I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 164 Blood Feud, Cicada Molting

The Gu Master died without ever seeing the mastermind behind these vile things.

He originally thought that as a Gu Master, he was already insidious enough by hiding in dark corners all day controlling insects to harm people, but he never expected that there was an even more insidious path called the underworld.

Even as the Gu Master lay motionless in the ruins, Xu Qing still did not approach him.

People who practice Gu poison and control Gu have almost as many insects on their bodies as fleas on a beggar, and Xu Qing despises them for being disgusting.

Jinluan didn't mind. She came to the Gu Master's side, first tearing his robes to shreds with her claws, and then began to peck at the insects inside.

Xu Qing watched from afar and saw that the insects on the Gu Master's body were like a pot of freshly boiled noodle soup, with the lid on, gushing out one after another.

If someone unaware of the situation were to approach the corpse at this moment, they would surely fall victim to the Gu Master's magic!

When the Golden Phoenix's crop was bulging and it could no longer swallow, Xu Qing tossed the Thousand Insect Gu Jar far away.

Jinluan, having benefited from the deal, worked even harder.

After collecting all the remaining insects into the jar, Jinluan, carrying the jar in its beak, ran to Xu Qing as if seeking praise.

"Is it all cleaned up?"

The golden phoenix responded with a clucking sound; at this moment, its impression of Xu Qing had greatly changed.

Although this person sometimes does some rather inhumane things, he is always generous when it comes to food, drink, and other necessities.

Jin Luan has gained at least ten pounds while following Xu Qing around.

For example, today, Xu Qing even brought it to this restaurant for a delicious meal.

Unlike when it was at the Five Elders Temple, where the people there would feed it rice, flour, and millet every day, after a while its mouth would become so bland it would taste like bird's nest!

Xu Qing glanced at the Thousand Insect Gu Jar. The small jar contained a hidden world, with all kinds of flying and crawling insects biting and killing each other. The entire jar was filled with poisonous energy.

After closing the lid and placing the jar into the miniature garden, Xu Qing then controlled the paper figures to search through the Gu Master's residence.

During this time, they discovered another 'insect hut' specifically used for refining gu poison.

Xu Qing took out the jar again and put all the insects in the room into it. Looking at his jar, he thought that if he could raise a king cricket with this jar, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways in the cricket fighting circle?
But that's just wishful thinking. After all, what respectable Gu master would have nothing better to do than refine a cricket for fun?
"I wonder which of these insects will survive to the end."

Xu Qing looked at the thousands of insects. Scorpions and centipedes were just cannon fodder among them, and in no time they were chewed into dust by other unnamed poisonous insects.

The key point is that the scorpion didn't look like an ordinary scorpion, and even the centipede was an alien creature with a dark blue body and a terrifying matte finish.

With a click of his tongue, Xu Qing put the Gu jar away again. When he returned to the courtyard, the only valuable thing left in the entire mansion was the Gu Master's corpse.

Upon closer inspection, the Gu Master's belly had been bitten open by poisonous insects, leaving only a shell resembling a cicada's molt.

The body has been desecrated like this; I wonder if it can even be put to the afterlife.

With Jinluan and Changjiang protecting him, Xu Qing reached out and touched the Gu Master's corpse. The Duren Sutra, which had been silent for several days, stirred again.

The incident occurred thirty years ago in Badakou Hutong, Luoyang.

This is where Beijing's playboys dabble in jade and antiques. People from all walks of life flock here, some just for the novelty, others hoping to make a fortune by finding a real treasure.

But remember, great wealth often comes with countless pitfalls. Throughout history, countless people who dreamed of getting rich quick have fallen into these pits and never climbed out.
Today, a large crowd gathered around the pit in the antique market.

In the past, the busiest place in Badaokou was the stalls where people hired shills to make fakes.

The more adulterated the product, the more bustling the stall becomes.

Today, a man set up a simple stall with nothing else on it except a small earthenware jar containing a golden-yellow insect shaped like a worm.

The stall owner said that the current emperor is pursuing the art of longevity and is holding a grand water and land ceremony, inviting talented people from all over the world, all in order to help himself prolong his life and increase his fortune.

He was not very talented, and when he arrived outside the venue and was queuing up for the officials to inspect and select him, someone asked him what skills he had.

He said he didn't know any immortality techniques, only how to raise insects.

“We are honest people from the mountains, we don’t lie. Those who claim to have the secret to immortality, there are hardly any people in the world who never age.”

"The official thought I was dirty and that I was no good for the occasion, so he kicked me out of the venue. I had traveled all the way from Nancuo and spent all my travel money, but I couldn't even get into the venue for the land and water festival."

The vendor cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Gentlemen, I am disheartened and only wish to sell this treasure-hunting insect to earn some travel expenses to get back home. I have no other requests."

