Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Soul-Igniting Lantern Chapter 21: The Tongue Gu

Inside the fortune-telling shop, the lingering scent of incense filled the air, giving the place a rare tranquility and depth.

Yet, the strange Taoist before them wore a look of panic as he gazed at Gu Mo and asked, “Mr. Gu, what’s become of Feng Kaixuan now?”

At this, Gu Mo turned with equal confusion to Yan Wang Jiang Jingxue. Caught under his gaze, the latter put on a mischievous smile, her voice ringing out like the tinkling of silver bells.

“Those two scoundrels are under my decree. As long as they receive some punishment, they will regain consciousness.”

Hearing this, the odd Taoist froze, then furrowed his brows and extended his left hand to calculate. In the span of a few breaths, a faint golden glow shimmered at his fingertips.

Gu Mo was left a little dumbfounded, questioning reality itself. Though disheveled, this Taoist clearly had some genuine skill.

Moments later, the Taoist looked at Yan Wang Jiang Jingxue, his face painted with black lines. “Your Excellency, isn’t this a bit much?”

But Jiang Jingxue only gave a sly smile in response. The Taoist, after a sigh, stood up, found a black Taoist robe, and began to wash up.

A short while later, the Taoist’s appearance had changed completely. His long hair, once hanging loose, was now coiled into a tall bun, fastened with a jade hairpin. The black Taoist robe looked especially striking.

Now, Gu Mo found him to possess the bearing of an immortal, refined and handsome—a far cry from his former slovenly state.

The Taoist, now properly attired, threw Gu Mo a sly wink before speaking in a leisurely tone. “Mr. Gu, you and Feng Kaixuan must have some fated connection. Come with me for a little jaunt.”

Gu Mo nodded and turned to Jiang Jingxue. “Your Majesty, the shop’s door still isn’t fixed. Please keep an eye on it for me. When I return, I’ll bring you some tasty snacks.”

At the mention of snacks, Jiang Jingxue readily agreed. The Taoist flicked his sleeve, and together with Gu Mo, vanished into the night…

The moonlight was clear and cold, spilling across the world.

Gu Mo followed the Taoist through a secluded grove, the fresh air invigorating his senses, the scenery holding a unique charm.

After a few breaths, curiosity got the better of him. Brow furrowed, he asked, “Taoist, may I know your name? Why have you waited for me for ten years?”

The Taoist smiled and turned, replying, “In the world, I am known as Xiao Yulou, a wanderer from the Wuzhuang Temple on Jade Void Peak. From now on, let us address each other as brothers.”

Gu Mo, beset by doubt, protested, “Taoist Xiao, aren’t you being a bit too familiar? This is our first meeting!”

Xiao Yulou only smiled. “Brother Gu, to be frank, I have long since calculated your fate. There’s a long road ahead for the two of us.”

The ambiguity left Gu Mo puzzled, but on reflection, having an expert as company was no bad thing.

As their steps took them further, a serene emerald pond came into view. All around, the air was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, dense woods, and abundant grass, with the gentle sound of flowing water lending peace to the heart.

This was clearly a place untouched by the world. Even the air here tasted subtly sweet.

Before them, a white current tumbled into the emerald pool, like a string of pearls.

One could hardly fathom what virtues the city held, with its forests of concrete and steel. How could those meager strips of greenery improve the air? Not to mention, some cities were filled with factories…

Just as Gu Mo was taking in his surroundings, a rhythmic knocking sound came from beneath a large tree.

Wary, Gu Mo looked up, fearing some new oddity might leap out.

But Xiao Yulou, hands clasped behind his back, strode calmly toward the source of the sound, Gu Mo in tow.

Within a few steps, two dark figures appeared beneath the tree.

Frowning, Gu Mo peered closer and immediately recognized them. Feng Kaixuan and Feng Kai were both deathly pale, their lips bloodless and cracked, and a reek of stale sweat hung about them.

It seemed the two chubby men had been repeating the same action all day, their once-flabby bodies now much thinner.

Gu Mo saw them sitting dazed on the ground in an unseemly posture, legs splayed. Their loose trousers had slipped to their ankles, and both were holding their genitals, knocking them against smooth river stones.

Muttering as they performed this obscene act, their voices were barely audible. “I’m sorry… I have sinned… I’m sorry…”

Gu Mo found himself questioning reality again—who would have thought Yan Wang, that silly girl, would mete out such absurd punishment!

Yet the two wretched fat men had brought this fate upon themselves.

