Pangusho explained that this chicken was named "Nuqing." The crow of a golden rooster inherently distinguishes between yin and yang, black and white, but the sound of the Nuqing rooster’s cry can shatter demonic miasma and dispel ghosts. A common fowl’s eyelids naturally rest beneath the eye, but an eyelid above the eye signifies a "Phoenix"—though it shares the name of a chicken, it cannot be treated as an ordinary bird.

Whether the Phoenix truly exists in this world is hard to definitively state, as no one has seen it firsthand. Many modern people believe that the "Guiding Soul Black Bird" of the ancient Chu people evolved from the totem of the rooster. Legends of the "Nuqing Chicken" date back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, but by the current Republican era, even in its native Hunan region of Nuqing, it is exceedingly rare—perhaps one sighting in a century or two. The "Phoenix's cry and Dragon's flight" is an auspicious sign in the world; such spiritual beings are true masterpieces of Heaven and Earth’s creation, and killing one casually is certain to bring disaster.

Pangusho spoke earnestly to the old man, "It is precisely for this reason that I advise Your Honor not to wield the butcher's knife." With that, he requested the old man honor their oath and surrender the five-colored rooster. He would not take it without compensation; Hong Guniang’s bamboo basket held a large sack of salt, weighing perhaps ten jin. In the mountainous regions, salt circulated more easily than money, and for this secluded village, ten-plus jin of salt was a considerable amount. Pangusho was prepared to leave the bag of salt in exchange.

When the old man finally heard the end of the explanation, he realized the rooster he raised was a rare treasure. Normally, slaughtering a chicken or a goose was no issue, but who would dare slaughter a phoenix or butcher a dragon? Wouldn't that be inviting misfortune? He immediately abandoned the thought of killing the bird, only regretting that he had never noticed the peculiar way the rooster’s eyelids grew, allowing this treasure to be so easily given away to these Zha Lou Mo Shi (Master Masons). He considered reneging on the deal, but he was a man of some experience; seeing that Pangusho and Chen Xiazi were no ordinary carpenters, offending a Mo Shi who could deploy talismanic seals would bring tremendous trouble. He had no choice but to accept his loss, instructing his son to place the Nuqing rooster into a bamboo basket in exchange for the Zha Lou Mo Shi's bag of salt.

Chen Jingzi watched the entire exchange. In his daily life, he often believed his intellect to be superior, his family heritage and training having filled him with knowledge. Over the years, leading the bandits of the Xieling sect to plunder the world, he considered himself widely experienced. He had eaten plenty of roasted chicken and certainly severed his share of ritual rooster heads in brotherhood ceremonies, but he truly never knew how the eyelids of all the chickens and fowl in the world were formed.

Only now did he realize that there are always higher mountains and greater people. He couldn't help but silently give a mental thumbs-up in praise. Although the Mortuary Path Daoists, who flourished during the Tang Dynasty, had long since faded into twilight—with only a handful remaining today—the Mortuary Path's Four Divisions were ancient arts passed down for a thousand years, proving indeed to possess a profound mystery. With outstanding figures like Pangusho emerging in recent years, the Mortuary Path Daoists were likely destined for a revival. If they could be persuaded to join the Changsheng Mountain sect and participate, what worries would the Xieling bandits have about their prosperity?

While Chen Xiazi was secretly plotting how to win over the Mortuary Path Daoists, Pangusho had already concluded the transaction. He personally took the Nuqing rooster in a large bamboo basket, bowed to the old man, bade farewell, and turned to leave.

Chen Xiazi was lost in thought and was subtly tugged by Hong Guniang before snapping back to attention. His expression flickered slightly, and he quickly clasped his hands in a respectful bow to the mountain man and his son, chuckling, "We've overstayed our welcome. If we have caused any offense, please forgive us, Elder. We take our leave." With that, he flicked his sleeve and followed Pangusho out with Hong Guniang and their guide.

The old man from the Lei Tan Daoist community at the Jin residence had suffered a silent loss and been exposed in his lack of knowledge, and the more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he became. He secretly felt these people were not Zha Lou Mo Shi and couldn't help but call out behind them, "To pay respects to the mountain, one visits Mount Beiji; Beiji Mountain is rich with purple energy. Of the seventy-two famous mountains under heaven, only this mountain shines with golden light... You've tricked my Nuqing rooster away; at least leave your mountain name here!"