Among the onlookers were a master and apprentice from Nancuo. The older master, named Mu Dian, was wearing a gray robe, which covered him up completely. The younger one, named Li Acuo, was only twelve or thirteen years old and was also wearing a long robe and a veil.

Mu Dian was a genuine Gu master from Nancuo. He could tell at a glance that the vendor was a fraudster posing as a Gu master and selling counterfeit goods.

It should be noted that the southern kingdoms had another name in Dayong, called "Southern Barbarians," and their speech was different from that of the Yong Dynasty people, carrying a barbarian accent.

But this person who claims to be a Gu master from Nancuo speaks with a strong Beijing accent. What else could he be but a fraud?
However, although that insect wasn't some kind of treasure-hunting insect, it had some other tricks up its sleeve.

Among the onlookers were some clever people; before the vendor could even finish his deceptive story, someone pointed out the flaws in his argument.

Since you say you're from Nancuo, then speak a few words in the local dialect, don't try to get close to us by speaking our local language.

The vendor, oblivious to the barbarian's words, simply stuck out his neck and said without any pretense, "Go away, go away! If you want to buy, buy; if you don't, don't bother me while I'm doing business! I said this is a treasure-hunting bug, and it is a treasure-hunting bug. If you don't buy, it's because you're not lucky enough to recognize a real treasure!"

After everyone dispersed, Mu Dian stepped forward and confidently asked in broken Mandarin, "I'm a native of Beijing, we're from the same hometown, can you sell me this insect cheaply?"

"."

The vendor had been swindling people for years; you could tell he was a real barbarian just by listening to his accent.

You barbarian, what are you doing pretending to be a local?

"Oh! It really is a fellow townsman! Well then, let me be frank with you. I only ever cheat people from out of town who don't know anything about this stuff, but I never cheat people from my own hometown, that's just too unethical! You're from Beijing, and so am I. I'll sell you this precious insect for ten taels of silver, just to make friends, what do you think?"

Honest man Mu Dian smiled with satisfaction and nodded, saying, "You're very good. I admire you. Here, ten taels of silver."

"Alright! This treasure-hunting bug is yours now!"

Just as Mu Dian took out his money bag and was about to pay, a person wearing a melon-shaped hat and a maroon, wide-sleeved square jacket came to the stall.

"Wow! Such a big earthworm, and it even has a golden skin."

"Quickly, Old He, bring the money! Shucheng is always running around and broke his arm. We can take this mud turtle back and rinse it with water to nourish his body."

Ground beetle is the most commonly used insect medicine for people suffering from bruises and sprains.

This insect not only relaxes muscles and strengthens bones, breaks up blood stasis and disperses blood stasis, but also relieves pain and swelling, and nourishes the body.

This golden ground beetle, which is twice the size of a regular ground beetle, is even more rare.

The servant, called Old He, immediately took out his money bag and asked the vendor, "How much is this country bumpkin?"

The vendor could tell from the owner's attire—a large, dark red silk jacket—that he was no ordinary person. Combined with what the two had just said, it was clear that the young master of the family had fallen and hurt himself, and needed medicine to nourish his body urgently!

The vendors knew their chance to make a fortune had arrived in no time!

"Saving lives is the priority, but treating the sick can't be delayed! Here's the deal: fifty taels of silver, a bargain for you two."

"Fifty taels?" The servant surnamed He frowned, about to say something, when the master of the house spoke up:

"Give him a silver note." After the vendor excitedly took the money, the owner said, "If you have any good things in the future, come to my Feng family mansion in Badaokou. I will definitely treat you well."

Mu Dian, who was standing nearby, repeatedly raised his hand to try to speak, but was interrupted by the vendors each time.

Only after the generous master and servant left did he seize the opportunity to catch up with the vendors who were packing up and heading back.

"Fellow villager, we should keep our word. Since you promised to sell to me, how can you go back on your word!"

"Who said you're from the same hometown as a barbarian? Without money, you're not even human. How can you expect others to keep your word? Get out of my way!"

Mu Dian said anxiously, "I also want to use that worm to treat my apprentice's leg. You already agreed that the worm would belong to me, how can you change your mind like this?"

Upon hearing this, the insect dealer turned around and realized that the boy following Mu Dian had been limping. Looking at the boy's legs, one was higher than the other, indicating that he was disabled.
Oh ho, so you're just another one who's desperate and trying anything.

This is truly a gift from the gods.

There are eight major sects in the martial arts world. Leaving aside the eight overt sects for now, let's talk about one of the eight covert sects, called the "Hemp" sect.

"Ma Men" refers to a lone swindler who travels the world alone. These swindlers often disguise themselves as monks, Taoist priests, or reclusive masters to cheat wealthy people out of their money.

