Immortalis

White Dog Six

The next morning when Yang Wujian opened his eyes, Shen Qingshi was no longer in the tree.

Yang Wujian was momentarily speechless, unsure whether Shen Qingshi's lightness skill was truly exceptional or if he had grown too complacent. Since emerging from the prison that day, he had felt Shen Qingshi wouldn't harm his life.

But what if all this was just an act she was putting on?

After all, both she and Cao Zhao were from the Bi'an Department - they should have known each other long ago.

Yang Wujian jumped down from the tree and discovered Shen Qingshi squatting not far away, intently watching a butterfly resting on a blade of grass.

"Young Hero Shen likes butterflies?"

Song Lan finished preparing the horses and walked over to Shen Qingshi. The startled butterfly immediately flew away.

Song Lan said: "Butterfly wings and larvae can be used in medicine, though they're not particularly valuable - nothing compared to the Golden Cicada."

Shen Qingshi was taken aback: "Golden Cicada?"

Song Lan smiled: "Golden Cicadas can lie dormant underground for over a decade. Some even grow cicada fungus on their bodies, making them very precious medicinal ingredients. When they were scarce in the mountains before, they were difficult to buy even for a thousand gold."

Just then Yang Wujian approached: "What about Cicada Molt? Is that valuable too?"

"Cicada Molt..."

Song Lan murmured the words: "Common cicada molts are mostly used to treat wind-heat induced eye obstructions, not particularly precious. However, as the saying goes - Peng Zu resided with cicada molts, Anqi feasted for longevity... Some ancient texts claim cicada molts can prolong life, though it's unclear whether they refer to the Golden Cicada we know..."

The three chatted for a while until Zhou Huai was fully awake, then the group set out again. This time, they traveled straight to Baiqian Town, the closest settlement to White Dog Village.

During Northern Xiang's rule, this area had been a mining district, hence the town's name. The half-day journey from town to White Dog Village demonstrated just how remote the village was.

Originally, Zhou Huai wanted to find a local guide in town to lead them to White Dog Village, but upon hearing the name, every townsfolk paled with fear. After being rejected by three or four people in succession, Song Lan had no choice but to produce a map drawn by former disciples who had come seeking medicine. The four followed the wild path onward.

"It seems the incident six years ago caused quite a stir. But with so many deaths, how could the authorities fail to capture any suspects? Did they just drop the matter?"

As Yang Wujian spoke, he couldn't help glancing at Shen Qingshi.

Compared to Northern Xiang's relentless mining that made life unbearable for commoners, Datong's three emperors so far could all be considered wise rulers. Yet despite maintaining the Zhaoming Guard specifically to investigate officials, corrupt officials remained endless.

Song Lan explained: "They concluded the case as wild animal attacks. Not surprising - when we examined the scene back then, there were indeed only traces of beasts."

The group struggled along the wild path for half a day, several times nearly reaching points where even the horses refused to proceed. Fortunately, just as the four began doubting they were on the right track, a weed-choked wasteland appeared before them, dotted with several long-collapsed houses in extreme disrepair.

"We're here."

Shen Qingshi dismounted, but Song Lan grabbed her arm: "Be careful - this place likely has many snakes, rats, and wild beasts."

"I understand."

Shen Qingshi nodded. Watching this, Yang Wujian thought that half a month ago, Shen Qingshi would certainly have dodged such contact from Song Lan. It appeared the Blood Cleansing Pill's effect on Shen Qingshi was greater than he had imagined.The four of them used their swords to part the overgrown weeds and quickly discovered some old, rotting paper money scattered on the ground, suggesting someone had recently been there to pay respects to the dead.

Ever since the incident at the haunted mansion, Zhou Huai had developed a bad feeling whenever he saw such things. Frowning, he said, "Judging by the reactions of the people in White Lead Town, it's unlikely anyone would come here without good reason... Who would come to scatter paper money? Could it be that some villagers from White Dog Village who lived elsewhere survived the tragedy?"

Song Lan shook his head. "Unlikely. Most of the twenty-nine who died were entire families. White Dog Village was only established a little over thirty years ago, extremely isolated—they didn't even intermarry with outsiders for a time. Later, it was only due to 'divine revelation' that they allowed us to gather herbs."

Yang Wujian scoffed. "Seems this deity is quite impressive, far better than those mute clay idols."

As they spoke, they inspected several collapsed houses, all of which were dilapidated dwellings. Left unrepaired since the incident six years ago, the homes were now overgrown with weeds, though there was no sign of wild animals.

Shen Qingshi asked, "What happened to the villagers' bodies back then?"

Song Lan thought for a moment. "Disciples from the mountain reported it to the authorities. The county office sent people who said they buried them together in a nearby wasteland. Given the circumstances, a proper burial wasn't possible."

They circled around and arrived at the only courtyard in the desolate village that hadn't collapsed. Unlike the other homes, this one seemed sturdily built from the start, with towering walls. Even after six years, the gate remained tightly shut, as if someone still lived there.

Zhou Huai forced a dry laugh. "Don't tell me someone's been repairing this place too. Why is this one the only one that looks new?"

Shen Qingshi stepped forward and tapped the brick wall, saying softly, "It's not that it's been maintained—only this household used durable green bricks that resist collapse. The others were mere mud huts. This family must have been notable."

"Building such a grand residence in a place like this—could it be an ancestral hall?"

