Chen the Blind had already suffered two setbacks, fearing he might fail to conquer Mount Ping and endanger his reputation on the Jianghu circuit. Hearing the Mountain-Moving Taoist, (Zhegushao), mention his Shoveling-and-Parting-the-Armor technique filled him with sudden elation. He eagerly asked, "How is this technique executed? I wish to hear the details. If you can truly perform it, I shall immediately grant you high office!"

Zhegushao replied, "To steal from a tomb using a technique requires the ability to support it. To raid the ancient tomb of Mount Ping, both Mountain-Moving and Ridge-Removing arts are indispensable. As for the Shoveling-and-Parting-the-Armor technique..." He paused slightly before continuing: "I have heard it said that the principle of 'Heaven and Man corresponding' is fully embodied in the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the reckoning of 'accumulated virtue and accumulated misfortune' is found in the I Ching. It is rumored that the Tomb-Guarding Colonels used the I Ching for grave robbing—this is an ancient heritage. The Mountain-Moving Taoists' art also boasts a history of over a thousand years. However, the Shoveling-and-Parting-the-Armor technique is unlike any other occult art in the world. Although it specifically seeks balancing and overcoming through creation and restraint, it does not derive from the Five Elements theory of generation and restraint found in the I Ching. Between Heaven and Earth, for everything that is strong, there must exist a restraint; the dominance and weakness, creation and restraint, checking one another—this is the essence of the Mountain-Moving art."

Zhegushao believed that within the back hills of Mount Ping, countless venomous creatures were being nurtured and refined by the mountain's potent medicinal properties, which would inevitably brew into a massive calamity sooner or later. Regardless of whether they intended to raid the ancient tomb, they had to find a way to eradicate these threats completely. But first, they needed to search for any natural creations near Mount Ping that could counteract the mountain's toxic inhabitants.

Chen the Blind was inherently quick-witted. After listening, he grasped the core idea: "That which is weak is controlled by the strong, regardless of size." Just as a three-inch Green Bamboo Viper can slay a serpent several dozen feet long, if they could find a treasure that repels poison and counters monstrous beings, why worry about failing to plunder the ancient tomb of Mount Ping? His expression shifted, and he slammed the table, rising to his feet. He praised, "Hearing your words is like the clouds parting to reveal the sun! Those hundred-year-old toxins hidden within the ancient tomb, absorbing the mountain's medicinal energy and the gloom of the Underworld—they exist only to harm people, and the consequences are unthinkable. We, the bandits of the Ridge-Removing faction, even if we weren't seeking the treasures within, must put an end to them. If we can complete this meritorious deed, perhaps we can ascend to immortality by its virtue..." He had never believed in gods, Buddhas, or cultivation, but he spoke this way now to show the Mountain-Moving Taoist that the heroes of Changsheng Mountain weren't solely motivated by tomb raiding for wealth; they historically held the heart of saving the populace from disaster.

The two deliberated for a long time and decided to visit a few Miao villages near Mount Ping again, so they made disguises. Although a heavy air of killing intent hung around Zhegushao’s brow, he had spent years operating in the mountains, understood various local dialects, and was familiar with the customs. If he disguised himself as a young man from the Bingjia Miao, as long as he didn't run into an old master of the Green Forest circles, he wouldn't reveal more than sixty percent of his true self.

But Chen the Blind was accustomed to being the chief rudder of Changsheng Mountain; his bearing screamed 'Jianghu operative,' not someone conducting honest business. Thus, he could only pose as a fortune teller, a geomancer who reads Feng Shui, or perhaps a craftsman from one of the Seventy-Two Trades.

So, Zhegushao had no choice but to arrange for him to pose as the apprentice to a master carpenter. Xiangxi boasts numerous stilt houses, and it was common for carpenters to travel through mountains and villages, helping residents repair doors and windows, trading their services for mountain produce. Such a master was known in the mountains as a Zhalou Moshi (a master carpenter who builds/repairs stilt houses). Even deep in the dense forests, wherever there were villagers, there were traces of Zhalou Moshi; their presence would not raise any suspicion.

