Volume One: The Spirit-Gathering Gourd and the Soul-Igniting Lantern Chapter Sixty: Encounter with an Enemy

Gu Mo quietly and carefully found a safe spot to crouch down, curiosity drawing his gaze upward.

But the moment he looked, cold sweat broke out all over him.

Not far away, two elderly men in black, separated by more than ten meters, were locked in the fiercest phase of battle.

Though both looked at least fifty-eight, if not sixty, their hands moved so swiftly they were almost a blur, the only sound the clang of concealed weapons clashing in the night.

The elder with his back to Gu Mo wore a black robe riddled with holes, the corpses of venomous insects still clinging to it. A faint breeze carried a stench, the putrid tang of blood mixed with something fouler.

The elder facing Gu Mo fared no better. His shoulders and left arm bristled with steel needles, a pool of blood beneath him littered with scattered throwing darts and hidden weapons. At his feet, the bodies of poisonous insects lay strewn, and even the surrounding vegetation bore the scars of battle.

Gu Mo was momentarily dumbstruck by the shocking wounds on both men.

Rubbing his chin as he pondered, realization crashed through his mind like thunder. He scrutinized the distinctive features of the two old men: Miao blades, witchcraft, venomous insects; sleeve arrows, hidden weapons, flexible iron swords.

Clearly, the man in black had to be from the Xiangxi region! Even if neither of them was directly responsible for the death of “Brother Walking Corpse,” they were certainly involved.

But—wasn’t it said that the one who planted the tongue parasite in Feng Kaixuan was a young woman, a top-tier practitioner from Xiangxi? Could there be more than one Xiangxi native near Beihuang Town?

At that, Gu Mo was instantly infuriated: “Damn it, enemies really do cross paths on a narrow road!”

Grinding his teeth, his indignation only grew.

“Fight, fight! Best if you both end up dead—then the giant white-scaled python’s golden core will be mine!”

A burst of manic laughter rang out from the Xiangxi shaman. His shoulders and left arm still bristled with hidden weapons.

“Tang Xianshan, even in death you refuse to give up the golden core of the white-scaled python? It’s of little use to your Tang Clan anyway. You already have the serpent’s egg and spiritual horn—aren’t those enough?”

“Tang Xianshan? Isn’t Tang Clan known for their reclusive ways? Could he be with the White Lotus Sect as well?” Gu Mo’s eyes flickered, his rage now focused on the shaman from Miaojiang.

This Miaojiang elder was of average height, with neatly combed white hair, a sallow face, thin brows, beady eyes set in a crafty visage, his face lined with countless wrinkles.

Tang Xianshan, the Tang Clan elder, still had his back to Gu Mo, a sinister smile twisting his lips.

“Lord Xiang, the python’s golden core can grant a century of cultivation in an instant—how could I let such a treasure slip through my fingers? Besides, you still have other treasures in your possession!”

Lord Xiang’s face contorted with rage, shocked by Tang Xianshan’s greed.

The tribulation artifact of the white-scaled python rightfully belonged to no one; whoever obtained it could keep it. But Tang Xianshan’s insatiable greed meant today’s battle would only end with one of them dead.

With that, Lord Xiang flicked his wrist, sending a hidden black vial from his sleeve flying toward Tang Xianshan’s face.

Tang Xianshan dropped his stance, swatting the vial aside with a single palm.

With a crisp crack, the vial shattered on the ground, releasing a nauseating stench.

Tang Xianshan’s brows drew together as he hastily sidestepped, hurling a black orb the size of an orange at Lord Xiang as he moved.

Lord Xiang’s heart clenched at the sight, and he quickly dodged aside.

Thud!

The orb exploded upon contact with the ground, releasing a thick cloud of blinding smoke.

Fearing the smoke was poisoned, Lord Xiang quickly popped an antidote pill into his mouth and covered his nose and mouth with an embroidered handkerchief from his sleeve.

In an instant, the two sinister old men resumed their duel, hurling concealed weapons at each other.

Falling leaves rained down like a curtain, obscuring the view, as the clang of weapons echoed. Hidden in the shadows, Gu Mo could barely suppress his laughter.

“Heh heh… fight on! The sooner you two old bastards die, the sooner the golden core is mine!”

