Chapter 340: For the Valley of the Medicine King

The Mourning Gate Formation.

Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng had never heard of this name.

Old Yao stood in the courtyard, dazed and murmuring to himself, even doubting his own judgment.

“No, that can’t be right. If the Mourning Star is setting up the Mourning Gate Formation, he’d have to start early. How could I not know if he's laying a formation in my territory?”

Qiu Zhiheng thought to himself, "Old Yao, don’t doubt yourself. You really might not know. Compared to other local deities, Old Yao is clearly not cautious enough; he’s too casual in his ways."

Li Banfeng directly asked, “What is the Mourning Gate Formation used for?”

Old Yao sighed, “The Mourning Gate Formation is a cloud-based technique of the Corpse Cultivators. They draw the formation in Yaowang Ditch with the blood of Corpse Cultivators, then send living Corpse Cultivators into it. If a Corpse Cultivator dies within the formation, the area where the formation is located becomes saturated with bad luck. This means these Corpse Cultivators cannot be killed, which is a big problem. What should we do? Capture them all alive and send them out?”

Old Yao thought of a countermeasure and was about to set off, but Li Banfeng stopped him.

Old Yao had drunk a bit too much today and was prone to rash actions.

“Old Yao, let’s get things straight first. Your plan is good, but you can’t go deal with the Corpse Cultivators. You need to stay home and deal with the Mourning Star. Leave the Corpse Cultivators to me and Brother Qiu. If Corpse Cultivators want to cultivate, they’ll definitely cause trouble, so finding them won’t be difficult. As for how to send them out, we can figure that out later.”

Old Yao shook his head. “This matter shouldn’t involve you.”

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. “This isn’t getting involved; since it’s a matter of Yaowang Ditch, I certainly can’t avoid it. My home is here.”

After much persuasion, Old Yao finally agreed to stay home. Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng went down the mountain, discussing their strategy as they walked.

First, they needed to confirm one thing: how Yu Heshun died.

Li Banfeng worried that he might have actively sought death within the Mourning Gate Formation, on the Mourning Star's orders.

If that were the case, and other Corpse Cultivators sought death en masse, there would be no stopping them.

Qiu Zhiheng, however, wasn't worried about that. “Given the character of Corpse Cultivators, they wouldn’t be willing to seek death. I’m more concerned that the Mourning Star sent someone to do it.”

The two settled on a plan and went their separate ways: Qiu Zhiheng went to find the Corpse Cultivators, and Li Banfeng went to investigate Yu Heshun’s cause of death.

The news had been brought by Yu Nan, so Li Banfeng first went to Yu's Cloth Shop.

Yu's Cloth Shop was in disarray, with employees scrambling to gather bolts of fabric. All the fabric was moldy. Yu Nan had run the cloth shop for so many years that it was impossible for him not to have mold prevention methods, yet now the shop's warehouse was almost completely turned over, with hardly a single bolt of fabric intact.

Li Banfeng called Yu Nan aside to a secluded spot and asked, “How did you hear about Yu Heshun’s death?”

“I heard it from a carriage driver. Someone saw him walking towards the ticket office at the station, when he suddenly vomited blood and died. His body was still lying there; everyone thought it was bad luck, so no one would collect it. I knew Old Yao cared about this, so I quickly sent the news to him.”

He died suddenly at the station, with no one else laying a hand on him.

Was this caused by slow poison, or a curse-killing technique?

Li Banfeng went to the train station to examine Yu Heshun's body. Aside from the pool of blood on the ground, the cause of death was indeed indiscernible.

The station was considered the territory of the Customs Inspector. Did even the Customs Inspector not dare to send someone to collect the body?

Li Banfeng considered bringing the body back for his wife to study, but for caution's sake, he decided he should go back and discuss it first.

Back at the Dwelling of Companions, Li Banfeng brought up Yu Heshun. Before he could finish, his wife spat twice. “Bah, bah! Oh, husband, why are you bringing up that bad luck thing again? Wasn't he taken care of by the donkey?”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “He died, and now a dozen more Corpse Cultivators have appeared.”

“A dozen?” His wife seemed skeptical. “Husband, are you sure? Are they really Corpse Cultivators? How many disciples does the entire Corpse Cultivation sect even have?”

“I asked the local deity; it seems the Mourning Star has set up the Mourning Gate Formation in Yaowang Ditch.”

