Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

The Medicine Immortal Society secretly began collecting forty-nine infants, soaking them in medicinal water to improve their constitution, and then planting Gu poison in these infants.

After a period of time, those who survive will be taught basic literacy, and then they will learn how to exorcise and use the poison.

In this process, these medicine immortals will use all sorts of means to erase the children's nature, tear apart their personalities, and turn them into mindless tools.

Ultimately, they will be forced to kill each other, absorbing the Gu worms from each other's bodies, causing these Gu worms to devour each other within their own bodies.

The ultimate winner is their "Gu-body Holy Child".

All of this is what Chen Duo, the future Gu-possessed Saint Child, experienced.

But now, the Medicine Immortal Society has been working hard to create their so-called Gu-body Holy Child.

Cui Ming had heard snippets of mention of this organization through Zhenxing's intelligence network.

"All I know is that the Medicine Immortal is skilled in using poison and Gu, and acts in a mysterious way."

"More than just mysterious."

Wei Shufen lowered her voice, her expression somewhat resentful.

"The Medicine Immortal Society initially claimed to 'become immortals through medicine,' specializing in the art of combining herbs, minerals, and Gu insects."

"But they went astray many years ago."

"In order to test medicines and concoct poisons, they kidnapped children and used living people for experiments, using extremely cruel methods."

"There have been many cases of missing children in villages in western Hunan and Guizhou, and the Yaoxian Society and Quanxing Society are behind them."

“The various Miao clans had jointly attacked and suppressed them several times, but these people were like ground rats, always managing to hide in the deep mountains and forests, and then they would disappear completely.”

Are they also connected to the Quanxing sect?

"Have."

Wei Shufen nodded.

"Many people in the Medicine Immortal Society were originally Quanxing demons who later joined the Medicine Immortal Society."

Furthermore, they still maintain contact with Quanxing, and the child's disappearance is most likely due to Quanxing's help in finding the Medicine Immortal Society. Unfortunately, they have never been able to catch them.

Therefore, if the Quanxing sect was involved in the Japanese strongholds in Guizhou, then the Yaoxian Society was very likely also implicated.

The two fell into a brief silence, the flickering shadows cast by the oil lamp on the wall.

"I need a guide."

Cui Ming looked at Wei Shufen.

"A person who understands the local situation and can distinguish between friend and foe."

Wei Shufen met his gaze.

"I'll go with you."

Cui Ming did not answer immediately; he scrutinized the Miao woman before him.

Wei Shufen possesses remarkable cultivation, is highly skilled in Gu techniques, and has a far greater understanding of the Miao region of Guizhou than he does.

However, she is not a true member, and her journey is fraught with danger.

"This trip is unpredictable, with life and death uncertain."

Cui Ming said slowly.

"The Japanese strongholds are sure to be heavily guarded, and there may even be extraordinary experts stationed there. If the Medicine Immortal Society gets involved, it will be even more difficult to guard against."

"That's why I should go even more."

Wei Shufen remained expressionless.

"First, Guizhou is now crucial to the war effort, and I cannot stand by and watch the Japanese sabotage there."

"Secondly, the Medicine Immortal Society has committed many evils. If there is an opportunity, I am willing to help you eradicate this malignant tumor together."

After a moment's thought, Cui Ming finally nodded.

"Alright. We'll depart in three days. In the meantime, please let me know if you need any preparations."

"I need to go back to the village to get some things."

Wei Shufen stood up.

"In addition, once you enter Guizhou, you must follow my instructions. There are many rules in Miao areas, and if outsiders accidentally violate them, they may not even be able to enter the village."

"can."

Cui Ming also stood up.

"But you must promise me one thing. If we encounter danger, your priority will be to protect yourself. I have a way to escape, so you don't need to risk your life for me."

Wei Shufen glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“Senior Brother Cui, we Miao women don’t hide behind others.”

She turned and left, the sound of silver ornaments fading into the distance.

