Li Tianqing and the old man arrived at Chen Shi's house, where they met Chen Shi's grandfather and a big black dog. Li Tianqing noticed a Red Barbarian Cannon in the corner and some black iron cannonballs in the dog's kennel. He felt uneasy, coughed, and said, "Grandpa, maybe we shouldn't bother them. Let's just stay under Godmother's tree for the night."
The old man didn't look at the corner, but smiled and said, "Since we're guests here, we shouldn't leave. I'm Li Jindou from Spring City, sorry for the intrusion."
Chen Shi's grandfather quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "I'm Chen Yin, from Heavenly Yang Mountain. My humble home isn't big, but there are two spare rooms. I'm just worried we might not treat you well."
Li Jindou, noticing Chen Yin's refined speech, was pleased and laughed, "No need to worry."
Li Tianqing tugged at his sleeve urgently. Not understanding, Li Jindou followed his gaze to the Red Barbarian Cannon, feeling a chill.
Li Tianqing then pointed subtly towards the main room. Li Jindou looked and saw a shrine with candles and incense on a table, along with a name plaque.
"What did this old brother say his name was?"
Li Jindou felt a jolt. The name on the plaque was clearly Chen Yin!
"It must be some local custom... No, there's a corpse smell on Chen Yin!"
He felt a chill. It was the distinct smell of a dead body.
Once you've smelled it, you never forget it!
"This person's body is dead, yet he's still alive! He's not an evil spirit, but he's turning into one. What kind of secret technique is this?"
His mind raced, searching through everything he'd read or heard about such techniques, but found nothing!
"A small village hiding such a person... Could they be here for the True King's Tomb too? Is Li Kefa's death related to him?"
Thinking this, Li Jindou laughed, "Brother Chen, we can't stay for free. Here's a small token of appreciation."
He took out a small silver ingot, about three taels.
Chen Yin looked at the silver in his palm, his pale face showing a slight smile, "You're too kind." He accepted the silver.
As their hands touched, a sudden wind rose from the ground. It was a strange wind, blowing upwards. In Chen's courtyard, it felt like nothing, but above, it was a fierce gale!
A cloud in the sky suddenly melted away like snow and disappeared in the wind.
The wind came and went quickly, stopping in the blink of an eye, leaving calm.
The courtyard was peaceful, with no signs of disturbance. Chen Shi and Li Tianqing only heard the strange wind above, feeling nothing else.
They looked up but saw nothing unusual.
Li Jindou's face changed slightly, laughing, "The countryside hides extraordinary people. Brother Chen, you are admirable."
When he touched Chen Yin's hand, it seemed like he was just giving money, but he was actually testing his skills, causing the sudden wind.
But this test didn't reveal anything about Chen Yin's abilities.
His eyes flickered. He expected Chen Yin's hand to be cold, but it was warm, increasing his curiosity.
"He has a heartbeat, blood flows, like a corpse but not a corpse. Strange, what secret method can refine a dead body to this extent?"
"I must find another chance to test him!"
Near noon, Chen Yin said, "Brother Li, there's not much to offer here. I can't taste, so I won't cook. Please help yourselves."
Li Jindou quickly bowed, "No need, no need. We brought some spirit-infused meat, it'll do."
As he bowed, a thunderous sound echoed in the courtyard. Li Jindou's body shook, and behind him appeared a bright spirit, towering three or four zhang high, disappearing in a flash.
Li Jindou swayed slightly, then steadied himself, smiling, "Brother Chen, I'm going for a walk."
Chen Yin said, "Please, go ahead."
Li Jindou went outside, under an ancient tree, and couldn't hold back, spitting blood. He quickly took a spirit pill.
After a while, he felt better, but still looked unwell.
He hadn't figured out Chen Yin's depth, but his own had been tested.
Chen Shi cleaned the west wing for the grandfather and grandson, then took Li Tianqing to see his Red Barbarian Cannon.
Meeting someone his age, if he couldn't show off his prized possession, wouldn't it be a waste?
Li Tianqing touched the cannon, suddenly saying, "I heard Prince Xiao stole the Western King Imperial Seal, chased by the Divine Mechanism Battalion. They used eighty-nine Red Barbarian Cannons, eight hundred ninety soldiers, a supervisor, and an officer, with many experts, bombarding Heavenly Yang Mountain, suffering heavy losses. This cannon's barrel shows fresh burn marks, it must be from the battle scene, right?"
Chen Shi stood beside him, smiling, "Tianqing, you observe very well. When Prince Xiao talked with Jin Hongying, I sat at the same table. After the battle, I helped Prince Xiao and took this intact cannon."
Li Tianqing's heart skipped. Sitting with Prince Xiao?
He must be an accomplice!
Did they fall into a den of thieves?
Chen Shi lifted the cannon onto his shoulder, excitedly saying, "I'll be the cannon stand, you load the black iron cannonball, light it from behind, and aim at the distant mountain to fire!"
Li Tianqing was startled, quickly refusing.
He lived in the city, where children behaved properly, following noble etiquette. They never played like this.