In those days, factions vying for influence were numerous, as were those who earned a living by their crafts and the various Green Forest clans. To distinguish themselves, both the black and white worlds used "Mountain" as their appellation, with each "Mountain" representing an independent trade or system. The famous mountains of the world were "Thirty-six Great Mountains and Seventy-two Lesser Mountains." For instance, carpenters and Mo Shi all belonged to the "Black Wood Mountain"; beggars were the "Hundred Flowers Mountain"; those who earned a living through ancient performance arts and acrobatics were the "Moon Mountain"; and those in the Daoist clergy had always called themselves "Mount Beiji," which was actually an audacious claim, implying they considered themselves immortals. The secret handshake used between professions to declare their background was called the "Great Opening" or "Mountain Scripture." Each profession also had its own closely guarded jargon, far more exclusive than the "Mountain Scripture." The old man believed this group of Zha Lou Mo Shi did not resemble craftsmen from the "Black Wood Mountain" and couldn't resist using a coded phrase from the "Mountain Scripture" to inquire about their true affiliation.

Although the old man had declared his sect, the leaders of the Mortuary Path and Xieling sect wouldn't pay heed to the inconsequential "Mount Beiji." Chen Xiazi only snorted, pretending not to hear. He and Pangusho just kept walking, not even turning their heads. Since their cover was blown, there was no need for the formalities of triple bows. A mere aging Daoist from a minor sect wasn't even worthy of carrying their satchels.

However, according to the ancient rules of the Way, once someone declared their sect name, the listener was obliged to offer a reply; this was called "Honest men do nothing in secret." Since Chen Xiazi disdained to respond, it fell to Hong Guniang, walking at the rear, to give the leader's response. Her words were relatively "humble"; she did not mention Beiji but only compared themselves to Kunlun.

Kunlun was the ancestor of all mountains; no trade dared claim Kunlun as its designation, as that would imply supremacy over everyone under heaven—only the imperial court held the title of "Kunlun Mountain." Among the One Hundred and Eight Mountains, only Kunlun was a real mountain; the rest were figurative names. For instance, officials, or the military and police, were privately referred to by the common people as being from within Kunlun Mountain. Except for those deliberately seeking rebellion and defying law, few dared to compare themselves to Kunlun. Thus, she immediately replied: "To visit mountains, one visits Kunlun Mountain ①; Kunlun Mountain is high, with many immortals. Changsheng is higher than Kunlun, and the righteousness on our mountain pierces the clouds."

The old man heard it clearly. Though Hong Guniang’s voice was not loud, every word struck his ears like thunder bolts shattering the clear sky. His legs instantly gave way, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

His foolish son, not understanding these coded replies, had no idea what they were saying. Seeing his father collapse, he thought he had suffered a stroke and rushed to support him: "Father... what is it?"

The old man’s face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. After panting several times, he managed to tell his son, "Oh, my ancestors! Those carpenters... they are the brigands from Changsheng Mountain!"

The disciples of the Daoist lineage at the Jin residence’s Lei Tan, and indeed all the Daoists of "Mount Beiji"—be they priests or occultists—were merely engaged in the livelihood of driving away evil spirits and drawing talismans, relying on superstitious commoners for their meager income. With the world in chaos and now in the Republican era, who had the time to believe in elixir brewing and talisman drawing? The people of "Mount Beiji" struggled merely to feed and protect themselves, how could they compare to the mighty figures of "Changsheng Mountain," those who robbed, burned, and gathered to rebel? In those times, Xiangma Zi (bandits) were little different from warlords; they dared to raid major cities and towns, finding it easier to kill mountain folk than to crush ants.