The two aged warriors battled fiercely for the time it takes to finish a pot of tea, both growing visibly exhausted.

Panting, their supply of hidden weapons depleted, they had no choice but to rely on their true martial skills and face each other head-on.

A flash of cold steel pierced the darkness.

Lord Xiang drew the Miao blade from his waist and charged at Tang Xianshan.

Tang Xianshan retreated, one hand slipping behind his back—Gu Mo, from his angle, saw it all clearly.

Clutched in Tang Xianshan’s hand was a pale sphere.

A cold gleam swept by—Tang Xianshan dodged, then smashed the white sphere to the ground.

With a muffled thud, a cloud of thick white smoke billowed at their feet.

From his distant hiding place, Gu Mo frowned, ears ringing with the clash of short blades. Unbeknownst to him, all manner of snakes, insects, rats, and ants were already creeping past his hiding spot.

With a faint hiss, the smoke gradually dissipated.

Brows knitted, Gu Mo peered through the haze. Sure enough, both elders stood locked together, their blades sunk deep into one another’s vital points.

Blood, dark and thick, dripped from the corners of both their mouths.

At a glance, one’s face was deathly pale, the other’s black as charcoal—both clearly poisoned to the core.

“Excellent!” Gu Mo’s heart leapt with joy, but to his surprise, neither man fell immediately.

A burst of crazed laughter erupted from Lord Xiang, blood oozing from his pale lips.

“Tang Xianshan, you forced this fight to the death—don’t blame me for being ruthless in the afterlife!”

With that, Lord Xiang gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the Miao blade.

Tang Xianshan grimaced in pain as a wave of numbness swept through him—of course, Lord Xiang’s blade was poisoned as well.

But these two venomous old foxes were well matched in their craftiness.

“Lord Xiang, you old devil, don’t celebrate too soon!”

As he spoke, Lord Xiang’s whole body began to tremble, a sweet taste rising in his throat.

With a spray of cursed blood, he spat into Tang Xianshan’s face.

Tang Xianshan blinked, his face smeared with blood, yet his expression only grew more twisted. Through the pain, he spat back viciously, “How does the Five-Poison Divine Sand feel, Lord Xiang? Ha ha ha!”

Lord Xiang’s heart skipped, but at this point of mutual destruction, how could he not have his own tricks?

He steadied himself, drawing forth a stream of green energy from within.

Before Gu Mo’s eyes, the wounds on Lord Xiang’s body began to heal, wisps of blue smoke curling from them.

“You…”

Before Tang Xianshan could retort, vermin began gnawing at his battered body. Poison from Xiangxi had already reached his heart—summoning his own energy was futile. By the time he realized it, he’d be nothing but bones.

Hidden in the darkness, Gu Mo drew a sharp breath—now was not yet the time to make his move. He had to bide his time, wait until both enemies were truly at death’s door—otherwise, with his paltry skills, he’d be killed in an instant.

Lord Xiang fixed Tang Xianshan with a venomous glare. “Old bastard, any last words before you die?”

Tang Xianshan only smiled coldly. “Lord Xiang, you came all this way for the treasure map, didn’t you?”

Lord Xiang laughed. “No harm in telling you! The map is indeed in my hands! I found that old fraud Gu Yan’s fake grandson before you did. With your pitiful skills, you dream of immortality? Try again in your next life!”

He glared, voice laced with malice. “You picked the wrong day to leave the house—better luck in your next incarnation!”

Hearing those familiar phrases, Gu Mo was overwhelmed—so it was these two old bastards who killed his sworn brother!

Tang Xianshan seemed unsurprised; instead, he smiled coldly, intent on unsettling his foe.

“Lord Xiang, haven’t you noticed something odd?”

A chill ran through Lord Xiang as Tang Xianshan seized the opening, tightening his grip on the iron blade.

“That fake grandson of Gu Yanzhi has been under Tang Fortress surveillance for over a decade. How could the map you hold be genuine?”

The truth struck Lord Xiang like a lightning bolt. If only he’d brought the Corpse King on this trip, he might not have ended up at a disadvantage!

The breeze stirred as the two venomous old rivals clung to life, each making their final desperate gambits.

Gu Mo sucked in a breath to steady his wild heart, then reached for the dirt at his feet…

Just then, in his anger, Gu Mo felt a large hand land on his shoulder from the darkness.

