Volume Two: The Secret Burial in the Canyon Chapter 99: No Avoidance of Calamity

Zhu Liuyan shrugged indifferently.

Third Uncle shook his head and pulled me aside. "Yangzi, let's go back first."

I wanted to argue with Zhu Liuyan, this was clearly bullying.

But Third Uncle wouldn’t let me speak and coaxed me out.

Once in the car, Third Uncle remained silent, driving me back to the company. Upstairs on the second floor, he closed the door behind us.

I was breathing heavily in anger, glaring at Third Uncle without a word.

He sighed and said, “Yangzi, what I did wasn’t quite right. It was like setting a trap for you to jump into. I shouldn’t have done that. Zhu Liuyan wouldn’t really falsely accuse you; he just wanted to pressure you into helping us. Here’s the plan: I’ll explain things to him, and he’ll look for someone else to go to Nanliu Village. This is fate—something we can’t change…”

His tone was unusually serious.

I sensed something was off with Third Uncle and asked, “What exactly is going on between you and Zhu Liuyan? Is there something you’re hiding from me? He’s your senior, but given your personality, you wouldn’t help him this much without reason.”

Third Uncle nodded. “Actually, helping him is helping myself.”

Then he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

I was confused, but he tapped his chest.

Only then did I realize what he meant—the spot he tapped was almost exactly where Zhu Liuyan had been stabbed.

I was stunned, hesitant to believe it. “Third Uncle, you… you have the same thing?”

He nodded and grabbed my hand, pressing it against his chest.

I felt his chest was somewhat hard; the muscle there was stiff and slow to rebound when pressed.

My mind went blank, my eyes wide in disbelief.

So that meant Third Uncle’s condition was the same as Zhu Liuyan’s?

He put his shirt back on and tried to sound casual. “Don’t worry. My situation is much milder than his. He doesn’t even bleed from that stab wound. But it’s starting to deteriorate. In less than a month, I’ll probably be at his stage.”

I shouted, “What happened? Explain it clearly.”

Third Uncle waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing too complicated. Two years ago, Zhu Liuyan invited me to explore Nanliu Village. He said it was infected by corpse energy, causing this. But I don’t think it’s just corpse energy. We might have been poisoned or infected by some virus nearby. It’s been dormant in our bodies for two years until recently. Their cases are more severe—one’s dead, the other’s become a half-corpse. When I came back, I noticed something wrong with my chest. After contacting Zhu Liuyan, I found out he’s already in that state.”

“How could this happen? How can you be cured? What can be done to save you?”

“We have to find the truth in Nanliu Village. To treat it properly, we need to know what caused it. But nephew, this isn’t your burden. Zhu Liuyan and I will figure it out ourselves.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not afraid of bounties or false accusations. If it’s true, it’s true; if not, it’s not. I didn’t kill anyone and I’m not afraid of being framed. But you’re like this too—how can I not care? Tell me, what should I do?”

Third Uncle insisted I didn’t need to go. As I calmed down, I smiled bitterly. “Third Uncle, stop pretending. If you didn’t want me to go, why show me your chest? Let’s not play games between us.”

He chuckled, “At first, I really didn’t want you to go. But after you lost your Yang Fire, I asked Zhu Liuyan if there was a way to help. He found out about your loss. Later, when he heard about us breaking the haunted house case, he suggested you try Nanliu Village. I kept pushing back, saying you weren’t ready. Then the car accident happened at the crossroads—mother and daughter died violently there, and their souls had to linger at the crossroads that night. We thought of a way: if you couldn’t see those two, maybe you wouldn’t need to go. But you stopped there, and when I called you to come back, it was too late—Zhu Liuyan saw you.”

I shuddered recalling last night—I had narrowly avoided two female ghosts.

Third Uncle sensed my thoughts and said, “I won’t harm you. The Five Emperor Coins from the Jiaqing era I gave you last night protected you from those two vengeful spirits. So that trip wasn’t dangerous.”

Indeed, those two ghosts hadn’t been able to harm me—it must have been the coins.

I nodded. “Alright, after all this, I still have to take the risk. What exactly did you give Zhu Liuyan? How did you get the human head?”

Third Uncle smiled wryly. “No way it was a real head. I’m a law-abiding citizen. The head was fake, containing an ointment to slow the spread of corpse energy in half-corpse beings. The head was just for effect—to prepare you mentally. Nanliu Village might hold even greater dangers.”

I sneered, “So you’ve prepared everything for me to go to Nanliu Village. I surrender. I’ll go. I never thought you and your senior brotherhood would be so good at setting traps.”

He patted my shoulder. “I knew my nephew wouldn’t stand by and watch. Actually, this is good. Nanliu Village is complicated. Maybe we’ll learn more about the Five Emperor Coins there. Exploring it might bring multiple benefits.”

I shook my head. “That mysterious Nanliu Village—maybe I’m the only one going in. If things get urgent, I might not handle it.”

Third Uncle nodded. “I thought about that too. That’s why I had you read that haunted house record. There’s useful information in there. You’ve also accompanied me in investigating haunted houses—you have more experience than those two couriers. Once inside, just use your judgment. Leave marks behind. Zhu Liuyan and I will follow your trail, trying to enter and support you. Don’t worry—you’re not fighting alone.”

I waved my hand. “I don’t count on you or Slim Bamboo Pole. Just don’t set me up to die. If it’s fortune, not misfortune; if misfortune, unavoidable—when do I leave for Nanliu Village?”

“That depends on Zhu Liuyan’s plan. I’ll work with him to devise a foolproof strategy in the next few days. You get ready at home.”

Third Uncle managed to calm me, then hurried off to meet Zhu Liuyan.

I pondered deeply. According to their words, there should be two Nanliu Villages—one official, one hidden. Those two couriers had accidentally entered the hidden one and got lost.

How to explain this? Could it really be underground?

After much thought, one person came to mind—the eccentric Professor Ma Su.

He’s knowledgeable and all-knowing. Why not consult him and see if he can provide valuable clues?

(End of chapter)

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