Though Changsheng Mountain had fallen from its peak, it still commanded tens of thousands of bandits across several provinces and secretly supported various warlord factions. If they truly amassed their forces, they could strike even heavily guarded provincial capitals. Thus, the moment Hong Guniang announced their affiliation, the old man nearly scared himself senseless. Reflecting, he felt a chilling fear; if he had shown the slightest hint of regret just now and refused to hand over the Nuqing rooster as per the oath, angering those ruthless Xiangma Zi, his entire family might already have been left dead in the field. He immediately quieted down, bolted the door, and hid at home, daring not utter another word. Chen Xiazi and the others easily obtained the Nuqing rooster, casually left Jinfeng Stockade, and returned to the Old Bear Ridge Yizhuang (Mortuary House). By then, Old Man Luo Wai’s injuries had mostly healed. With one eye open, he was hopping mad, vowing to lead troops to dig up Bottle Mountain, caring nothing for the Corpse King or Corpse Queen, determined to drag out the Yuan Dynasty dried corpses from the ancient tomb to thoroughly desecrate them, grind their bones to dust, and satisfy the hatred in his heart.

Chen Xiazi said that the Bottle Mountain area of Old Bear Ridge was rich in cinnabar, a medicinal herb, and mountain folk often risked their lives to collect it there, which is why legends of the Corpse King of Western Hunan frequently circulated in the mountains. Now that they had an antidote for the poisons in the tomb, they still couldn't be careless about a centuries-old zombie that had developed sentience. It was often said that a zombie was something that did not decompose after death; if that ancient corpse had died precisely during a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour, it would absorb the world’s extreme yin energy, remaining incorruptible, able to emerge on moonlit nights to devour the brains of the living. After breaching Bottle Mountain, besides eliminating the toxic miasma and evil spirits and seizing the treasures for their grand undertaking, they absolutely had to find a way to eliminate the Corpse King of Western Hunan to bring glory to the names of the Mortuary Path and Xieling sects.

Pangusho nodded in agreement. The terrain of Western Hunan was generally characterized by high mountains, rapid rivers, deep forests, and isolation from the outside world, further complicated by a mix of Yi and Han cultures and unique customs. Legends of the Corpse King of Western Hunan had circulated for centuries. Any herbalist, merchant, or tomb robber who stayed overnight in the desolate mountains often met misfortune. Some had indeed been found with their brains completely drained, their deaths extremely bizarre, leading local villagers to believe the Corpse King consumed human brains. Pangusho initially didn't believe such tales, but many villagers swore oaths, claiming they had seen the Yuan Dynasty corpse eating people in the mountains; until they saw it with their own eyes, it was hard to determine the truth.

The Gold-Digger Captains had tools for dealing with zombies: the Fā Qiū Seal, Corpse-Binding Ropes, Black Donkey Hooves, and Star Official Corpse-Pinning Needles. The Mortuary Path Daoists had their unique technique, the Kui Xing Tī Dǒu (The Great Bear Kicks the Dipper), specifically for kicking zombies. The Xieling bandits had equipment similar to fishing nets, such as the Corpse-Entangling Net and the Corpse-Carrying Pole. If they couldn't find the Yuan Dynasty Corpse King in the Bottle Mountain tomb, so be it. But if they encountered it, they would all swarm it and surely burn it to ashes.

Thus, the bandits devised their strategy. First, they deployed a large number of men to purchase live chickens from every village, specifically roosters, not hens. Since Old Man Luo Wai’s troops had entered the mountains under the guise of military exercises, the matter of tomb robbing had already been exposed. They decided to stop holding back and hide nothing further. Since Bottle Mountain Ancient Tomb had caught the eye of "Changsheng Mountain," any other faction wishing to make a move would have to first weigh whether they were strong enough, and it was assumed they wouldn't dare act rashly.

If there truly was a Song Dynasty treasure well in the ancient tomb, even if some had been plundered by Yuan soldiers and generals, what remained as burial goods would still be substantial. While the Yuan favored deep burial, this did not mean simple burials with tile coffins; the accompanying treasures were extremely rich. Judging by the scale of the Bottle Mountain tomb's underground palace, once excavated, it would be enough not only to fully equip a division with British weaponry but perhaps to organize two more German-equipped divisions. The bandits were intensely impatient and immediately began preparations.

Several days later, Chen Xiazi chose an auspicious day near the location deemed "suitable for alliance" and established a temporary hall at the Old Bear Ridge Yizhuang. Before the bandits attempted to infiltrate the three layers of Bottle Mountain, they had to first offer sacrifices to the gods and report to Heaven. Because this undertaking was different from the past—a joint operation between the Mortuary Path and Xieling sects, not a solo effort by one faction—they had to swear an oath before the deities to show unity and forge brotherhood, lest someone become greedy midway and betray them from within, ruining the grand plan.