Xiao Yulou sighed helplessly before remarking, “Brother Gu, your Yan Wang wife certainly knows how to play!”

Gu Mo could only force a bitter smile. “Don’t—I haven’t agreed to marry her yet.”

Suddenly, Gu Mo froze, staring at Xiao Yulou in disbelief. “Taoist Xiao, you know about that too?”

Xiao Yulou put on a mock-serious face, smirking. “With a little calculation, all is laid bare.”

Gu Mo nodded, half-convinced. “So, Taoist Xiao, what should we do about these two fools?”

Xiao Yulou smiled and flicked his sleeve, his demeanor ethereal. “That’s easy!”

He stooped and clasped his hands, a beam of golden light bursting from his fingertips. With a flick, two streams of gold shot into the foreheads of Feng Kaixuan and Feng Kai.

Instantly, the two dazed men snapped awake, their screams echoing over the pond.

“Ah—!”

Clutching themselves, drenched in cold sweat, they could only marvel at the pain. If not for Xiao Yulou’s intervention, they might have shattered the river stones before stopping.

After a long while, Feng Kaixuan, sweating profusely, stammered as he looked at Xiao Yulou, “Wuwuwu—”

No sooner had he spoken than he felt something was wrong. Panicked, the fat man hastily stuck out his tongue.

A glistening, red orb the size of a green bean appeared, blood vessels snaking from it and wrapping tightly around Feng Kaixuan’s tongue, as if to replace it entirely.

The sight made Gu Mo break out in a cold sweat.

But Xiao Yulou, serene as ever, strode forward and pried open Feng Kaixuan’s mouth. After a glance, his brow furrowed. “Hmm, a tongue parasite? Where did that come from?!”

Gu Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

“Taoist Xiao, what’s a tongue parasite?”

The fat man, sitting on the ground with legs still apart, hastily pulled up his pants and fell to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

Feng Kai, meanwhile, was so terrified he could only stare, shaking uncontrollably, unable to utter a word.

Xiao Yulou, hands behind his back, explained with calm. “Most parasitic sorcery in this world originates from Xiangxi. The tongue parasite is crafted from the tongue of the dead. Its victim’s tongue grows numb and speechless, then after a few days, fever and delirium set in, followed by death.”

He paused briefly. “Clearly, whoever planted this parasite has some skill.”

Then Xiao Yulou turned to Feng Kai. “Did you two encounter someone from Xiangxi?”

Feng Kai looked up, thought for a moment, and replied in a sickly voice, “Yes, yes! While I was in a daze, I saw a woman in embroidered clothes… I suppose our actions were indecent, so she raised her hand and a violet light shot into Feng Kaixuan’s mouth.”

Gu Mo grew curious. “Then why weren’t you infected?”

Feng Kai racked his brains but couldn’t say. He forced a wan smile. “I really don’t know. I was so out of it I can’t even recall what the woman looked like.”

Xiao Yulou nodded slowly. “All right. Go home and tend to your wounds. I’ll treat Feng Kaixuan.”

At those words, Feng Kai, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to his feet and fled into the night.

Feng Kaixuan, still kneeling, looked at Xiao Yulou with a deathly pallor, his eyes full of desperate hope.

Xiao Yulou flicked his sleeve, producing his tools: yellow talismans, cinnabar, a small dish of chicken blood, and naturally, a goat-hair brush.

Once ready, he murmured an incantation, dipped the brush in the cinnabar-chicken blood mixture, and began to draw on Feng Kaixuan’s forehead, forming an indecipherable talisman.

He closed his eyes and recited the incantation of the Three Pure Ones. After several breaths, Xiao Yulou suddenly shouted, and the red talisman melted into Feng Kaixuan’s skin.

The greenish tongue parasite began to detach itself. With a wet plop, the blood-red creature hit the ground and scurried toward the woods.

Seeing this, Xiao Yulou pinched a yellow talisman and twisted it with one hand.

In a flash, the talisman burst into flames, and a fireball the size of a watermelon shot toward the parasite.

With a ripping sound, the fleeing tongue parasite let out a distinctly human scream. A foul stench filled the air.

Moments later, green fluid oozed from the parasite, as revolting as could be.

The matter settled, Xiao Yulou smiled faintly, helping Feng Kaixuan to his feet with an air of casual grace. “Brother Feng, I am here today especially for you.”

Still in shock, Feng Kaixuan mumbled his endless thanks with his tingling tongue, a trail of crystal-clear drool running from the corner of his mouth.

Little did anyone expect that Xiao Yulou’s next words would leave Gu Mo utterly bewildered…