Lu Zheng hadn’t expected to run into Daoist Jiuzhen and his young disciple here.
“Jiuzhen of Fengyang Mountain, greetings, fellow Daoist!”
“Mingzhang of Baiyun Temple, greetings, fellow Daoist!”
“Why are you here, Daoist?” Lu Zheng couldn’t help asking. Weren’t they supposed to return to Fengyang Mountain? How come, after so many days, they were only in Tonglin County?
Jiuzhen said, “My disciple and I encountered a cat demon from southern Xinjiang causing trouble, which delayed us a few days. We arrived in Jiaotian Town this afternoon, heard about this matter, and came to investigate.”
“Any findings, Daoist?” Mingzhang asked.
Jiuzhen shook his head. “The creature has left, only an empty grave remains.”
“Who was it?” Mingzhang asked.
“Judging by the tomb’s interior, likely an official from the previous dynasty,” Clerk Li interjected.
Mingzhang was startled. “Previous dynasty? That’s over six hundred years!”
“Indeed,” Jiuzhen nodded. “So this creature’s cultivation is likely significant.”
Head Constable Liu and Clerk Li looked grim.
This morning, the county magistrate heard Jiaotian Town’s report and sent Liu and Li to investigate.
Liu, a martial artist, carried court-issued talismans and artifacts, sufficient for ordinary creatures.
Li, a scholar, was knowledgeable and tasked with tracing the tomb’s origins for the official report.
Arriving in Jiaotian Town, they met Jiuzhen and his disciple, who were joining the excitement, so they teamed up to visit the tomb.
Seeing officials and cultivators present, a dozen bolder villagers followed at a distance, hoping to see something noteworthy to boast about later.
Jiuzhen, Liu, and others explored the tomb, found nothing, and emerged just as Lu Zheng and Mingzhang arrived.
“Daoists, will this thing cause chaos in Tonglin County? Should I report to Yizhou’s Anomaly Division?” Liu asked gravely.
Jiuzhen looked to Mingzhang, as Baiyun Temple was Tonglin County’s local authority, so he should answer.
“Let me try to track the zombie,” Mingzhang said, forming a hand seal to cast a qi-observing spell.
He drew yin qi from the cave, merging it with condensed cloud qi in his hand, letting it drift through the air with his seals.
Mingzhang pondered briefly…
“No trace. It’s completely concealed its aura, truly high in cultivation.”
He shook his head, turning to Liu. “We don’t know this ancient zombie’s intentions. I’ll keep investigating, but for safety, Constable, report to the Anomaly Division to prepare them.”
“Understood!” Liu saluted. “If you’re not going back in, I’ll have the tomb sealed.”
“Don’t seal it yet. What if the zombie returns?” Mingzhang stopped him.
“You say it’s a zombie, Daoist? How did you learn of this?” Jiuzhen asked.
Lu Zheng recounted Yuanjing’s injury and his struggle to return to Baiyun Temple.
“I see!” Jiuzhen nodded. “This zombie’s cultivation is profound. If it intends harm, it could slaughter a town in a day.”
Mingzhang frowned. “And it left the tomb. Don’t zombies usually stay in their graves?”
Jiuzhen said, “Perhaps the tomb robbers stole something from it?
Or maybe it couldn’t move or face sunlight when first awakened yesterday?
Last night, recovering, it chased after them?”
“But yesterday we…” Lu Zheng began, then stopped. Clearly, though they found three bodies, the tomb robbers weren’t necessarily just those three.
Mingzhang told Liu, “Please deploy your men to the county’s towns and villages, just in case.”
“Got it!”
Mingzhang mused, “The zombie left last night, no trace all day, and now it’s night again. It might show itself. How about we each check a few nearby towns?”
Jiuzhen nodded. “Agreed.”
Lu Zheng glanced at Liu Ning. “I’ll take young Liu to my place first?”
“I’m staying with Master!” Liu Ning said.
“Be good. Master may have to visit many places tonight and can’t look after you.”
So Mingzhang and Jiuzhen divided up some locations, and Lu Zheng said he’d join after dropping Liu Ning off.
…
Back in Tonglin County, Lu Zheng settled Liu Ning at his home, arranging a guest room with Butler Li. Yan Hongxia and Liu Qingyan arrived.
“Brother Lu, any sign of that zombie?” Yan Hongxia asked.
“How’d you know?” Lu Zheng asked, surprised.
Liu Qingyan explained, “After leaving Yuling Garden, we heard patrolling constables say Liu left with a large group. Coming back and not seeing you, we guessed.”
Lu Zheng nodded, then shook his head. “Found its tomb, but not it.”
He recounted the day’s events. Yan Hongxia immediately said, “Count me in!”
Before Liu Qingyan could speak, Lu Zheng cut her off. “Qingyan, stay in the county. If anything happens, go to Baiyun Temple for my senior brother.”
“Alright.”
Liu Qingyan nodded, not insisting, but silently resolved to train harder after her medical duties.
…
Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia left the city that night, splitting the remaining towns and villages, then parting ways.
…
As dawn broke…
Returning to Jiaotian Town, Lu Zheng found Mingzhang, Jiuzhen, and Yan Hongxia already there.
“You found nothing either?”
“Nothing,” Lu Zheng appeared, knowing Yan Hongxia and the daoists had likely already spoken.
“Could it have left Tonglin County?”
“Or gone to the Yin-Yang Road, breaching the realms into the Netherworld?”
“No matter what, no zombie chaos is good news,” Mingzhang said.
“Indeed. Wait a couple more days. If there’s still no sign, it’s likely fine,” Jiuzhen nodded.
Mingzhang said, “Why not stay at Baiyun Temple for a few days, Daoist?”
“I’ll take you up on that,” Jiuzhen accepted.
After settling plans, they went to Tonglin County to pick up Liu Ning.
But upon arriving home, Lu Zheng found Guangyue waiting.
“Master Guangyue?”
Guangyue stood tall. “Friend Lu, a zombie in Pingtan County abducted nine boys, entered Jiming Temple’s secret realm, and sealed it from within. I can’t break it, so I’m here for help!”
