After leaving the tomb,
Master Longbrow instructed Tang Fei, “Once you’ve retrieved the top-grade white jade coffin, blow up the tomb.”
“Why is that?” Tang Fei asked, puzzled.
Master Longbrow said, “This is the ancestral tomb of the Long family. There’s no need to keep it. I intend to sever the Long family’s ancestral vein and cut off their fortune.”
“Old Tang, do as the old man says,” Ye Qiu said. “If anyone from the Forbidden City asks later, just say it was the old man’s doing.”
Master Longbrow glared, “Little brat, don’t set me up like that.”
Ye Qiu chuckled, “Just kidding, don’t take it seriously.”
Tang Fei immediately said, “Master, there’s one more thing I need your help with.”
Master Longbrow asked, “You mean those seven century-old pine trees?”
Tang Fei nodded.
“A small matter. I’ll deal with them now,” Master Longbrow said, striding quickly to the seven pine trees and tossing out seven flame talismans in succession.
Soon, the seven pine trees were engulfed in a sea of fire.
“All done here, little brat. Let’s go handle the real business!” Master Longbrow said.
“Mm,” Ye Qiu responded, preparing to leave with Master Longbrow.
Tang Fei asked, “Ye Qiu, what are you and the Master going to do? Can I help with anything?”
Before Ye Qiu could answer, Master Longbrow said, “What we’re doing next doesn’t require your help. Just make sure to deliver that top-grade white jade coffin to Dragon Tiger Mountain.”
Ye Qiu also said, “Old Tang, I’m going to search for a thousand-year-old spiritual herb. No need for your help.”
Uncle Mountain Guard asked, “Mr. Ye, shall I go with you?”
Before Ye Qiu could speak, Master Longbrow gave him a look. Ye Qiu understood and said, “Old man, you stay here. If Old Tang needs you, lend him a hand.”
“Once things are settled here, pack up and come find me in Jiangzhou.”
Uncle Mountain Guard respectfully agreed, “Yes, Mr. Ye.”
“Old Tang, we’re off. Take care,” Ye Qiu said, patting Tang Fei’s shoulder before disappearing into the forest with Master Longbrow.
On the way,
Master Longbrow asked, “Little brat, are you wondering why I didn’t let you bring that old man along?”
Ye Qiu said, “You must have your reasons.”
Master Longbrow nodded slightly, “One can never be too cautious. You’ve only just taken that old man under your wing. Be careful and don’t tell him everything.”
Ye Qiu was surprised, “You suspect him?”
Master Longbrow shook his head, “Not exactly suspicion, but what we’re doing is of great importance. The fewer people who know, the better.”
“This matter concerns the thousand-year fortune of our Dragon Tiger Mountain. We can’t be careless. Unless I trust someone completely, I won’t let them know.”
“Besides, his skills are a bit weak. If we run into danger, we’d have to look after him. No need to bring a burden.”
Ye Qiu grew curious and asked, “Old man, what exactly are you here in the Northeast to do?”
Master Longbrow gave a mysterious smile, “Heh, I’m not telling you just yet.”
Damn it, playing coy with me, hmph!
Ye Qiu snorted and asked, “Where to next?”
“Don’t ask so much. Just follow me,” Master Longbrow said, leading the way.
Ye Qiu followed behind.
The two moved swiftly through the forest.
They were now in the restricted area of Changbai Mountain, a primal forest with towering ancient trees all around.
As they walked,
Master Longbrow, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.
“Why’d you stop?” Ye Qiu asked.
Master Longbrow turned back, grinning at Ye Qiu, “Little brat, fancy some tiger whip?”
Ye Qiu looked ahead and saw, fifty metres away, a sturdy ancient tree. At its base lay a Northeast tiger, fast asleep.
The tiger was massive, about two metres long, covered in black stripes, with a large, round head and several black horizontal stripes on its forehead, resembling the character for “king.”
“What, you want to kill it?” Ye Qiu asked.
Master Longbrow laughed, “I’ve lived this long and never tried wild tiger whip. They say it’s great for virility when soaked in liquor. Want to give it a go?”
Ye Qiu snapped, “Try your head! Northeast tigers are protected animals. If you kill one, you’ll face the firing squad.”
Master Longbrow shrugged, “In these deep woods, who’d know if we killed it?”
“I’m telling you, a tiger’s body is full of treasures.”
“Tiger skin, tiger bones, tiger meat, tiger whip, tsk tsk tsk…”
Master Longbrow smacked his lips, practically drooling.
“You’d better drop that idea,” Ye Qiu said coldly. “There’s a saying: the gods are watching. As a man of the Dao, don’t kill recklessly, lest it harms your cultivation.”
“Yo, looking out for me now? You’ve got a conscience, kid,” Master Longbrow said with a laugh. “You think I don’t know Northeast tigers are protected? I was just joking, but…”
“But what?” Ye Qiu asked.
Master Longbrow said, “As the saying goes, where tigers dwell, there’s bound to be treasure.”
“This tiger’s resting here. I bet there’s something valuable under that tree.”
“Little brat, believe me?”
Ye Qiu didn’t buy Master Longbrow’s nonsense and scoffed, “What treasure could there be?”
“Let’s go see for ourselves,” Master Longbrow said, striding toward the tiger.
Ye Qiu followed.
When they were about twenty metres from the tree, the sleeping tiger suddenly stood up, glaring at Master Longbrow and Ye Qiu with its big eyes, letting out a roar.
“Roar—”
The sound echoed.
But it didn’t faze Ye Qiu or Master Longbrow.
“Beast, get lost,” Master Longbrow barked.
The tiger seemed provoked, its eyes glaring fiercely at Master Longbrow. It leaned forward slightly, claws digging into the ground, growling low.
“What, you want to take me on? I’m not looking down on you, but I could crush you with one hand.”
Master Longbrow released a powerful aura, trying to scare the tiger off.
But the tiger wasn’t intimidated. It kept growling and even started stepping closer to Master Longbrow.
“Looks like you need a lesson to know your place.”
Master Longbrow threw out a thunder talisman.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning as thick as a teacup struck in front of the tiger.
Instantly, the tiger, like a startled rabbit, bolted into the forest.
“Coward.”
Master Longbrow cursed, walked to the tree, and grinned, “Little brat, look, what’s that?”