Startled, he turned to see Xiao Yulou’s leering, lascivious grin.

In that instant, every hair on Gu Mo’s body stood on end.

But Xiao Yulou, unperturbed, produced two sets of white-and-blue striped hospital gowns.

It dawned on Gu Mo—the sly Taoist had foreseen everything, and these hospital gowns were the perfect disguise!

He met Xiao Yulou’s eyes and, without a word, picked up one of the gowns. Six large red characters leapt out at him: “Zhoushan Psychiatric Hospital.”

So be it. Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou exchanged a knowing glance and quietly donned their disguises.

After some time, Gu Mo took a deep breath, skirted the venomous insects, and strode boldly toward the two dying enemies.

The subtle sound of footsteps caught their attention. With the barest flicker of their eyes, the two sinister old men glimpsed Gu Mo’s approach.

He was clad in a ragged, hole-riddled psychiatric hospital gown, his face smeared with dirt and grime, his features unrecognizable.

Lord Xiang’s eyes darted as he forced a lewd smile. “Young man, kill the enemy before me and all the money in my bag will be yours!”

Tempted by the promise of silver, Gu Mo’s mind raced with a daring idea.

“Hmph! If I don’t squeeze these two fratricidal villains dry, I’ll have come here for nothing!”

With that, he feigned a vacant, foolish look, drooling at the mouth, eyes unfocused.

He staggered forward, babbling and drooling, and with fists the size of sandbags, rained a clumsy barrage of blows on Tang Xianshan.

“Candy! Give Niu Niu candy!”

He had carefully avoided the wounds and the venomous insects. Though his blows did little real harm, they distracted Tang Xianshan.

Already at the end of his strength, Tang Xianshan stood little chance if Lord Xiang could muster even a bit more power.

Sensing this, Tang Xianshan gritted his teeth, pressing the Miao blade deeper into himself, but forced a fake smile.

“Young man, if you help me kill this dog, I’ll teach you the Tang Clan’s martial arts! And I have plenty of candy in my pocket!”

Gu Mo’s filthy face broke into a guileless grin.

“Heh heh… extorting people feels surprisingly good! You brought this on yourselves—don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

He turned a wicked smile on the ashen-faced Lord Xiang.

Lord Xiang, seeing this wild youth’s fierce eyes, felt a chill run through him. Tang Xianshan’s flexible sword dug deeper into his own flesh.

As Gu Mo raised his fist again, Lord Xiang cried out in alarm, hurriedly arguing his case.

“Young man, don’t be fooled by that scoundrel! The Tang Clan is full of dogs, reclusive and treacherous, steeped in poisons—how could they teach their secret arts to an outsider? I, on the other hand, am from the hospitable Miao of Xiangxi. I can teach you without restriction!”

Gu Mo glared at Tang Xianshan, half-convinced.

Sweat and blood mingled on Tang Xianshan’s face as he realized his life hung by a thread.

Sensing his end near, Tang Xianshan changed his tune instantly.

“Boy, don’t trust that old devil! I’ve got Alpine lollipops in my pocket!”

Gu Mo grinned, turned, and unleashed another round of punches and kicks on Lord Xiang.

Beaten again, Lord Xiang fumed—if he didn’t offer something better, he’d be the one to die!

With a cough, he prepared his ultimate offer.

“Young man, spare me the blows—I have the golden core of the giant python, a treasure that can prolong your life. You’ll have all the candy you could ever want!”

Gu Mo froze—so the golden core of the white-scaled python had already been taken by these two old foxes! If he let this opportunity slip, he’d be a fool.

Yet, Gu Mo’s mind raced.

“If I extort them too hard and one dies first, the survivor will tear me to shreds!”

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

“I’ll keep playing the fool, extorting their treasures while weighing their injuries. As long as I keep the balance, I can milk them both! Once I’ve squeezed them dry, I’ll finish them off myself!”

With that, Gu Mo walked over to a large tree, broke off a branch, and returned.

Feigning idiocy, he eyed the two old villains. Sure enough, even as he turned away, they continued to vie with each other.

“Heh heh!”

Gu Mo drooled and laughed, slapping the branch into his palm as he approached.

“Grandpas, let’s play a game—make your bets!”