Chen the Blind held an extremely high status and rarely traveled without many followers. Now that the mute Kunlun Mole and Hua Man'guai were both gone, the Ridge-Removing bandits couldn't rest easy letting their leader venture into the mountains with just a Mountain-Moving Taoist. Moreover, Luo Laowai was still recovering from his injuries and couldn't accompany them. In the end, they had to let Hong Guniang follow Chen the Blind and Zhegushao, accompanied by twenty other brothers armed with rapid-fire guns, trailing discreetly behind to provide cover. Because Luo Laowai’s forces had been digging and blasting around Mount Ping, creating quite a disturbance, they had alerted several local warlords and mountain bandits. These groups didn't have the backing of Changsheng Mountain, but they were equally covetous of the ancient tomb. However, their forces weren't as strong as Luo Laowai's, and having seen the setbacks suffered by the Ridge-Removing bandits, they dared not make any rash moves. They were constantly sending scouts to probe the situation nearby, hoping to capitalize on any opportunity. Therefore, for the leader of the Ridge-Removing faction to enter the mountain to scout the situation required facing considerable peril, necessitating thorough preparation to prevent unforeseen circumstances.

Zhegushao observed this with disdain. After frowning and waiting for a long time, Chen the Blind finally finished his arrangements. Then, the three—he, Zhegushao, and Hong Guniang—disguised themselves as traveling Zhalou Moshi. They ordered the captured, familiar Miao guide to lead the way, descending Old Bear Ridge and heading deep into the mountains.

The area around Mount Ping was sparsely populated, with only scattered villages. The Southern Village nearby had already been evacuated, its inhabitants frightened away by the sapper units that had entered the mountain. Following the Miao guide's directions, Zhegushao and the others traversed a deep valley within the mountains, making directly for the Northern Village.

The terrain along this route was even more perilous, almost entirely pristine jungle with no established paths. Generally, descriptions of mountain scenery employ terms of serene beauty, but this valley, called Shadao Gou (Sand Blade Gulch) by the locals, could only be described as spectacularly strange. Before their eyes lay towering, strange peaks and bizarre rocks jutting into the air. In the canyon, several hundred meters deep, stood over a thousand stone spires, steep, upright, and varied in shape, clustered together, stabbing toward the blue sky. A sea of clouds surged through the valley, mist waves churning, with perilous, strange rocks occasionally appearing and disappearing in the haze. As they traveled, they could not take in all the unique scenery.

Fortunately, the familiar Miao guide knew the lay of the land and could navigate the maze of strange valleys without getting lost. Furthermore, the Miao people were timid and afraid of trouble. Knowing that Chen the Blind and the others were major figures among the warlords, the guide served them with utmost care, having no thought of escape. Moreover, this man was a heavy opium smoker—locals called such people Yan Ke (Smoke Guest). Many soldiers in Luo Laowai's unit carried twin guns: one for killing and one for opium. Having been rewarded with high-grade Fushou Gao (Happiness and Longevity Paste)—a quality of opium he could never dream of smoking in his daily life—he served Chen the Blind with absolute devotion.

One end of Shadao Gou connected to Mount Ping, and the other led to the largest nearby settlement, the Northern Village. Although the straight-line distance between the two points wasn't great, the journey was arduous, and very few people traveled this route. Chen the Blind and his party followed the Miao guide, traversing mountains and ridges through the night. Only at dawn the next day, upon hearing the sounds of chickens and dogs, did they finally arrive at the village.

The Northern Village was also known as Jinfeng Village (Golden Wind Village). For a thousand years, the Jin Miao people had lived here, making a living by mining gold veins. Now, the village housed both Miao and Han people. The villagers were early risers, emerging from their stilt houses at first light to busy themselves with their respective chores, creating a bustling scene. Because the times were so chaotic, even though the village was remote, it had to guard against raids by mountain bandits. Thus, organized local militia, carrying crude guns and spears, checked arriving merchants at the mountain pass.