This insect dealer is actually a conman. Today, he's using the guise of treasure-hunting insects to actually run a fraudulent business.

Treasure-hunting bugs are generally unaffordable for ordinary people; anyone interested in buying one must be a wealthy patron.

The conman Ma Men originally intended to swindle money under the guise of a treasure-hunting insect, but unexpectedly encountered two people seeking medicine to cure their illnesses. Seeing Mu Dian's apprentice's limping appearance, the conman Ma Men felt an indescribable joy.

A tattered bug that he picked up suddenly became a medicinal ingredient that others were scrambling to get. It was truly a case of "when one door closes, another opens; heaven is sending him money with drums and gongs!"

"Fellow villager, I was just kidding. Do you really want this bug?"

Seeing Mu Dian nod, the swindler from Mamen smiled and said, "To tell you the truth, these golden beetles were originally a pair. I still have one here, but..."

"However, that one has already been reserved. If I resell it to you, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the person. If I break the contract, I will have to compensate the person who reserved it with three times the amount."

Mu Dian's apprentice had been lame since childhood and dreamed of curing Tian Can's ailment. Now, upon hearing about the precious insect, his master was overjoyed.

"I'll reimburse you for whatever amount you ordered."

"Not much, ten taels of silver, plus the money for buying the insects, it's fifty taels in total."

Mu Dian thought to himself, "Isn't this a coincidence? Just when I was about to buy the insects, I happened to have ten taels of silver in my hand, which is just enough to pay for them."

The conman from Mamen put away the silver, and his gaze towards Mu Dian softened considerably: "You stay here and watch the stall for me, I'll go back and get you the insects!"

"I will go with you."

"No way, that's a trade secret. I can't let anyone see it. Besides, my stall is right here. Do you think I'll run away? Just wait, I'll be right back!"

After placing his stall stool on the ground, the conman turned and left Badaokou Hutong.

Mu Dian and his apprentice waited for a long time, but seeing that no one was coming, Mu Dian took out a tracking insect. The two of them followed the insect and searched all the way. Finally, they found the swindler who sold the insect in a brothel.

Where is my insect?

"Where did this barbarian come from? Who took your insect? Don't go looking for trouble!"

When Ma Men, the swindler, saw Mu Dian, he was startled, but remembering the man's barbarian identity, he became arrogant again.

What waves can two barbarians stir up?

The young henchmen who had come to guard the place were pushed and shoved out by the crowd.

The conman opened the window, leaned out from upstairs, and said to the master and apprentice on the street, "In the capital, I am the boss. You barbarian, if you dare to cause trouble again, I'll break your legs too!"

Isn't this bullying honest people?!

Mu Dian was furious. The capital was currently hosting a grand water and land conference, which was full of talented people. He dared not cause trouble under the emperor's nose, but he simply could not swallow this insult.

That night, a swindler who was riding a horse in a brothel was suddenly struck by a stroke. By the time others realized what was happening, the swindler was foaming at the mouth and had fallen silent.

Meanwhile, outside the brothel, Mu Dian rang a bell and went downstairs. Just then, a lecherous insect bit through the window paper and fell into the cloth bag he had just opened.

After leaving the brothel, Mu Dian went to the Feng residence.

The butler who opened the door asked him what he wanted, and he said he was looking for the golden beetle.

Upon hearing this, the butler said bluntly, "Then you're too late. During the day, when the young master heard that he had to eat insects to cure his illness, he felt uneasy and threw the insects into the birdcage to feed the birds."

You fed those priceless insects to the birds?
As soon as the butler finished speaking, Mu Dian was so angry that his eyes turned red.

How come all the people in the capital are such beasts?

Fine! Since you've made me unhappy, then you won't be happy either.

Mu Dian turned his head and scattered a lot of bamboo strips on the road in front of the Feng family's house.

What is a bamboo-slice poison?
Bamboo strips coated with a poison are placed on the road. When pedestrians step on them, the poisonous insects attach to their feet and legs, causing severe pain and eventually deforming their feet. They will not live more than four or five years. This is called bamboo strip poison.

It was at this moment that the Feng family was spared from extinction. Just as Mu Dian was scattering bamboo strips, a monk riding a donkey backwards stood at the entrance of the alley, staring at him.

After Mu Dian had finished spreading the bamboo strips, the fat monk who had been standing and watching came out driving his skinny donkey.

After the skinny donkey came out, it started stomping on the bamboo strips on the ground. Mu Dian was dumbfounded. Was Luo Jingcheng just incompatible with him or something? Why was there always someone opposing him?

Inside the Feng residence, Master Feng heard from his servants that a monk was loitering at the gate, so he went out to investigate.

As soon as he stepped outside, Master Feng glanced around and saw a fat monk blocking a barbarian's path and trying to persuade him to do good.

