Senior, look at these!"

Upon discovering the fluctuations of seals on the surrounding walls, Jian Feidao turned his attention to studying the nooks and crannies of the space, eventually making a discovery among the broken bones piled up in the corner.

Jian Feidao found several broken ring-shaped objects among them, some inlaid with gold, some covered in rust, and some scattered wooden beads. Although they were all damaged to varying degrees, it was still possible to determine the origin of these objects.

They had been seeing these things frequently lately; the broken ring-shaped objects resembled the large rings on a monk's robe, and the wooden beads were actually just prayer beads with various patterns carved on them.

Among these disfigured remains were human skeletons, and they belonged to monks.

"...I can't even have an easy time."

Liu Qingyuan couldn't help but sigh, "Is this some kind of plot from a ghost story?" What did he do with that snake pit? A puzzle game? To be honest, he was starting to miss love stories between humans and demons.

Because they had lingered at the foot of the mountain for a while, when Cang and Guan Songsheng arrived at the snake cave, everyone had already begun interrogating the giant snake. However, due to the snake's lack of cooperation, the whole process was exhausting, even with the little dragon putting pressure on them.

"Where is Jianzi Xianji?"

"Jianzi and Jian Feidao went down into the well. Where did Xianshou go before? Why are they only arriving now?"

The mountain wasn't large, and if Cang Ruo was only near the foot of the mountain, it wouldn't take Guan Songsheng long to fly down as a swallow, and the two of them could easily climb up again. However, they arrived much later than expected.

If they had returned earlier, they could have witnessed the amazing scene of the little dragon dragging the giant snake out of its cave in human form.

"There were some minor hiccups, but nothing serious."

"Senior brother, let me tell you, there's actually a Divine Rope in Changqing..."

Cang thought there was nothing to say about the father and son down the mountain; they were just people who made a living with some special skills. Guan Songsheng, however, thought differently. The descendants of the White Lotus Sect and the magical artifact, the Immortal Rope, were definitely worth talking about.

And those mannequins, those incredibly realistic severed limbs, are highly manipulable and could be used to pull off a clever escape in a crisis.

"How is the snake demon?"

"He can speak, but he swears a lot."

Taking advantage of the fact that the giant snake was suppressed and unable to resist, Ren Pingsheng used the snake's body as a backrest, leaning against it and occasionally poking at the snake's scales with his cane.

"It sounds like this guy has a deep-seated hatred for people. He was so agitated when he saw Xiao Shilang that he almost collapsed the cave entrance."

Cang looked in the direction Ren Pingsheng pointed. The sealing formation was now dilapidated. The once rapidly growing vines were now only a few tenths of their original size. If it weren't for the many people guarding the cave entrance, the poisonous snakes inside would probably have all fled long ago.

The giant snake was enormous, and the people around it inevitably had limited visibility. Cang stood far away from the snake, so he could see the situation in the cave more clearly.

"Please, gentlemen, move a few steps."

At that moment, Master Li was listening intently to Guan Songsheng recount what had just happened down the mountain. When he heard Cang say this, he didn't think much of it and simply obediently pulled his junior brother a few steps to the side. Before he could ask anything more, a sharp burst of energy swept past them and struck the stone wall heavily, stirring up a cloud of dust and gravel.

When the smoke and dust cleared, a large hole appeared in the stone wall that had been attacked by Cang, revealing traces of the wall bricks inside.