Chen the Blind and Zhegushao were both veterans of the Jianghu; how could a few villagers stop them? They handled the situation at the pass smoothly, easily posing as Zhalou Moshi and blending into the village. The primary reason for their disguise was the local people’s deep-seated hatred for warlords and bandits. If they saw any shadow of the commanders, they would either fire a volley of shots or flee into the mountains with their belongings. To glean concrete details, they had no choice but to change their appearance to avoid causing unnecessary panic among the locals.

The villagers, seeing outsiders arrive, gathered curiously to determine if they were traveling merchants or peddlers. Zhegushao proved quite adept; seeing the crowd swell, he called out a loud greeting to everyone, then began to chant the traditional praise song of a Zhalou Moshi. A "praise song" (Zankou) was a "promotional advertisement" used in the old days when craftsmen solicited business, used to boast of their skills, and also serving as an invocation to heaven and earth to bring good fortune. Some were sung, others chanted. Opera troupes had "opera praise," storytellers had "story praise," boatmen had "hauling chants," and butchers had "raw meat praise." Even carpentry alone encompassed dozens of varieties, such as praises for setting up beams or starting construction. Zhegushao was proficient in all trades and, being naturally clever, could mimic anything perfectly. When he chanted this wood-working praise for starting construction, how could the ordinary carpenters working in the deep mountains compare? The onlookers erupted in cheers, proclaiming, "What a master craftsman! Your praise song is excellent!" By then, not a single villager watching remained unimpressed by him.

Chen the Blind and Hong Guniang, standing nearby, couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect. Here, Zhegushao looked every bit the handsome young carpenter; every movement was imitated flawlessly. There was no hint of his true identity as the leader of the Mountain-Moving Taoists—one who kills on moonless nights, robs on windy ones, digs ancient tombs, and masters the parting art.

Fearing that Zhegushao might steal his spotlight, Chen the Blind quickly chimed in: "Let all you folks know, though we three siblings who are masters of carpentry may be young, our skill in stilt house construction is not lacking in the slightest. It’s an innate ability carried from the womb! We excel at framing houses and chairs, and our joinery and tenon work are exceptional. We can take on any carpentry job..." He brazenly sang their praises for a while, thankfully stopping short of claiming reincarnation as Lu Ban, the Divine Carpenter. The Miao people held Lu Ban in great reverence; legend says the method for building stilt houses in Dong Miao was taught by him. If he had boasted too much, he would have revealed a flaw, and no one would have believed him.

Hong Guniang had also been active in the Jianghu, performing feats learned from the Moon Gate; her skill in soliciting business and chanting praise songs was no less than Zhegushao’s or Chen the Blind’s. The three performed their roles with practiced gestures, singing and harmonizing, their tacit understanding evident. They quickly won the trust of the villagers. They excused themselves from any heavy work, claiming they would do it the next day, only agreeing to take on minor mending jobs. The guide scurried back and forth, busy until noon. Only then, while borrowing a meal at the home of an elderly family, did they have time for their real business.

The customs of the Northern Village were similar to the Southern Village Chen the Blind had visited earlier. Beneath every stilt house was a totem of the Black Bird, carved from black wood whose age suggested it was very ancient. Chen the Blind hadn't paid much attention to this before, as Xiangxi was historically influenced by Wu-Chu culture, making ancient rock paintings and totems of the Black Bird commonplace. Though mysterious and strange, they were generally not worth investigating further.