Whoosh! The gongs and drums quickened their pace.

Before the gramophone could speak, Hong Ying spoke first. “Don’t worry about this anymore; let’s leave quickly.”

Li Banfeng retorted, “What would happen if we didn’t leave?”

“One Corpse Cultivator dying is the first formation, another dying is the second formation. The more Corpse Cultivators die, the more potent the bad luck from the Mourning Gate Formation becomes. Once the bad luck gains momentum, you won’t be able to leave even if you want to. The Mourning Gate Formation is extremely sinister; don’t get into trouble yourself and bring the bad luck home.”

Li Banfeng said nothing.

The gramophone, familiar with Li Banfeng’s temperament, told Hong Ying, “Don’t say any more.”

Hong Ying, feeling wronged, said, “I’m doing this for his own good.”

“Are you asking for a beating? I told you to be quiet!”

The gramophone barked, and Hong Ying fell silent.

“My dear husband, how do you plan to handle this?”

“I want to bring Yu Heshun’s body back to see how he died. This might help us trace the whereabouts of the Mourning Star.”

“You can’t do that, husband! A Corpse Cultivator’s body is too unlucky. If you bring it back, it will not only ruin our luck but might also anger the house.”

Li Banfeng sighed. “Alright, then, we’ll just have to send these Corpse Cultivators out.”

“Husband, you need to think of a good place to deal with these Corpse Cultivators. Since the Mourning Star has already made a move, he will surely cause trouble again in the future. This is also Old Yao’s fault for being too careless, soaking in his wine jar all day, completely unaware that someone set up such a large formation in his territory. Let’s see if he learns his lesson this time.”

Li Banfeng left the Dwelling of Companions. Hong Ying asked, “Which Old Yao were you just talking about?”

“Just a local deity named Yao.”

“You said he was soaking in a wine jar, could it be...?”

His wife snapped again, “Why so many questions? Go put on your rouge. Look how badly you’ve drawn your eyebrows!”

“Ugly is ugly, I can’t see it anyway.”

Li Banfeng returned to Qiu’s Pharmacy. The pharmacy was even more chaotic than Yu’s Cloth Shop, and the medicinal herbs were also moldy.

Caoye said tearfully, “Master Qiu, Madam, the medicine I delivered was all good; it shouldn’t be moldy.”

Qiu’s wife comforted him, “Yezi, this isn’t your fault, don’t be sad.”

Li Banfeng walked down the street. The entire Paifang Street was in utter chaos.

Shopkeeper Feng’s goods were moldy, Zuo Ji Rice Shop’s grain was moldy, Pinming Tea House’s tea leaves were moldy, the steamer cloths at the bun shop were moldy, and even the diapers Liu Ersao had prepared for her child were moldy.

The entire Inner Ditch emitted a musty smell. Was this the so-called permeating bad luck?

What would happen if another Corpse Cultivator died?

Corpse Cultivators were supposed to be easy to find, as they sought out bad luck, but things were not as expected.

Qiu Zhiheng had his employees search the Inner Ditch, but they didn’t find a single Corpse Cultivator.

Where had they gone? Had they all run to the Outer Ditch to cause trouble?

Qiu Zhiheng contacted various connections to search around. Li Banfeng had the newspaper publish a reward. Yu Nan and Shopkeeper Feng each mobilized their respective networks to search for Corpse Cultivators.

After searching for a day and a night, they found no living Corpse Cultivators, but they did find one body.

This body also appeared at the train station. It was the old woman who had previously harassed the carriage driver there. Her cause of death was exactly the same as Yu Heshun’s: she had vomited blood and died in front of the station.

Shortly after the old woman died, medicinal herbs in various pharmacies began to sprout insects, and weevils appeared in cloth shops and grocery stores.

This wasn't the biggest problem yet; the real crisis emerged in the Outer Ditch, where large numbers of pests appeared in the fields.

Li Banfeng’s cheeks tightened. Seeing the insects, he felt as if he was witnessing the former tragedy of Haichi Ridge.

Fortunately, these insects weren’t as ferocious. That night, heavy rain fell. The next day, when the rain stopped, all kinds of pests had disappeared. The Medicinal Gourd observed the appearance of the pests and confirmed they had been poisoned to death.

“This poison only kills insects and doesn’t harm people. It must have been Old Yao who acted.”

The pest infestation was resolved, but the Corpse Cultivators were still nowhere to be found.

