Lu Zheng hadn’t expected to encounter Daoist Jiu Zhen and his young apprentice here.
"Jiu Zhen from Fengyang Mountain, greetings Fellow Daoist!"
"Mingzhang from White Cloud Temple, greetings Fellow Daoist!"
"Daoist, how co you are here?" Lu Zheng couldn’t help but ask, weren’t they supposed to return to Fengyang Mountain? How co after so many days, they had just arrived at Tonglin County?
Daoist Jiu Zhen said, "On the way, my apprentice and I encountered a cat demon causing trouble, coming from the Southern Border, which delayed us for a few days. We only arrived at Jiaotian Town this afternoon and heard about this issue here, so we ca over to take a look."
"Fellow Daoist, have you discovered anything?" Daoist Mingzhang asked.
Daoist Jiu Zhen shook his head and replied, "The anomaly has already left; only an empty grave remains."
"Who does this creature belong to?" Daoist Mingzhang asked.
"From the grave’s adornnts, it seems to belong to an official from the previous dynasty." Chief Clerk Li stepped forward and answered.
Daoist Mingzhang was startled upon hearing this, "Previous dynasty? That would be over six hundred years ago!"
"Indeed." Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded. "Thus, the creature’s cultivation must be profound."
Chief Liu and Chief Clerk Li both looked very disheartened.
Early today, the County Magistrate heard about Jiaotian Town’s report and dispatched Chief Liu and Chief Clerk Li to investigate.
Chief Liu, being a martial man, was equipped with talismans and dharma artifacts issued by the Court, sufficient for dealing with ordinary anomalies.
Chief Clerk Li, being a literate man, was knowledgeable, and could investigate the details of the tomb to docunt and report later.
The two arrived at Jiaotian Town and happened upon Daoist Jiu Zhen and his apprentice, who were also about to join the commotion, so they combined forces and headed to the tomb together.
Seeing governnt officials and Abnormal People present, a dozen or so brave civilians followed at a distance, hoping to witness sothing extraordinary and brag about it later.
Until Daoist Jiu Zhen, Chief Liu, and others explored the tomb, finding nothing, upon coming out, Lu Zheng and Daoist Mingzhang also arrived.
"Two Daoists, won’t this entity cause chaos in Tonglin County? Should I report this to the Yizhou Anomaly Suppression Bureau imdiately?" Chief Liu asked in a somber voice.
Daoist Jiu Zhen looked at Daoist Mingzhang, as White Cloud Temple was local to Tonglin County, it was natural for him to respond.
"Let search for traces of the zombie," Daoist Mingzhang said, then crafted a seal and perford a Qi Observation Technique.
He grabbed the yin qi from the cave and rged it with the cloud qi he condensed in his hand, fluctuating it with the seal in the air.
Daoist Mingzhang pondered for a mont...
"Couldn’t find it, the opponent has completely concealed their aura, indeed their cultivation is profound."
Daoist Mingzhang shook his head, turned to Chief Liu, and said, "Now we are unaware of this zombie’s intentions from the previous dynasty. I will further investigate; to be safe, Chief Liu should still report so the Anomaly Suppression Bureau can be prepared."
"Alright!" Chief Liu cupped his hands in salute, "If you all aren’t going inside again, I’ll have my n seal off the tomb."
"Don’t seal it yet, what if the zombie returns?" Daoist Mingzhang stopped him.
"Fellow Daoists say the anomaly is a zombie? How did you know about this situation here?" Daoist Jiu Zhen asked.
Then Lu Zheng explained how Yuan Jing was injured here and then forced himself to return to White Cloud Temple.
"So that’s how it is!"
Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded and said, "This zombie’s cultivation is profound; if he truly intends to wreak havoc, he could destroy towns in one day."
Daoist Mingzhang also frowned, "Moreover, he has exited the tomb, which zombies generally don’t do, don’t they?"
Daoist Jiu Zhen said, "Maybe so tomb raiders stole sothing from him?
Maybe being awakened just yesterday, he couldn’t move or couldn’t face sunlight?
After recovering last night, he chased out imdiately?"
"But yesterday we..." Lu Zheng spoke but stopped, clearly realizing that although they found three dead, it didn’t an there were only three tomb raiders.
Daoist Mingzhang said to Chief Liu, "Please deploy personnel to the county’s towns and villages, just in case."
"Alright!"
Daoist Mingzhang pondered for a mont, "That zombie went out last night, hasn’t been seen for a day, and it’s night again today. It might appear, how about we each head to the surrounding towns and investigate?"
Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded, "Indeed."
Lu Zheng looked at Liu Ning, "Shall I take Younger Brother Liu ho first?"
"I will follow Master!" Liu Ning said.
"Listen, today Master might cover many places and can’t look after you."
Thus, Daoist Mingzhang and Daoist Jiu Zhen divided so places, Lu Zheng said he would send Liu Ning ho and then co to assist.
...
Returning to Tonglin County, Lu Zheng had just sent Liu Ning ho and asked Uncle Li to arrange a room for him when Yan Hongxia and Liu Qingyan arrived.
"Brother Lu, surely there are traces of the zombie?" Yan Hongxia asked.
"How do you know?" Lu Zheng asked in surprise.
Liu Qingyan replied, "After we left Yu Ling Garden, we heard the street constables ntion Chief Liu had been ordered to lead many people away, and noticed you weren’t here, so we guessed as much."
Lu Zheng nodded, then shook his head, "Discovered his tomb, but haven’t found him."
Lu Zheng recounted today’s events, Yan Hongxia imdiately said, "Count in!"
Before Liu Qingyan could speak, Lu Zheng interrupted her, "Qingyan, you stay in the county; if there’s any change, go to White Cloud Temple for my senior brother."
"Okay."
Liu Qingyan nodded without insisting, yet she silently made up her mind to focus more on cultivation after her dical practice.
...
Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia set out overnight, dividing the remaining towns and villages, and then separated to go their own ways.
...
As dawn broke...
When Lu Zheng returned to Jiaotian Town, he found that Daoist Mingzhang, Daoist Jiu Zhen, and Yan Hongxia had already returned.
"You didn’t find anything either?"
"Nothing." Lu Zheng showed up, knowing Yan Hongxia and the two Daoists must have already exchanged greetings.
"Perhaps it has already left Tonglin County?"
"Or went near the Yin-Yang Road, tore open the realms, and entered the Netherworld?"
"Regardless, it’s always good when there’s no trace of zombie chaos," Daoist Mingzhang said.
"Quite right, if there’s still no activity in two days, it should be fine," Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded.
Daoist Mingzhang said, "Then how about Fellow Daoist stays at my White Cloud Temple for a few days?"
"Thank you for the trouble then," Daoist Jiu Zhen didn’t stand on ceremony.
Having agreed on the plan, they first went to Tonglin County to pick up Liu Ning.
But upon returning ho, Lu Zheng found Master Guangyue already waiting at his house.
"Master Guangyue?"
Master Guangyue stood up fully, "Fellow Daoist Lu, a zombie has captured nine boys in Pingtan County and stord into the Secret Realm of Jiming Temple, sealing it from within. I can’t break it, so I’ve co seeking aid!"
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