"Besides, you need black powder to fire it."
Li Tianqing reminded Chen Shi, "Nowadays, the Divine Mechanism Battalion uses a device with gunpowder, a cylinder with a mechanism and a firing pin. Roll the cannonball into the barrel, it hits the pin, the gunpowder explodes, propelling the cannonball. To fire again, just replace the device. It's more convenient."
Chen Shi's eyes sparkled, "Where can I get one?"
Li Tianqing shook his head, "It's the latest from the Divine Mechanism Battalion, not easy to get. Using yourself as a cannon stand is dangerous, don't play like that."
"How should I play?" Chen Shi humbly asked.
Li Tianqing hesitated, "Maybe have two Yellow Turban Warriors carry the cannon, no need for a carriage. But I can't draw talismans..."
"I can!"
Chen Shi excitedly said, then hesitated, "But I can't make black powder..."
Li Tianqing said, "I can."
Saying this, he regretted it. Seeing Chen Shi's expression, he knew trouble was coming.
Sure enough, Chen Shi tasked him with the black powder, while he and the big dog huddled in the corner, whispering, then the dog let him cut it.
Chen Shi took out paper, ink, and cinnabar mixed with dog blood, using the Three Lights True Qi Technique, quickly drawing dozens of Yellow Turban Warrior Talismans, skillfully, with the divine altar behind him still present, not exhausting his true qi.
"What strong true qi!" Li Tianqing admired.
The Chen family had the materials, and Li Tianqing prepared the black powder. Chen Shi carried the cannon, Li Tianqing held several large cannonballs, and the two boys sneaked out, with Heiguo the dog following.
"You two, don't run off!"
Li Jindou's voice called, stopping them, smiling, "I talked with Brother Chen, Little Honest knows where the kiln factory is, let him take us. Don't take the cannon out, someone might see. You can play after we return."
Chen Shi was very disappointed, reluctantly putting the cannon back.
Li Tianqing was also let down, putting the cannonballs back in the kennel, suddenly alert: "What am I doing? I'm here to investigate my uncle's disappearance, finding this household suspicious, likely accomplices of Prince Xiao, how did I end up playing with cannons with Chen Shi?"
He reminded himself not to be distracted.
Chen Shi packed up, carrying a book basket out. Li Jindou called, "Tianqing, hurry up!"
Li Tianqing quickly composed himself, catching up with Chen Shi.
Though mature for his age, he was still a child, soon forgetting his caution, chatting happily with Chen Shi, laughing at the village stories, feeling drawn to them.
They entered the forest, seeing dense trees and white mist floating at chest height, strangely only there, not above or below.
Walking through the mist, the surroundings became silent, only their heartbeats and breathing audible.
Li Tianqing felt the forest had a sacred, solemn atmosphere.
Occasionally, a deep, long sound, like the mountain whispering, could be heard.
Chen Shi slowed down, stopping at a giant old vine with a tattered red cloth tied to it, which broke at a touch.
Chen Shi put down his book box, removed the old cloth, took a new red cloth from the box, and tied it on, then lit incense, placing it at the vine's root.
Li Tianqing noticed someone had built a stone circle at the vine's root, with traces of incense.
Li Jindou whispered, "Tianqing, use the Heavenly Eye Talisman."
Li Tianqing quickly activated the talisman, revealing another world belonging to the mountain.
On the vine sat a little girl in red, nodding to Chen Shi, accepting his incense.
The incense qi floated up, absorbed by the girl, forming a faint image.
The girl's image was unclear, almost blown away by the mountain wind.
Chen Shi finished, leading them deeper into the forest.
They stopped at a large stone statue lying in the earth. The exposed part was taller than a person.
The statue also had a stone circle, with a red cloth tied to one finger.
Chen Shi replaced the cloth, offering incense.
Li Tianqing noticed the statue's power also formed an image, a chubby child sitting on its head, smiling, accepting the incense.
Following Chen Shi, they saw the ancient forest, towering trees, jagged rocks, and old ruins, all having images formed by extraordinary power.
Chen Shi offered incense and replaced red cloths, with no wild beasts attacking, a peculiar peace.
"Little Shi, what are you doing?" Li Tianqing couldn't help but ask.
"These are our village's paths into the mountain."
Chen Shi straightened, "Travelers often use this route, carrying goods to town. Tying red cloths to trees and statues keeps them from getting lost."
Li Tianqing understood, asking, "And the incense?"
"The incense is for the mountain spirits, a tribute."
Chen Shi explained, "The spirits protect those on this path, keeping beasts and bandits away. If it gets dark, they can hide where there's a red cloth, and the spirits will protect them from evil spirits."
"Does it work? Their images are so weak." Li Tianqing was puzzled.
"It works."
Chen Shi looked at the spirits on the path, his face calm, eyes filled with love for the mountain, "Once I played too long, forgetting the time until night. An evil spirit targeted me, but I hid under a tree. The tree spirit protected me, fighting the evil, getting torn apart. Grandpa found me, saving me."
--- On July 1st at midnight, "On the Great Path" will be officially released. Please support, thank you!