The Huai Shui God's Cave

Chapter 7

1. Legend of Wu Chu
After we came out of the hospital, we took Yuan Xiazi back to the police station's inquiry room. We were about to question him carefully when the team leader came over and called us away.

The captain took us to the director's office, where there were three other people besides the director.The first one is an old man wearing high myopia glasses, gray temples, blue cloth shirt and overalls, and a tall young beauty in sports clothes with a ponytail. Youth with green satchel.

The director introduced: "This is Professor Han Zhenguo and his assistants Ma Chuchen and Lin Xiaowei. Last time our bureau submitted a report on the existence of ancient tombs, the provincial cultural relics department first sent Professor Han to inspect the site. The case was discovered by the two of you, and now you will cooperate with Professor Han and his party." After speaking, the director left first.

Professor Han and that Lin Xiaowei came over to shake hands with us, and exchanged pleasantries.It's just that Ma Chuchen sat on the side coldly, without even looking at us.

Professor Han Zhenguo used to be a professor in the history department of a university in Beijing. After retiring, he was re-employed by the Provincial Museum of Cultural Relics.He has been studying Wuchu culture for a long time, and he attaches great importance to the local discovery of the suspected tomb of Prince Machu, and hopes to apply for protective excavation after field inspection.

I told Professor Han in detail about the strange death of the tomb robber Chen Bold Brothers. Professor Han listened carefully, and then said: "According to the unofficial biography, Ma Yin, the king of Ma Chu, met him in the deep mountains and old forests when he was hunting. A very beautiful girl. He brought her back to the palace and made her his concubine. This concubine gave birth to him a very smart little son named Ma Zicong. Ma Yin intended to make Ma Zicong the crown prince, but there were rumors in the palace that this The famous concubine was changed by a goblin, and Ma Zicong was also a concubine. He was powerless and unsuccessful, and was envied by other brothers. In Ma Yin's later years, there were constant wars in various places, and the princes of Chu State killed each other in order to fight for the throne. Ma Yin In order to prevent his beloved son from being involved in disputes, Yin sent someone to escort Ma Zicong and a group of treasures back to his hometown of Yanling, Henan. As soon as he arrived in Chucheng, Ma Zicong fell ill and died. If the unofficial history is correct, this ancient tomb should be Ma Zicong's mausoleum gone."

I nodded and said, "Before he died, Chen Daudao said that a mysterious person asked him to take a jade box from the tomb of Prince Ma Chu. It seems that the mysterious person is very familiar with the ancient tomb here. Go in and check."

Professor Han said: "The mysterious man knew that there was an ancient tomb, but he didn't do it himself. It must be because there are organs in the ancient tomb. When the ancient princes and nobles built tombs, they would try their best to prevent them from being stolen, so they did everything possible. Various traps were set up in the tomb to ambush. Traditional traps include boulders, quicksand, poisonous arrows, poisonous insects, traps, etc. Since the Warring States period, various dynasties have improved. The Machu regime appeared in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and they made good use of The setting of the ancient tomb is not only a variety of hidden weapons, but also a special thing, that is witchcraft."

Professor Han paused for a moment, and then interrupted a topic: "The reason why Ma Yin's regime is called Later Chu is actually an obvious reason, that is, he was originally a descendant of Chu State in the late Warring States period. And the royal family of Chu State was good at using witchcraft , Chu City was once one of the birthplaces of Wu Chu culture. "Hanshu·Geography" has a record of the customs of Chu that "believe in witches and ghosts, and pay attention to sacrifices". The talents of the witches in Chu can be divided into two categories: One category is shamanism, and the other is shamanism. Witchcraft does not need psychics, but shamanism requires psychic. Witchcraft involves sacrifices, music and dance, divination, medicine, etc., and shamanism needs to invite and entertain gods, in order to To achieve the purpose of praying for disaster relief, comforting ghosts, exorcising ghosts, and summoning souls."

Yang Xiaoxie and I listened attentively. It seems that Professor Han is indeed full of Wu Chu culture, but he is getting old and tired after talking for a while.We were listening with gusto when his student Lin Xiaowei introduced to us: "The professor looked at the blood gnats taken from the tomb robbers, and affirmed that it was a technique of releasing Gu that was popular in the Wuchu period. Gu is a kind of artificially cultivated poisonous insect. , It is also said that releasing voodoo is a mysterious witchcraft inherited from Chu State during the Warring States period. In fact, the art of voodoo and voodoo was discovered earlier. The pictographic 'illustration', that is, there are many kinds of poisonous insects in a 'dish'. It can be seen that this sorcery has a long history."

