Chapter 7, Snake Wine

After all this time, I have been the one paying the bills

Hearing Xiao Zhong Huang speak in a precise manner, I refrained from expressing any further doubts, no matter how many I had

As he spoke, he gestured to me, and I hurriedly handed forward the bananas and apples I had purchased

However, there is one thing I can be certain of, and that is my only attitude towards this matter is to believe it may be true rather than to believe it is false, because this issue concerns my very life. If I were to conceal my illness and disregard it entirely, I might end up losing my life for real, and when that time comes, I wouldn't even know whom to turn to for solace.

eating plain rice

I felt a bit uneasy and cautiously asked as I was about to leave, "Aren't you going to inform the adults at home?"

Xiao Zhong Huang said you were referring to Old Liu and Old Li? Hey, never mind, they are just two people who eat plain rice

We sat down in front of a very old sofa, and the old lady poured three cups of water, then asked Xiao Zhong Huang: "Is your master doing well? Is his health still robust?"

Xiao Zhong Huang spoke with great eloquence, yet I was filled with doubts— to be honest, if he were to be twenty years older, I might believe everything he said was true, but coming from the mouth of such a young child, even though he had already impressed me earlier, I still felt that his words were overly juvenile and somewhat reminiscent of the plots found in storybooks or television dramas

Even Xiao Zhong Huang ate three bowls, looking like a starving ghost reincarnated, which made me feel a pang of pain in my heart

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xiao Zhong Huang finally got straight to the point and said to the old lady: "Teacher Liang, I came here this time for this young man beside me—he has been afflicted by a Qiming Gu, and his body has shown many unusual symptoms. He found me through my senior brother Ma Yian, seeking help to remove that thing. I know that in the entire southern region, you are the only one capable of resolving this matter, which is why I took the liberty to come..."

After I completed the registration, the security guard called a student to take us to the Mathematics Academic Affairs Office

That night we found a guesthouse to stay in, but Wang Hu's snoring kept me from sleeping well all night. In the morning, this man devoured about ten buns and five bowls of porridge in one go, which finally made me understand why these people are so poor.

After much ado, we finally arrived at our destination, standing at the entrance of the county central primary school. It was late at night, and they were not opening the door. Xiao Zhong suggested that I first find a place to stay for the night and that we would look for someone tomorrow.

Meizhou is located in the northeastern part of Guangdong Province, at the junction of the three provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi. It is one of the areas with a relatively high concentration of Hakka people. It is quite far from Guangzhou. We took a bus and did not arrive until late at night. After landing, the three of us were extremely hungry, so we ate at a small noodle shop next to the bus station

As the saying goes, "One does not strike a smiling face." The elderly lady opened the door, ushered us in, and said, "Oh, you have come, why are you being so polite?"

In preparation for the visit, I specifically bought some fruit

While on the road, I began to intentionally probe Xiao Zhonghuang and Da Sha Ge'er, attempting to gather more information. However, I quickly realized that this Xiao Zhonghuang was like a little fox; whatever he wanted you to know, he would let you know, but anything he did not want you to know, no amount of indirect questioning would yield results. As for that Wang Hu, my goodness, apart from his silly grin, he could do nothing else, almost akin to a person with intellectual disabilities.

When it was almost finished, she brought it to me and succinctly said: "Drink"

The old lady asked if you have checked what exactly the night wanderer is

What?

In a single sentence, my heart was placed deep within my belly

Teacher Liang, nearing fifty years of age, is single and divorced, living alone on the third floor of a teacher's building resembling a tube-shaped structure. When we arrived, the corridor was extremely crowded, filled with various items. Both Xiao Zhong and I managed fairly well, but Wang Hu found it quite difficult, feeling constrained and very uncomfortable

We knocked on the door for quite a while before we received a response from inside. After a little longer, the door opened, and an elderly lady wearing reading glasses came out, looking at us with a face full of suspicion, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Her mental state is not very good; it is evident that she has genuinely taken sick leave. She has not washed her face, and there is a buildup of yellow eye discharge in her eye sockets. The room has a musty odor, which does not leave a good impression.

I do not know why I always feel an indescribable sense of fear towards such a frail old lady who could be easily blown over by the wind

The old lady smiled broadly and said, "No, I just want to see what kind of nocturnal bloodline is within your body."

The guard was quite vigilant, looking at me with a face full of alertness, and asked, "What are you here for?"

The driver racked his brains and finally recalled: "Are you referring to the Jiaoling Confucian Temple? Oh, that place has long been destroyed; it is now the County People's Primary School. Is that the place you mean? Are you sure? If so, let's go there."

After listening to Xiao Zhonghuang's narration, she raised her head, looked at me, and then said: "The Qiming Gu is said to be expensive, but to obtain it, one still needs to put in some effort. Those people invest in him because they believe he can become a Nightwalker?"

Ah?

During her youth, Teacher Liang once went to a mountain village in the western part of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture to teach. By a twist of fate, she learned some skills in raising and using poison for self-defense.