Cui Ming looked at the map again.

The mountain ranges in southeastern Guizhou are intricate and complex, with only a few known villages and towns marked in between, while large areas remain unexplored. The Japanese army's establishment of their stronghold here was indeed a clever and well-hidden move.

Chapter 185 Casting a long line doesn't necessarily guarantee a catch.

Three days later, at dawn, in the back mountain of Dimai Village.

Cui Ming changed into an indigo blue coarse cloth shirt and trousers, with a dark gray padded jacket over them, and thick-soled hiking boots on his feet.

This attire is no different from that of traveling merchants commonly seen on the border of Hunan and Guizhou.

He had an inconspicuous cloth bag hanging from his waist, containing three sacs and some odds and ends.

When Wei Shufen returned from the village, her basket contained several more pottery jars and a cloth bag.

When she saw the black heavy motorcycle next to Cui Ming, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

The body has sharp lines, the metal parts gleam coldly, and the front and rear wheels are much larger than those of ordinary motorcycles, with complex tire tread patterns.

"This is……"

Fenrir the wolf.

Cui Ming gave a brief explanation.

"This is a means of transportation that I made; it can easily travel even on mountain roads."

He climbed into the car seat and gestured for Wei Shufen to sit in the back.

Wei Shufen hesitated for a moment, then sat sideways and gripped the rear rack of the bike with both hands.

The engine growled, and the car body vibrated.

Fenrir the wolf darted out and sped westward along the mountain path.

At first, Wei Shufen's body was tense, but she quickly adapted to the speed.

A mountain breeze swept over her, and the trees on both sides rushed past her. A light gradually appeared in her eyes.

"Much faster than riding a horse!"

She raised her voice.

Cui Ming did not respond, focusing on controlling the vehicle.

The Fenrir Wolf's tires were half-embedded in the ground, allowing it to move directly through the earth, yet its body remained as stable as a rock.

Wei Shufen noticed that the exposed surface of the wheel occasionally emitted a very faint yellowish-brown halo.

This tire, crafted from ley lines, begins to perform a simple earth-walking spell under the stimulation of the energy core within Fenrir the wolf.

In the afternoon, they entered the territory of southeastern Guizhou.

The mountains became increasingly steep, and the roads became narrow and winding.

Cui Ming slowed down and stopped on a mountain ridge.

Several miles ahead, a cluster of green-tiled roofs could be faintly seen in the valley, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.

That's Kari Town.

Wei Shufen pointed to the valley.

"Ninety percent of the people in the town are Miao. The chieftain is called Long Apu. My father drank with him when he was young."

Cui Ming put away the Fenrir wolf.

The vehicle transformed into a stream of black metal and retracted into a specially made sac in his sleeve.

"From now on, my name is Ali, a medicinal herb dealer from Hunan. You are the one I hired to help me find my way around and collect goods."

As Cui Ming spoke, he took out a satchel from his cloth bag and draped it over his shoulder. Inside were some dry food and miscellaneous items.

Wei Shufen nodded and straightened her clothes.

The two walked down the mountain along the path.

Before entering the town, Cui Ming stopped in a grove of trees.

He took out the Owl Puppet, a middle-aged man with a blank face and empty eyes, dressed in tattered clothes.

"Go to town and contact the Japanese soldiers using the method you remember. Do not attack first, and if anyone approaches, try to maneuver around them."

Cui Ming gave instructions to the puppet.

Upon receiving the command, the owl seemed to come alive suddenly, and nimbly strode towards the town.

Cui Ming then pulled out dozens of metal spiders the size of soybeans from his sleeve. After landing, they quickly scattered and crawled along the grass and crevices in the rocks towards various parts of the town.

Next came several bird puppets disguised as sparrows and tits, which flapped their wings and flew into the sky.

Wei Shufen shook her head as she watched this scene.

"Senior Brother Cui, aren't you being a little too cautious?"

"Better safe than sorry."

Cui Ming continued to release the puppets.