Professor Han then added: "White witches are divided into white witches and black witches. White witches are generally used for sacrifices and blessings; black witches are the opposite, mostly for assassination, plague, and harm. Black witches are most commonly used for poisonous insects and animals. Another notable feature of Chu Wu is that it combines witchcraft and voodoo to make it more poisonous. The poisonous insects you found and submitted for inspection may be the poisonous voodoo of witchcraft, so it is particularly powerful. It seems that our going to the grave this time is not that simple!"

Yang Xiaoxie interjected and said: "I used to read novels saying that some women of the Miao nationality fell in love with a man who didn't love them, and they would put love on him. If that man fell in love with other women, his whole body would rot. Until death. Only the voodoo can save it. I always thought it was all made up, but it seems that it really happened!"

Professor Han said: "The rumors in the outside world are mostly false. People who raise Gu will not harm people for no reason, and people who suffer from Gu are not hopeless. Sun Simiao is a wonderful doctor who can cure Gu poison. His book "A Thousand Gold Essential Prescriptions, originally there were many prescriptions specifically for Gu poison. My assistant, Ma Chuchen, was born with a different body, and has won the true teaching of the Ma family’s exorcising evil spirits. An indispensable talent!"

Yang Xiaoxie and I couldn't help but look at Ma Chuchen with admiration, no wonder she is so lonely and arrogant, she is different from ordinary people!

Professor Han said: "I heard from your chief that Comrade Xiao Wu not only has a sharp mind and has solved many cases, but also has very good marksmanship. It's not difficult either."

I said embarrassedly: "The director is very good, it's all comrades who cooperate with each other, how can I have that ability with my own strength!"

Yang Xiaoxie said, "What about me, why is it nothing to do with me?"

Ma Chuchen said coldly: "Professor and Xiaowei need to record and investigate. Xiaowu and I are responsible for opening the way and protecting them. Our team is not to be disabled. What can you do when you go?"

Yang Xiaoxie still wanted to fight for it, so I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Dude, that place is not safe, your father will definitely not let you go there."

Speaking of his father, Yang Xiaoxie immediately shut up like a deflated ball.

I said to Professor Han: "Professor, we just brought back a man named Yuan Xiazi, a blind fortune teller near the site where the ancient tomb was discovered. He seems to be very familiar with the ancient tomb. Brother Chen Daudao got the information from him. "

The professor was very interested and immediately asked us to take him to see Yuan Xiazi.

It happened that there was the painting "Flying Immortals on Mingyue Cliff" handed to me by Yuan Xiazi on the car. I showed it to the professor casually, but the professor was surprised immediately.He thought for a long time after listening to me about how he got the painting, and then said: "This painting is indeed not the original, but it is also very old. The color of the painting is yellow but not broken, because it is made of human skin. soaked in potion."

When I heard that it was made of human skin, Yang Xiaoxie gave a strange cry, and I was also terrified.The face of the beautiful woman in the movie "Painted Skin" is made of human skin. I always thought it was fabricated in the novel.I didn't expect that someone really painted on human skin, and we kept it around as a clue. Thinking about it, I feel cruel and disgusting.

Professor Han has been devoting himself to the study of Wu-Chu culture. The masked woman in the painting is a witch; the witch often wears a mask when performing sacrifices and rituals, which is said to be closer to ghosts and gods.

He analyzed that this painting should depict a certain sacrificial scene in the Chu State during the Warring States Period. In that sacrificial ceremony, the shaman turned into a flying fairy was recorded.The reason why this painting becomes a treasure is not because of the painting itself, but the content of the painting.Ancient emperors pursued immortality and became immortals.The painting was passed on to Ma Chu and was acquired by the prince, thus starting the journey of seeking immortality.

In the inquiry room, Yuan Xiazi was telling the fortune of a new colleague. He pinched his fingers and said solemnly: "Little comrade, your family is rich, your life is auspicious, your marriage is late, and your children and grandchildren are not well-known. You only have one son, and when you reach the age of 45, your fortune will come, and you will have no worries in your old age..."

I coldly exposed his nonsense: "Most of the people who can come to work here are from good families. He has no girlfriend at the age of 25 and will definitely marry later. Civil servants themselves can only have one child. If they are not lucky at 45, they can still go to the Where can I find you to question? Maybe your old man will have reached the bliss early at that time!"

Professor Han frowned, it seemed that he didn't have a good impression of this magic stick Yuan Xiazi.

Blind Yuan smiled awkwardly and said, "I'm just chatting with my little comrades to pass the time. Why should I be so serious?"