But Zhegushao's eye was sharper than Chen the Blind's; he was extremely discerning about people and things. Putting down his rice bowl, he bowed to the elder and inquired about the meaning of this Black Bird carving. The elder had been a Taoist priest in the Jinzhai Leitan Temple in his early years, later settling here to escape turmoil, having resided here for no less than twenty years. Hearing Zhegushao's question, he repeatedly shook his head: "The Black Bird is actually the Phoenix! Most people in the Xiangxi mountains worship the Black Bird. There is an ancient border town in Xiangxi called Fenghuang (Phoenix), and the mountain range itself resembles a phoenix spreading its wings. The natives of Xiangxi all believe this creature wards off evil and ensures peace and safety. Old pieces of wood carved with the Black Bird are common items here; every family has them passed down from their ancestors, and newcomers usually follow local customs."

Zhegushao and Chen the Blind nodded inwardly upon hearing this—as expected, the Black Bird stemmed from Wu-Chu culture. They couldn't probe any deeper, so they continued eating while surveying the village scene, searching for anything that could counteract the swarms of creatures. This village was extremely close to Mount Ping; the natives must possess some secret to ward off the toxins, or perhaps they used something unknowingly in their daily lives. They decided to keep their senses sharp, lending an ear everywhere, looking for any stray threads of information.

Just then, a sharp, loud rooster crow pierced the air. It turned out to be the elder's son, who was seizing a large rooster from its coop. Beside him lay a large bowl for collecting blood and a wooden block, with a heavy-backed kitchen knife resting on the ground—it appeared he was preparing to slaughter the rooster.

The rooster possessed magnificent, colorful plumage and a high comb. Though held captive, it remained majestic and imposing, its demeanor proud and untamed. It exuded a natural authority; a spirit seemed to shoot up from its crest toward the sun, utterly unlike common fowl. Its comb was large and brilliant red; with a slight movement of its head, the crimson flesh wobbled like a mass of burning flame. The rooster's entire body was covered in five-colored feathers; its beak and claws were sharp and pointed, catching the midday sun with a golden sheen. Its physique was more than double that of an ordinary rooster.

Zhegushao, with his exceptional eyesight, knew that the fundamental principle of the Shoveling-and-Parting-the-Armor technique, passed down for generations, lay in the four characters: 'Generation, Restraint, Creation, Overcoming.' To understand generation and restraint, one must recognize the rare and unusual things in the world. The moment he saw this colorful rooster, he knew it was extraordinary, secretly praising it as a "true divine creature." A weight immediately lifted from his heart. He realized that "treading iron shoes in a fruitless search, yet finding it without effort." He had only been in Jinfeng Village for half a day and hadn't even begun his detailed investigation, yet he had stumbled upon it directly. It seemed the key to breaking the poisonous miasma in the ancient tomb of Mount Ping lay right here.

At that moment, the elder's son had lifted the rooster onto the block, grasped the cleaver, and, lifting his hips to bring the knife down, was about to sever the rooster's head. Zhegushao, still lost in observation, saw the imminent danger and quickly coughed, shouting, "Hold it!"

The elder and his son, about to slaughter the chicken, were startled by a shout from a young carpenter and didn't know what he wanted. The elder, annoyed by the interruption, rebuked him: "I am killing a chicken in my own home; it is no concern of yours, Master Carpenter. Do not interfere."

Zhegushao offered an apologetic smile. "Elder, please forgive my meddling. I merely noticed this rooster is exceptionally spirited; common poultry rarely possesses such extraordinary bearing. I wonder why you must kill it? If you would spare its life, I am willing to pay to redeem it."

Chen the Blind also chimed in: "Elder, perhaps you are killing the chicken to treat guests... to entertain us? There is absolutely no need. We carpenters only eat meat on the first and fifteenth of the month. Three coins per person, with an additional twenty percent discount—this is the rule set down by our Ancestor Master, an ancient precedent we dare not violate. Please spare the chicken's life..."

The elder, confident in his lineage from the Jinzhai Leitan, refused to regard a mere traveling Zhalou Moshi with much regard, even from his remote Miao village: "You young fellows must not understand the old ways. I am not killing this chicken to entertain guests. It is because this bird absolutely cannot be allowed to live past today. Even if you offered a thousand gold pieces to ransom it, I must see its head severed."