Chapter 45: The Crown Prince of the Xuanjin Dynasty

“Speaking of that rich young master who brought those two or three immortals,” the boatman slapped his forehead and recalled, “It wasn’t really a big deal at first. Water Town often saw nobles coming to play, and we couldn’t afford to provoke a rich young master who could bring immortals along, so we just steered clear. But that young master couldn’t stay idle. He wandered around noisily everywhere, and before long, he heard about Dou Niang’s family somehow and insisted on dragging the mad herbalist up the mountain to show the way.”

Gu Changhuai was curious. “Since the herbalist had gone mad, how could he show the way?”

The boatman nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The herbalist was so deranged he couldn’t even tell directions anymore, and Dou Niang refused. But the young master wouldn’t let it go and said, ‘I’m kindly trying to help you—how can you be so ungrateful?’ He even ordered the immortals to injure Dou Niang.”

At this point, he spat and said indignantly, “Bah, what immortals? They’re just lapdogs for the powerful!”

After calming himself a bit, the boatman continued, “Later, Dou Niang’s youngest son rushed out and said he knew the path they usually took, so the young master took him along too.”

Gu Changhuai pondered. “With cultivators in the group, they should have found the girl quickly, dead or alive.”

“That’s the strange part,” the boatman said. “Not long after the young master’s group went up the mountain, everyone in Water Town heard a massive boom from Water Moon Mountain.”

As he spoke with Gu Changhuai, the boatman gestured animatedly. “The water in this river channel rippled all over, like something had exploded. Then the two immortals came rushing down carrying the unconscious young master, covered in claw and bite marks from wild beasts.”

He added, “But during the day on Water Moon Mountain, you wouldn’t see beasts unless you went very deep. And less than an hour after those two immortals came down, one of them suddenly exploded in public.”

The boatman still seemed shaken as he spoke. “A living person—one moment talking to people, the next exploding. Blood and chunks of flesh everywhere. The key was that his remains were quickly devoured by a mass of black mist and vanished completely.”

From the boatman’s description, Gu Changhuai thought for a moment and hesitated. “What about that young master?”

“No idea,” the boatman shook his head. “He wasn’t ordinary, probably from some noble house. Soon after he came down, officials arrived and escorted him away.”

Hearing this, Gu Changhuai had a rough idea and asked, “What about Dou Niang’s family now?”

“Sigh,” the boatman sighed. “What could they do? With such a huge commotion on the mountain that day, and everyone seeing a living person explode and get devoured in broad daylight—this wasn’t something us common folk could handle. With something so evil around, no one had the mind to care about Dou Niang’s family; they were all busy fleeing in all directions.”

“Later, some bold ones went up Water Moon Mountain to check,” he said. “They picked daytime, twenty or so young men together, and they never came back.”

Gu Changhuai frowned. “…Dead?”

The boatman nodded regretfully. “Dead. Nineteen skeletons were carried back, and one survived but went mad like the herbalist. Dou Niang had lost her daughter, and her husband and son never returned after going up the mountain. She couldn’t hold on, took a breath too far, and passed away. After that, it’s what you two saw—everyone says Water Moon Mountain has man-eating demons, so those who could move left, and the rest fled.”

By now, Gu Changhuai had the gist of it. Meanwhile, the boat had reached the end of its journey during their talk and docked at the shore.

Once ashore, the boatman still worriedly reminded them, “You two young masters, this really isn’t a good time to tour Water Town.”

Gu Changhuai waved at the boatman with a smiling nod. “Thanks a lot for telling us the inside story, big brother, but we’re here on important business.”

With that, he reached into the pouch at Rong Ye’s waist, pulled out two gold ingots, and tossed them to the boatman at the stern. “Catch!”

The boatman opened his palm and stared, his hand trembling, his expression panicked. “No, no, no—this, this is too much, way too much!”

He tried to give them back, but Gu Changhuai had already pulled Rong Ye away. With his back turned, he waved. “Consider it thanks. No need to be polite.”

In the Cultivation World, transactions used spirit stones, and two gold ingots were nothing there—even a poor guy like Gu Changhuai could pull out a handful. But in the mortal world, they could support a family of four for three years of food and clothing.

…

The streets of Water Town were eerily quiet. The signs along the sides had faded, fallen leaves piled up untended, and the wind-swayed lanterns added a layer of chilling desolation.

Gu Changhuai looked at Rong Ye walking beside him and smiled. “Immortal Lord, you don’t seem to have any questions. Do you have a lead?”

Rong Ye’s eyes were calm, his words concise. “The Crown Prince.”

Half a year ago, the Crown Prince in the Capital had gone mad, then fallen into a coma. Half a year ago, the rich young master in Water Town had met disaster on Water Moon Mountain, losing two cultivators—and even forcing one to self-destruct on the way down. Clearly, something sinister lurked on Water Moon Mountain.

That rich young master was the Crown Prince on his excursion.

One thing puzzled Gu Changhuai. “Logically, if the Capital’s Crown Prince was harmed by evil here, the mortal emperor shouldn’t ignore it. Why hasn’t anyone been sent to investigate?”

Not only no investigation—even the county magistrate’s resignation brought no replacement. No ripples at all.

Rong Ye said nothing, scanning the surroundings. His expression unchanged, he lowered his gaze, pinched his fingers in calculation, and his eyes darkened with unspoken thoughts.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Changhuai asked.

Rong Ye replied, “There’s a mausoleum here.” With a flick of his hand, the compass appeared in his palm. The needle moved lazily, then stopped, pointing straight ahead.

Following the needle’s direction, they first saw a wide street, then farther up, three connected mountains looming not far from Water Town. The tallest, darkest, and most oppressive one in the middle was Water Moon Mountain—soaring high, as if to block out the sun.

Rong Ye’s voice was low and cold, his tone flat but certain. “…The Imperial Mausoleum.”

“The Imperial Mausoleum?” Gu Changhuai was puzzled. “Shouldn’t it be in the suburbs of the Capital…”

Halfway through, he paused, suddenly recalling how mortal dynasties rose and fell. The current dynasty’s Imperial Mausoleum was indeed near the Capital—but what about previous ones?

Realization dawned. He met Rong Ye’s gaze and blinked. “A previous dynasty?”

Rong Ye looked down at him, his profound, handsome face inscrutable. He only said, “Five hundred years ago, Xuanjin.” He stopped walking and glanced sideways at the hanging sail in front of a tea stall, where a small black Golden Crow Totem hid at the corner.

Gu Changhuai followed Rong Ye’s line of sight and examined it. “That’s Xuanjin’s totem, right?” He smiled at Rong Ye. “Is the entire Water Town descended from tomb guardians?”

Rong Ye nodded. “Yes.”

The Xuanjin Dynasty’s Imperial Mausoleum was in Water Moon Mountain. To find out exactly what hid inside, they’d have to go in and see.

However…

Gu Changhuai subtly glanced over. His gaze swept toward Han Ya, who had returned at some point. It perched on the edge of an eave, its bean-sized eyes glowing scarlet.

It had something to say.