Ma Chuchen, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stared at Blind Yuan, and then she grabbed his wrist and said coldly, "Is it Mr. Yuan who told fortunes for Mashi City 20 years ago?"

Blind Yuan was taken aback, his arm was grabbed, and he trembled with fright: "It is Blind Yuan who is good, dare to ask..."

Ma Chuchen said coldly: "Ma Shicheng is my uncle. It is said that you tricked him into going astray back then, resulting in his untimely death and no bones left!"

Blind Yuan cried out for being wronged. He said, "Girl, I did tell your uncle's fortune back then. I told him not to enter that virgin forest. I told him that although there is a lack of soil in his life, there are many taboos. , I insisted on going in, but was bewitched by ghosts, my soul came out of my body, and I fought with that mad Daoist Qingfeng. At that time, he was already possessed by a Huang Jing, and I had no choice but to kill his body."

Ma Chuchen's eyes were reddish, and he shot a fierce look, and replied: "Back then, Taoist Qingfeng came to Ma's house to report and said that he saw you kill my uncle with his own eyes, but now you can't deny it."

Blind Yuan was furious, and said tremblingly, "Girl Ma, that crazy Taoist once said that he was pinched unconscious by the yellow essence in your uncle's body. If I hadn't killed that thing, he would have died in the wilderness long ago. If I really wanted to hurt others, why didn't I kill him together, why did he haunt me for more than 20 years?"

Ma Chuchen remained unmoved, and tightened his grip, Yuan Xiazi let out an "ouch" in pain.Professor Han couldn't stand it anymore, he stopped Ma Chuchen and said, "Niece, let go first, I think what this old gentleman said makes sense. Although he is full of nonsense, he is not like that kind of vicious person. Let me ask him."

Ma Chuchen shook Yuan Xiazi away fiercely, and gave him a reluctant look.It's just that Blind Yuan couldn't see anything, so she just stared blankly.

Professor Han said: "Mr. Yuan, I'm Han Zhenguo from the Provincial Museum of Cultural Relics. I heard that you went down to that tomb. Can you tell us where the entrance to the tomb is and what information is there?"

Yuan Xiazi saw that Ma Chuchen's threat was gone, so he played a scoundrel again.He curled his lips and said, "You normal people can't touch the entrance. How can I, a blind Yuan, have that ability?"

Professor Han said: "Mr., I sincerely ask you for advice. You must also know that a mysterious person is planning this tomb. We hope to get your help."

I fanned the flames from the side: "Grandpa Yuan, Xiao Yang originally planned to tidy up his spare old house for you to live in, so that Taoist Master Qingfeng would not trouble you, but we didn't expect that our kindness has become a donkey's liver and lungs, and you don't appreciate it at all." .”

Blind Yuan laughed twice, and said, "Wu Wa, Blind Yuan, I still say the same thing. It's for your own good not to let you in. The ancient tomb is surrounded by hidden weapons, like hell. It’s hard to escape unscathed. I advise you to give up this idea.”

Afterwards, no matter how much we persuaded, Yuan Xiazi kept saying these few words back and forth, and refused to reveal any more information.Until it got dark, we still couldn't impress him, so Yang Xiaoxie and I had to take him to settle in the old house of the Yang family, which has been uninhabited for a long time, and plan to find a way to pry his mouth open in the future.

After making arrangements for Xiazi Yuan, he clamored for food and asked to bring a fish for his cat, so I had to go out and buy it.When I came back after buying it, I found that he had disappeared.This old bastard turned the tiger away from the mountain and slipped away by himself.

I was very discouraged, and immediately rushed to the hotel where Professor Han was staying to report to him that blind Yuan had slipped away.Professor Han sighed, and said: "It seems that this old man must know the topography of the ancient tomb very well. It's a pity that we can't force him if he doesn't ask."

At this time, Ma Chuchen suddenly said: "No!"

I was taken aback and asked her, "What's wrong?"

Ma Chuchen said: "When I caught Yuan Xiazi today, I felt that he was skinny and cold, as if he was dead. At that time, I was only concerned about the death of my uncle, and I forgot to mention it. Now that I think about it, there is a very important detail that was overlooked." gone."

"What details?" asked the professor.

Ma Chuchen said: "Twenty years ago, when Taoist Qingfeng came to Ma's house to report the news, he said that Yuan Xiazi was an old man in his 20s. Ordinarily he should be 50 or 80 years old now, and I always thought he was not here. The world is gone. Why do we still see an old man in his 50s today?"