That day, an incense altar was set up in the dilapidated courtyard of the Yizhuang. This altar was actually the offering table prepared for the deceased in the mausoleum. On it were placed the heads of the pig, ox, and sheep sacrifices, along with portraits of their two patriarchs, the Hegemon King of Western Chu and Wu Zixu, and above them, the spiritual tablet of Guan Di. The bandits first kowtowed before the patriarchs and then performed the blood oath ceremony.

Since this was not a sworn brotherhood ceremony, the blood drinking did not require piercing the middle finger; instead, chicken blood was used. The officiant, responsible for administering the blood oath, took one of the many live chickens collected in recent days. The officiant first held the rooster and chanted a eulogy, praising how excellent this chicken was and why it must be slaughtered. Because this chant accompanied the slaughter and drawing of blood, it was called the Chicken-Slicing Edict.

As the sun sank in the west, the silhouettes of the vast mountains were already growing dim. In the twilight, the bandits had already lit torches all around, illuminating the courtyard brightly. They heard the officiant reciting in a loud voice: "This chicken is no common fowl, clad in five-colored brocade feathers, five toes on its feet showing the five virtues, a red crown adorning its majestic bearing; flying in the celestial palace above the heavens, the Jade Emperor calls it the Purple Cloud Chicken. One day it flew into Kunlun Mountain, transforming into the world's announcing rooster; today it falls into the hands of these disciples, named the Phoenix Chicken. Phoenix Chicken, rare in the world, its noble crow known north and south; take its fresh blood to sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, praying to all the spirits above and below, that loyalty and righteousness endure until the end, uniting our strength to ascend to the blue heavens..." As he spoke, he sliced the rooster’s neck, letting the blood drip into the wine bowls.

Afterward, the bandits held their wine bowls and recited their vows, which were nothing more than the usual platitudes like "united in heart and mind, breaking gold with combined strength." Finally, they pronounced a great curse to show their sincerity: if anyone violated the oath, Heaven and Earth's spirits would not tolerate them; Heaven would bring a heavenly scourge, and Earth would cause their annihilation.

The officiating master recorded the contents of the oath one by one on yellow paper, then rolled the paper up and held it aloft, asking, "The oath is here; what serves as proof?"

Led by the two leaders, Chen Xiazi and Pangusho, the crowd roared in unison, "The Chant of Praise serves as proof!"

The officiant held the yellow paper higher and asked, "Where is the Chant of Praise?"

The bandits looked solemn and did not dare treat this lightly. They immediately chanted the alliance praise to the heavens. This praise first extolled the loyal and righteous Second Master Guan, chanting: "Crimson-faced, long-bearded, descending to the mortal realm, a heart like the sun and moon; crossing five passes, slaying six generals, displaying divine might at White Horse Slope; sworn in the Peach Garden, binding Heaven and Earth, leaving a glorious name for eternity."

Next was Song Gongming of Liangshan Marsh, chanting: "Liangshan Marsh, a single city, a hundred and eight heroes gathered inside; the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends assembled as one group, the leader is the Timely Rain, whose name is still sung in the streets; unparalleled in gallantry, hailed as the Protector of Justice."

After reciting the praise verses, the bandits shouted "Burn!" in unison to the officiant. The officiant burned the yellow paper over a fire, and the bandits drank the blood wine in one gulp, raising their empty bowls to show the bottoms. With a sweep of their hands, several sharp "crackling" sounds were heard, and shattered porcelain pieces flew as the empty wine bowls were smashed on the floor.

This was the required procedure for a Green Forest alliance, equating the alliance with the righteous acts of the ancients, thus drawing parallels between past and present. With the oath sworn, the curse pronounced, the praise chanted, and the blood wine drunk and bowls smashed, the ceremony was complete. The two sects could now "unite their forces to attack one household," employing all their secret techniques to raid the Bottle Mountain Ancient Tomb together. ------① To visit mountains, one visits Kunlun Mountain; "visit" here means "pay respects." People of Changsheng Mountain never use the word "pay respects," so they use the word "visit" as a substitute.