I listened and felt very curious; however, Xiao Zhong Huang did not seem inclined to continue explaining to me and led me towards the direction of the bus station

Fortunately, Xiao Zhong Huang does not conceal matters regarding me. He informed me that if I wish to become a Night Walker, Ma Ge indeed has a method to ensure a success rate, at least providing a fifty percent chance of survival. However, if it involves extracting the Qiming Gu, this matter can only be handled by Teacher Liang

Xiao Zhong Huang said no, hehe, you also know that our methods in this field are not adept at this, and he himself has no interest in entering our line of work

She is like a snake curled up in its den, giving off a chilling sensation

Dong, dong, dong

We hurriedly inquired about Teacher Liang's specific address and then went to find it

Xiao Zhong nodded and said yes

Xiao Zhong Huang naturally would not leave with me alone, but instead brought along that big fool named Wang Hu, and then seriously instructed Pang Hua about it. As for those two old men, he actually ignored them completely, paying no attention at all.

After much hassle, we finally arrived at the office, only to be informed that Teacher Liang is on sick leave and will not be coming to school today

I looked at the elderly lady with her head full of white hair and thought to myself that she might be a senior relative of Teacher Liang. Therefore, I respectfully greeted her, saying: "Hello, we are looking for Teacher Liang Shikuan."

While Xiao Zhong Huang was explaining this to the old lady, I quietly observed Teacher Liang.

To understand, the name "Qiming Gu" clearly indicates its origin from the Miaojiang witchcraft techniques. In fact, Qiming Gu is a unique skill of the Gu practitioners from the Luosi Cave in the Xiaoliang Mountain region. Apart from the practitioners of that lineage, others are utterly helpless.

At this moment, Xiao Zhong Huang's role became prominent. He smiled sweetly at the security guard and explained briefly that he was a relative of Teacher Liang. Upon hearing this, the security guard said, "Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? Come, let me register you, and I will have someone take you in."

Fortunately, I have been doing well at Xianghui for over a year now. The salary, bonuses, and commissions are quite generous, and I have saved some money. Otherwise, with spending like this, I really wouldn't know what to do.

Upon entering the room, I casually surveyed my surroundings. It was a typical one-bedroom apartment, narrow and cluttered. On top of a cabinet against the wall, there was a row of more than ten glass jars, presumably for infusing liquor, containing various animals—from snakes, spiders, and scorpions to hearts, lungs, and eyes—everything one could imagine, evoking a sense of dread.

I was a bit confused at the time. Wasn't it said that Teacher Liang Shikuan was not yet fifty years old? How is it that the person in front of me looks nearly seventy?

My appetite is not large; one bowl is enough for me. I did not expect that Wang Hu could eat so much, as he finished seven bowls in a row, leaving no remnants of soup or noodles. Moreover, he wiped his mouth, looking as if he still wanted more.

After having dinner, I went out and hailed a taxi, provided the address, and asked the driver to take me there. However, the taxi driver looked confused and said, "What? I have never heard of Zhenping Academy"

The old lady sized up Xiao Zhong Huang, her expression finally easing as she said, "So you are Wang Chao'an's disciple"

As the liquor flowed down my throat and into my stomach, a wave of intense heat spread throughout my body, an unbearable warmth that left me somewhat dazed. One side of my body felt slightly numb, and I instinctively asked, "If I drink this, will I be cured?"

After hesitating for a while, I decided to go to Meizhou with Xiao Zhong Huang

Little Zhong laughed and said, "Yes, yes, I am the closed-door disciple of the master. I came here today specifically to pay you a visit..."

Fortunately, the little clock beside him, Zhong Huang, spoke up: "Hello, Teacher Liang, my name is Zhong Huang. My ancestral master is Wang Zhiping, my master is Wang Chao'an, and you should have met my senior brother, Ma Yian."

Xiao Zhong nodded and said it was okay, just that he had some bronchitis, an old ailment.

Xiao Zhong Huang clapped his hands and said, "Yes, that's it. I heard from Ma Ge that she is working as an elementary school teacher there"

I sensed that the old lady's temperament was somewhat peculiar, and I did not dare to defy her. Looking at the murky yellow liquid, I gritted my teeth and steeled my heart, finishing it in one gulp

The old lady heard this, stood up, and went to the cabinet where jars and containers were placed. After rummaging for a while, she took out a small ceramic bowl, poured a bit of pungent liquid from a jar containing fire ants, and then poured some liquor from a jar that had a yellow cobra soaking in it. She stirred the contents of the bowl with her right index finger, which had long nails, while muttering something, making the whole act seem quite solemn.

I looked at Xiao Zhong Huang, and he scratched his head, saying sheepishly: "This is the place I heard from Brother Ma last time."

Indeed, this is utterly absurd and completely out of line; it just feels off no matter how you listen to it

We then arrived at the elementary school and inquired with the gatekeeper about Teacher Liang

The elderly lady expressed her confusion, asking, "Are you looking for me? Do we know each other?"

The most terrifying thing is that I discovered that most of the poisonous insects and snakes in the glass bottle are still alive, writhing as the bottle shakes, flicking their tongues, which is quite eerie

The driver pressed the accelerator, and the car surged forward, leaving the city behind and heading north. The sky grew darker, and I feared it might be an unlicensed taxi that would drop us off in a desolate area and leave. Noticing my anxiety, Xiao Zhong Huang pointed to Wang Hu, who appeared somewhat timid in the passenger seat, and said, "Don't worry, there's a tiger here. Who would dare to mess with us?"