Two more days passed, and several friends sent word to Qiu Zhiheng: they were leaving Yaowang Ditch.

These friends were all people of status, able to obtain travel permits, and they were preparing to leave to avoid the disaster.

Those who couldn't get travel permits couldn't escape Yaowang Ditch. They each went home to hide. Restaurants, tea houses, inns, and dance halls all closed down. Before dusk, there wasn't a single pedestrian to be seen on the streets of Inner Ditch.

Li Banfeng now witnessed the power of the Mourning Gate Formation. The vitality of an entire area could wither to such an extent in such a short time.

Qiu’s Pharmacy also closed its doors. That evening, during dinner, Qiu Zhiheng advised Li Banfeng, “Brother, go back to Greenwater City. I’ve never encountered the Mourning Gate Formation before, and honestly, I don’t know how to deal with it next.”

Li Banfeng looked at Qiu Zhiheng.

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. “I can’t leave, not just for Old Yao, but because my family business is here.”

Given Qiu Zhiheng’s means, would it be difficult to establish another family business? No, it wouldn’t. But he cherished Qiu’s Pharmacy.

Li Banfeng lowered his head and continued eating. “I can’t leave either.”

“Why?”

Li Banfeng didn’t answer.

Some reasons are hard to articulate.

He entered the Daoist sect in Yaowang Ditch. He acquired the Dwelling of Companions in Yaowang Ditch. He married his wife in Yaowang Ditch. He met Ma Wu and Little Fatty in Yaowang Ditch. He had climbed Bitter Fog Mountain, collected Snake-Spotted Chrysanthemums, and all the assets that allowed him to survive in Puro Province were accumulated in Yaowang Ditch.

“I’ll go out and look again.” Even if it meant walking all over Yaowang Ditch on foot, he had to find all the Corpse Cultivators!

Li Banfeng put down his chopsticks and was about to stand up when he suddenly heard someone calling at the door.

Qiu Zhiheng opened the pharmacy door and couldn't help but frown.

Since coming to Yaowang Ditch, Qiu Zhiheng had visited all the other local factions, but he had deliberately avoided the Jiangxiang Gang, despising them from the bottom of his heart.

Standing before him was none other than Luo Zhengnan, the Hall Master of the Medicine King Hall of the Jiangxiang Gang.

“Hall Master Luo, how can I help you?”

As soon as he heard Luo Zhengnan had arrived, Li Banfeng quickly retreated into the back hall.

To Hall Master Luo, Li Banfeng was the Fortress Master of Iron Gate Fortress, with the surname 'Fortress' and the given name 'Master'.

Luo Zhengnan cupped his fists at Qiu Zhiheng and said, “Master Qiu, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Just say it here,” Qiu Zhiheng replied, not returning the gesture nor intending to invite Luo Zhengnan inside.

Luo Zhengnan waved his hand behind him, and two stick-wielding thugs brought forward a man. The man was trembling with fear. Qiu Zhiheng recognized him as a Corpse Cultivator who had previously harassed the carriage driver at the station.

Luo Zhengnan said, “I heard Master Qiu is searching for Corpse Cultivators. I caught one. These people are bad luck, so I came to discuss with Master Qiu whether he should be kept with me or with you.”

Qiu Zhiheng looked at the Corpse Cultivator and asked Luo Zhengnan, “Is this an offer of help?”

Luo Zhengnan shook his head. “This is for Yaowang Ditch. A good place like Yaowang Ditch shouldn’t be ruined by these people.”

Qiu Zhiheng cupped his fists at Luo Zhengnan. “Hall Master Luo, please come inside!”

Luo Zhengnan had his men keep the Corpse Cultivator outside the door and entered the pharmacy alone. The two sat down and drank a cup of tea. Luo Zhengnan said, “I’ve spent many years in the jianghu, and I’ve heard others speak of situations like this before. If I’m not mistaken, this is the Mourning Gate Formation, isn’t it?”

Qiu Zhiheng nodded. “Hall Master Luo has keen insight.”

“Master Qiu intends to send all the Corpse Cultivators out of Yaowang Ditch?”

Qiu Zhiheng nodded.

Luo Zhengnan put down his teacup and said, “All the brothers of the Medicine King Hall will put forth their full effort to search for Corpse Cultivators. As for travel permits and train tickets, we’ll figure that out together.”