Yang Wujian pushed the door open, and the sight inside nearly scared Zhou Huai out of his wits. Afraid he might have an episode, he quickly turned his back, clutching his prayer beads and reciting Buddhist scriptures.

In the small courtyard before them stood layer upon layer of tombstones. Without even looking, they knew the twenty-nine deceased of White Dog Village were likely all buried here.

Song Lan was stunned. "How can this be? Why are their graves in a courtyard?"

"It seems the county office never intended to 'casually' bury them from the start."

Most people would hesitate to step into such an ominous scene, but Yang Wujian was fearless. Dressed in vibrant red, she walked right in, examining the inscriptions on each tombstone. Sure enough, they were all residents of White Dog Village.

"Burying twenty-nine people in such a tiny courtyard—it's so cramped there's barely room for offerings. What were they thinking?"

Yang Wujian squeezed with difficulty between two rows of tombstones. The space was so narrow she could only pass through using her female form. Someone as tall and broad as Zhou Huai would struggle even to stand, let alone kneel and kowtow.

"Offerings..."

Shen Qingshi furrowed his brow, gazing thoughtfully at the densely packed tombstones before suddenly saying, "Aren't these tombstones themselves like offerings?"

"What?"The others were all startled.

"Five offerings are placed before the deity: a censer in the center with three incense sticks, vases on either side each holding five flowers, and a pair of candlesticks with red candles in front..."

As Shen Qingshi spoke, he walked to the corresponding positions.

The censer's position was the village chief's tombstone, with three people beneath it—his wife and two children. The vases on either side represented two other households, each with six family members. Then, the candlesticks and red candles corresponded to another family of four.

Cold sweat trickled down Zhou Huai's back. "The remaining nine people are also an odd number. Folklore says 'three for gods, four for ghosts.' Could these tombstones all be..."

Yang Wujian counted them one by one and confirmed it was exactly as Shen Qingshi had said. Every tombstone in the courtyard corresponded to specific offerings, and their placements were deliberate.

Those with some status in the village were represented among the five offerings, while the rest were arranged around the periphery, serving as ordinary sacrificial items.

He couldn't help but sneer, "Using people as offerings? What kind of deity is worshipped here? I'm growing curious."

"White Dog..."

At this moment, the usually silent Song Lan murmured, "Disciples who came to White Dog Village to gather herbs in the past mentioned that the village worships the White Dog. They even have a dedicated house for worship. This must be the place."

Yang Wujian walked up to the tightly shut main hall and noticed that this large building had no windows at all, resembling a tightly sealed stone box.

"Let me see for myself."

He gripped the Golden Rings tightly with one hand and pushed the door open with the other, producing a creaking sound. As daylight streamed into the room, a massive stone statue came into view before the four of them.

"This is..."

Zhou Huai couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Over the years, he had visited many temples and prayed to numerous deities in search of a cure for his illness, but he had never encountered such a bizarre idol.

The so-called White Dog had the head of a canine and the body of a human, with pointed ears standing erect. Its two eyes were as deep as abysses, appearing not divine in the slightest but rather eerie and ominous.

Zhou Huai asked, "Is this the White Dog worshipped by the Northern Desert people?"

Yang Wujian moved closer to examine the statue carefully and was surprised to find that it seemed to be made of jade. "How could ordinary villagers afford something like this? Moreover, a jade statue left here for six years without being stolen?"

"Unless no one dared to steal it."

Shen Qingshi pointed to another tablet on the shrine, inscribed with words written in blood-red characters:

"Those who defile the White Dog shall suffer the punishment of ten thousand beasts."

Yang Wujian chuckled, "No wonder no one dared to steal it. The entire courtyard serves as a warning."

The group walked around to the back of the shrine and found the room unusually clean. Despite being abandoned for six years, there was hardly any dust, as if it were a newly built house.

"It seems someone cleans it regularly. Could there be a hidden room?"

Learning from his experience in the Yin residence, Shen Qingshi tapped on each stone slab on the floor one by one. Unfortunately, after checking the entire area, he found no trace of a cellar.

Song Lan shook his head. "There's no need for an underground space. This room is already large enough. The absence of other statues behind the White Dog means only one deity is worshipped here. Previous disciples mentioned that there was a place in the village strictly forbidden to them, guarded day and night. I believe it must be this very room."He walked to the corner and crouched down, reaching out to touch the bluestone floor. Indentations remained, as if there had once been a desk or bed placed there. He added, "The people of White Dog Village don't just worship a deity. Or rather, White Dog isn't merely an idol on a shrine to them—it's more like a living creature, and this place is White Dog's dwelling."

"Dwelling? Elder Song Lan, you're not saying there's actually a dog-headed, human-bodied creature living here, are you?"

Zhou Huai immediately broke out in goosebumps.

After all, the statue alone was eerie enough. If it were replaced by something that could move, living in this sunless room...

He didn't dare to think further and instinctively looked toward Shen Qingshi and Yang Wujian, hoping to see disagreement on their faces.

Yet, all he saw was the two of them nodding thoughtfully.

Yang Wujian said, "Even the local authorities are helping to 'offer tribute' to White Dog. Whatever they worship must be quite efficacious. I doubt a deity that can't speak or move would be potent enough to make people bury twenty-nine individuals in the courtyard."

He glanced at Shen Qingshi, who immediately understood his meaning.

"Go wait for me at the White Lead Town inn."

She said, "I'll find a way to deal with the authorities."