As soon as she said it, I also remembered one thing. Every time my grandma told me about Blind Yuan, she said he was an old man.I wasn't even born then.After nearly 30 years, his appearance has not changed?My heart sank, is he a ghost, or a zombie?
Thinking of this, I can't help shivering all over my body. I have dealt with him a lot in recent days, and I am terrified when I think about it.When I said my thoughts, Professor Han also felt very strange. He lowered his head and thought for a while and said: "It is said that ghosts have no shadows. That Mr. Yuan, I saw him has a shadow... But one thing is certain, this old gentleman It’s not easy, there are many secrets in him. These secrets must be related to that ancient tomb. If we can reveal his secrets, it will also help us enter the ancient tomb.”

However, now that Xiazi Yuan is nowhere to be found, it is really difficult to find his secret.However, it is difficult to return to difficult, not impossible.Blind Yuan can tell fortunes and touch bones. Wherever such a person goes, he will leave a legend.His appearance has not changed for decades, and there should be many people who can recognize him.He came from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the south, so why not check his ancestral home?
2. Yuan Shenxian

I made up my mind, so I went to Yang Xiaoxie to discuss it.This guy lives alone in a house in the unit's family courtyard.When I went to find him, he was depressed at home, saying that he had asked his father to inspect the ancient tomb - he was the only child in his family, and his parents naturally refused.As soon as I heard that I had something to discuss with him, I was immediately excited.

Yuan Xiazi said that there was a flood in his hometown.I asked Yang Xiaoxie to check on the computer which areas had floods 50 years ago to see if he could find any clues.

Originally, I didn't have any hope, but I didn't expect to receive a call from Yang Xiaoxie early the next morning. His voice was haggard and excited, and he came up and said, "Dude, I found a strange thing!"

I asked: "About Yuan Xiazi's ancestral home?" Yang Xiaoxie said: "No, I really can't find that. In the past few decades before and after liberation, there have been countless floods in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In the past, there will always be floods during the rainy season. Large or small floods. If you only look at the floods, the scope is too large. However, I found a very strange thing in the memoirs of a county secretary in Hubei."

I quickly asked him what happened.He said that the man is now retired, and the memoir records the events of the man's father during his lifetime.The man's father was a security chief appointed by the national government in a certain township in the county. One year, a plague broke out after a flood, and the villagers vomited and diarrhea. Burning the wormwood and pu leaves, and asking the Baochang to set up a few big pots, this Immortal Yuan took a herb that no one had seen before, boiled it in the pot, let everyone share the food, and quickly controlled the epidemic.

Yuan Shenxian in the story dictated by Baochang and recorded by his son is a blind old grandfather holding a big cat in his arms.Baochang's ancestral home is Guangdong, and southerners like to call men over 50 years old grandpa.When the secretary was describing other events, he also narrated that there were Japanese rampant in those days.Therefore, the time when Yuan Shenxian helped the villagers treat the plague should be around 1940.

That Immortal Yuan is most likely the blind Yuan!
Although I have long felt that Yuan Xiazi is not simple.However, after hearing Yang Xiaoxie's conjecture, I still couldn't help shivering all over my body: This old thing, could it be an undead old zombie!It's just that I don't know how old he is, and how many secrets he hides in his heart.

In the afternoon, Yang Xiaoxie called me again. He said that he found out that a netizen posted a photo on his blog. It was a stone statue of an ancient man with glasses holding a cat in his arms.A netizen introduced that there is a Yuan Daxian temple in the suburbs of a city called A in Hubei Province. Due to the lack of incense and no one to clean it up, it has been dilapidated to the point where only ruined walls and a stone statue remain.He traveled to Shennongjia some time ago, and took pictures of this stone statue by accident.

Yang Xiaoxie has a college classmate who is from there, so he called directly and asked the classmate to ask a few grandma-level figures.They said that the temple should have existed in the Ming Dynasty, and the portraits were dressed in typical Panbu clothes, which were indeed men's common clothes in the Ming Dynasty.It is said that Yuan Daxian was a passing businessman. He heard that there were cats in the mountains near the place that became spirits and liked to eat human brains.The villagers felt his kindness and built temples to worship him.As for whether the person is blind or not, they don't know.After all, it's been a long time, and what has been handed down is just how amazing Yuan Daxian is, who sacrificed himself and forgot himself.

In all likelihood, he is blind Yuan, and the incident this time can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. It seems that his real age has a long history.However, judging from the above-mentioned deeds, Yuan Xiazi is not a vicious person. He seems to have been fighting violence for the villagers, giving charity and disaster relief, and he can be regarded as a chivalrous person.

(End of this chapter)