Master Feng was unaware of what was happening, but the steward explained that the barbarian had cast a spell on their doorstep to harm them, but this master intervened and broke the spell, thus saving them.

As he spoke, the butler pointed to the broken bamboo strips on the ground, on which were still covered with many flattened and sticky insects.

After lecturing Mu Dian for a while, the monk finally came to Master Feng's side.

“A few days ago, I lost a golden beetle. That beetle had some history; it was a turtle that lived under my meditation cushion when I was meditating, and it had already developed some sentience. When I came out of seclusion, I never expected it to follow me out.”

Butler He, embarrassed, said, "Master, my young master fed that golden worm to the birds yesterday."

"It's alright, just bring the bird over."

When Steward He came out carrying the birdcage, the fat monk caught the bird, cut a hole in its crop, and dug around for a while. A sticky golden beetle was brought back to life.

"This bird is just an ordinary bird. As long as it doesn't exceed twelve hours, the insect will be fine."

After saying that, the fat monk made the golden beetle crawl to the pet bird and spit black foam onto its crop.

Once the black foam got into the crop, the pet bird's wounds began to heal visibly.

Master Feng was amazed. He had played with insects many times before, but he had never seen such a powerful insect. Just spitting out saliva was more effective than the best wound medicine.

After putting the golden beetle into his arms, the fat monk looked at Mu Dian again: "This man has wicked intentions. He can't harm me, but he'll probably hold a grudge against your family in the future. What do you plan to do with him, benefactor?"

Without hesitation, Master Feng said, "What's the point of keeping such a scourge around? We should take him to the authorities."

The fat monk nodded and said, "If we send him to the government, he can only be sent to the Demon Suppression Division. If we send him elsewhere, I'm afraid they won't be able to subdue him."

With a monk in charge, the Feng family went to report to the authorities. Soon after, people from the Demon Suppression Bureau arrived with hooks and ropes, pierced Mu Dian's collarbone, and took him to the prison.

In the alley, twelve or thirteen-year-old Li Acuo happened to witness this scene.

Mu Dian never came out of the Demon Suppression Division after entering it. The lame Li A Cuo lost his master and had to fend for himself.

Five years after the Water and Land Assembly ended, a lame young man of seventeen or eighteen years old came to the gate of the Feng residence once again.
What happened next was pretty much exactly as Master Feng had described. Over a dozen people in the Feng household died overnight from the Gu worms, with only Master Feng surviving.

The reason why Master Feng survived was because of the bird he raised five years ago.

Li Acuo hated the Feng family to the core. The only son of the Feng family, Second Master Feng, who was difficult to kill, had always been a thorn in his side.

Master Feng was timid. At that time, Steward He's son happened to be helping to manage the family business outside, so he went to seek refuge with him and traveled all the way to Jiangnan.

After staying in Jiangnan for a while, Master Feng got food poisoning and suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. He mistakenly thought that something evil had come after him, so he took the newly appointed "Butler He" and went to various places to seek ways to subdue the evil spirits.

When Li Acuo's tracking Gu finally managed to sense Master Feng's whereabouts again, it was discovered that the man had already entered the underworld and become the 'Fengxian's' shaman.

Chickens are naturally resistant to Gu worms, and the white rooster that Master Feng raised was given to him by a master. Even the bird that was blessed and enlightened by the fat monk was not as powerful as this white rooster.

Seeing that he could not get close to him, Li Acuo returned to Nancuo to cultivate for nearly twenty years, until recently when he came to Tianjin again.
In his eyes, how many years can a white chicken live at most?
But when he actually arrived in Tianjin, he discovered that the white chicken ate fine rice and fat insects all day long, and drank water boiled with cordyceps and ginseng.

There were even people specifically assigned to take care of the chicken.

Li Acuo felt that if things continued like this, he might not even live as long as that chicken!

Until one day, one of the scout bugs that went to deliver vegetables every day finally returned alive.

Li Acuo was overjoyed. Heaven rewards those who persevere; he had finally seized the opportunity.

Without the presence of the celestial spirit bird, Master Feng was nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter in his eyes.

Then, Li Acuo saw the golden phoenix fly out of the paper sedan chair.

He never understood where the rooster that couldn't fit in either of the two pots came from until his death.

After the revolving lantern procession finished, the expert gave an assessment of the corpse, classifying it as a medium-grade corpse.

The reward is a secret technique for cultivating Gu worms, a method for controlling Gu worms, and a pair of golden cicada shells.

The function of cicada molts is very simple: when encountering danger, leaving behind one cicada molt allows it to use the method of shedding its shell to move to the burial site of another cicada molt and sprout anew.

However, this cicada molting technique has limitations; it can only be used once.

(End of this chapter)