From ancient times to the present, bandits and thieves have historically been viewed by the populace as villains deserving of the most severe punishment—a thoroughly corrupted and notorious reputation. Yet, upon closer examination, among the court officials, the Emperor, the scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—across all three hundred and sixty professions—from top to bottom, where does one not find those whose conscience is utterly lost, practicing deceit through heaven-defying means? The great thieves steal nations, the middle thieves steal righteousness, and the petty thieves steal titles; the victor becomes king, the loser is scorned, and only the lowest class steals gold and silver.

Is it not famously said: "The Dao is not theft; what is stolen is not the true Dao. Yet, the Dao of Theft is itself a Dao, and the thief cannot depart from the Dao"? Among those who truly organize in the wilds for profit, engaging in the sharing of spoils and mutual allegiance, there have always been heroes and valiant figures who accomplish feats beyond the imagination of ordinary men, distinguishing them from mere rogue factions. Of all the bandits of the greenwood, none were more renowned than the "Xieling Bandits."

The members of Xieling were either scattered across the land or assembled in mountain strongholds. They worshipped Guan Yu, revering the Hegemon-King of Western Chu as their patriarch. Whenever an ancient tomb or grand mausoleum was discovered, they would swarm in, pooling their strength to excavate, destroying the remains and leveling the mounds, stripping the treasures bare without leaving a single sliver behind, meticulously imitating the actions of the ancient "Chimei" rebel army.

If one examines the historical records of every dynasty, the clandestine accounts of the Xieling thieves raiding tombs and robbing graves are never absent. Should these tales be told, the heart-stopping, bizarre, and uncanny exploits detailed within them would surely rival the deeds of the "Mojin Xiaowei."

The Xieling method of tomb raiding was always conducted in large groups. Plundering ancient tombs involved enduring perilous obstacles and mortal dangers, relying on more than just agility and the collective strength of the bandits; the act of thievery itself possessed a technique. The art of Xieling has been passed down for nearly two millennia, giving rise to many remarkable incidents unparalleled in history. However, all things under heaven rise and fall according to a fixed pattern: the Xieling strongmen began in the Han Dynasty, peaked during the Tang and Song, declined in the Ming and Qing, and finally vanished without a trace during the Republican era, thus ending their lineage.

Faqiu, Mojin, Banshan, Xieling—their techniques are ultimately encapsulated by the four characters: "Gazing (Wang), Listening (Wen), Inquiring (Wen), and Touching (Qie)." These four characters are divided into eight methods, each having an upper and a lower path. For instance, the upper method of "Gazing (Wang)" involves observing the heavenly constellations above and discerning the terrestrial ley lines below; the lower method involves observing mud traces and identifying grass colors. Though the distinction between the highest and lowest of these techniques is vast, each follows its own principle. The principles of the ancient art of tomb raiding, the "Four Gates and Eight Methods," are all contained within Ghost Blows Out the Light II: The Corpse King of Western Hunan.