Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing stood in the cave, and the chains extended into the massive pond, continuously reaching down into the water.

The water grass giants were entangled by the aquatic flora on their bodies, binding them to the chains. As the chains were pulled into the pond, the giants were also drawn in. Despite their fervent struggles, they couldn’t alter their fate unless they wielded a famed instrument like Ye Qing to cut off the water vegetation; otherwise, escape was impossible for them.

Nobody knew what lurked beneath the water. Nevertheless, the water grass giants were visibly terrified, unwilling to delve into the pond. But willing or not, there was nothing they could change about their predicament. After a brief struggle, they were pulled into the pond one by one by the chains.

Ye Qing stood nearby, not daring to get close. He could only hear the miserable cries emanating from the pond, clearly from the water grass giants. In the vast cave, the echo of these cries was eerie, almost as if there were a monstrous water creature devouring them within the pond, filling Ye Qing with dread.

The cries didn’t last long; they faded away after about twenty minutes, and the pond was silent once more. Ye Qing stood by for a moment, but curiosity got the better of him, and he slowly approached the pond, wanting to see what powerful evil demon might be hiding within.

Edging nearer to the pond, Ye Qing bent down, placing one hand on the pond’s edge while gripping the scabbard of The Ancestor of Miao Dao with the other. He had no idea what the demon in the water might do, so he assumed a defensive posture against a potential surprise attack. In this position, even if the demon launched an attack, Ye Qing could resist it.

Grasping the edge stones, Ye Qing took a deep breath and cautiously leaned forward to take a look.

The pond’s water was very clear, but it was too dark to see anything beneath the surface. Even with his eyes, the pitch-black water obscured everything from view, and no demons or anything else could be seen. As for the pulled-down water grass giants, they were nowhere to be found, which was quite strange.

Though nothing was visible, Ye Qing knew there must be significant danger lurking in the pond. Thus, he dismissed any thought of jumping in for a closer look. Seeing nothing, he immediately stood up, ready to leave this place.

No sooner had Ye Qing stood when two crimson points appeared in the pond, emitting a blood-red glow. Startled, Ye Qing squinted to see more clearly and realized that the two red points were actually a pair of glowing eyes!

With his heart skipping a beat, Ye Qing instinctively stepped back. Yet, the pond was still. Tentatively, he moved closer to the pond again; the red eyes remained, clearly observing him. Ye Qing sensed that the eyes’ owner was no simple entity. That blood-red glow wasn’t something an ordinary being could possess. What on earth was in that pond?

After exchanging looks with the eyes for a moment, Ye Qing dared not linger. Though the eyes’ owner showed no intention to harm him, Ye Qing knew this was not a being to provoke. A presence of such might convinced Ye Qing it was wise to leave before danger found him.

Taking a few steps back, he was about to exit the cave when he noticed at its far end a black stele. Symbols were etched on it, but at that distance, it was too far to discern their meaning.

Having come this far, Ye Qing naturally wanted to understand the cave’s secrets. Since the entity in the pond hadn’t harmed him, his apprehension lessened. He carefully bypassed the pond and approached the stele at the cave’s end.

This black stele seemed ancient, having accumulated layers of dust that obscured the carvings. Only faint traces were visible at first, making it impossible to discern the inscriptions.

Ye Qing approached and brushed off the dust, revealing the engraved texts beneath.

His heart jolted at first glance of the inscriptions. They were all Taoist incantations. Had he not learned to recognize them through the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master affair, he might not have understood them now.

However, upon reading the first line, his eyes widened further.

The first line of the stele bore six large characters: Tomb of Ancestor Chen Tuan!

Tomb of Ancestor Chen Tuan? Could this stele mark the resting place of the Ancestor Chen Tuan?

Ye Qing struggled to accept it. That Chen Tuan was buried here, in a cave holding a captive demon? How could that be? This legendary Taoist master buried here? Yet Wuji’s Lin Xuan Yue and Fu Qingping had also spoken of Chen Tuan’s tomb. How could it be here?

After a moment of amazement, Ye Qing slowly found a degree of clarity. In the secret chamber of Patriarch Bodhidharma, similar circumstances were found—Immovable Bodhisattva Seal, demon entities, closeness of situation. Bodhidharma’s sealing chamber and now Ancestor Chen Tuan’s tomb; it all made a certain sense. What staggering secrets might this tomb hold?

With a deep breath, Ye Qing continued reading. The stele’s text was sparse, and the second line was straightforward: Taoist Sect members may enter.

Taoist Sect members may enter? What does this imply? Could only genuine Taoist individuals venture inside? Would it include only pure Taoist sect members like Lin Xuan Yue of Wuji or also those with mere affiliations to the Taoist sect like Old Wang Ba?

With questions swirling, he read a third line: Non-Taoist Sect members may also enter.

What?

Ye Qing was stunned. What did this mean? Members may enter, non-members may enter too? Wouldn’t that mean anyone could go in? Why would a grave marker for Ancestor Chen Tuan carry such an outrageous inscription?

Suppressing his astonishment, Ye Qing read the final line: ”Whosoever enters must perform the rites of three bows and nine kowtows, then the tomb’s door shall open. Within, life and death are upon oneself.”

Upon reading this, Ye Qing only had one thought—Damn!

Who inscribed this stele? With all these grandiose words and that warning? Anyone might enter the tomb, yet must perform significant rites? The crux: once inside, one’s life is on the line? Was it saying danger lay thick, and entry entailed risking life?

Silent beside the stele, Ye Qing hesitated. This tomb of Ancestor Chen Tuan might indeed harbor danger; the unreliable inscription increased this sense. Still, it was, after all, his tomb. Beyond containing remains, it likely also hid key Taoist secrets. That was something Ye Qing truly desired to explore.

Yet, from his frequent explorations of tombs, such places often brim with peril. Venturing inside, uncovering surprising secrets might yet not assure safely bringing anything out.

But to have come this far only to turn back? Ye Qing’s curiosity refused to rest. So Ye Qing stood conflicted, unsure what to do next.

He circled the stele twice, seeking any hidden mechanisms nearby. But finding nothing after two rounds, deducing insiders’ secrets from outside seemed futile.

What was the plan now?

Gazing at the stele, still pondering entry, Ye Qing suddenly caught a determined glint in his eyes when focusing on the inscription.

The stele declared Taoist members may enter and non-members as well, seemingly unrestricted. Yet there lies a subtle restriction.

For the stele bore inscriptions in Taoist script, which only genuine Taoist individuals could read, hinting at a hidden barrier. If one wasn’t a Taoist, the words here would be unreadable, let alone entering. Thus, entry had an implication: a Taoist must accompany one to enter!

With newfound understanding, relief washed over him. Evidently, Ancestor Chen Tuan discreetly guided future generations, advising that entry to his tomb should at minimum include genuine Taoist individuals. However, what happens thereafter is anyone’s guess. Possibly, the tomb’s traps were aimed at non-Taoist participants!

Though uncertain if he qualified as Taoist, having learned Taoist incantations might count towards passage. Attempting to explore Ancestor Chen Tuan’s tomb could be worthwhile, given its overwhelming allure!