The scene where the stump-tailed monkey was dragged into the coffin by the zombie happened too quickly for any thought to register. and the others in the trees only caught a blur before hearing a few dying shrieks from the old monkey echoing from within the Zijin Guo (Purple Gold Coffin). Worried that the guide had been terrified, quickly covered the guide’s mouth, which was shrouded in black gauze, after shouting a warning.

The assembled monkeys in the woods were also frozen in shock, their gazes fixed squarely on the Zijin Guo, their monkey eyes wide and unblinking. Only when the stump-tailed monkey’s heart-wrenching wails suddenly ceased did the crowd of monkeys snap out of their stupor. Like scattered birds when a tree falls, they began to screech wildly and fled into the forest, vanishing without a trace in moments. Silence returned to the depths of the dense woods, not even a monkey hair left behind.

Seeing the corpse reanimate, quickly drew three throwing knives smeared with black dog’s blood, ready to strike. quietly raised a hand, signaling her to hold back. The zombie of that Yuan Dynasty noble within the coffin was formidable, though judging by its appearance, it seemed to be a Semu person from the Western Regions. The Yuan Dynasty was characterized by the harmonious coexistence of multiple ethnic groups, so it was not unusual for a Semu to be a general. The commanding general during the campaign against the seventy-two caves of Old Bear Ridge was likely this very man. The custom of human sacrifice at funerals reached its peak during the Yuan Dynasty; the armored dried corpses they had seen earlier in the mausoleum were probably the accompanying warriors. The Son of Heaven might have a hundred people buried with him, and a prince several dozen; arranging for a few trusted personal retainers to die as guards at the tomb entrance would not have been considered a cruel extravagance given the social customs of the time.

However, the Western Regions possessed a unique cultural background, and their burial customs differed significantly from traditional ones. The coffin, the tomb structure, the burial objects (mingqi), and the methods used to preserve the corpse all carried an air of profound mystery in that era. The Banshan Daoists had migrated from the Twin Black Mountains in the Western Desert to the Central Plains over several millennia, and their knowledge of Western funerary rites, which flourished since the Han Dynasty, was limited. Unable to ascertain the full extent of the reanimation within the massive Ping Shan coffin, could only restrain his intentions and continue to spy on the situation from the concealment of the trees.

In the deathly still woods, the only sound was a constant kacha-kacha coming from inside the coffin, as if the zombie were gnawing on the dead body of the stump-tailed monkey. This sound chilled to the core, and he suddenly felt an icy slipperiness around his neck. Thinking had tied a rope around him to prevent him from falling, he reached up with a trembling hand while whispering, "Brother Mo, please don't tie up my neck; I need this space to breathe..."

Before he finished speaking, his hand found not a rope but a highly venomous, brightly patterned white snake coiled around his nape. In his shock, half his soul seemed to ascend to the clouds. He summoned all his strength to fling the snake away, but the branch supporting him could not withstand such a sudden thrashing. With a loud kacha, the branch snapped, sending him and the wood crashing down together.

and were focused on the movement below the coffin when they failed to anticipate ’s sudden move. Even with 's astonishing speed, by the time he noticed the branch breaking, he was a half-step too late. The tree was several zhang high, and fearing would be severely injured or killed by the fall, acted urgently, abandoning stealth. He swung down from the branch, bracing his feet against the trunk, and launched himself downward like a nocturnal bat. Arriving before , he snatched the collar of ’s clothes mid-air.

Falling from such a height, even could not guarantee an injury-free landing. Fortunately, the forest was dense and hung with Xiluo vines. Before hitting the ground, he grabbed an old vine clinging to the trunk, releasing 's body. The two men landed, now standing before the Zijin Guo.

descended from the tree as well. Hearing the incessant rustling from inside the coffin—a sound that suggested the zombie might emerge at any moment—she furrowed her brow, shuddering inwardly, and asked , "What should we do? Burn it!"

had intended to observe from the shadows, but now that they were at the coffin, action was required. However, tomb robbers traditionally abhorred setting fire to a coffin before examining its contents, as the intense heat would destroy all the mingqi inside, including any potential danzhu items they hoped to find. He replied to , "No fire. First, use the Wugong Guashan Ti (Centipede Clinging to Mountain Ladder) to hook the zombie out before dealing with it."

turned to drag over the bamboo ladder, then instructed and to grasp the Wugong Guashan Ti firmly and push it into the coffin, pulling out whatever it snagged. He himself took up a position to the side, ready with his quick-draw pistol.

Having encountered the snake, was already panicking and contemplating escape. But when he saw the German-made mirrored box pistol in 's hand, he understood that fleeing now would surely invite a volley of bullets. Inherently timid, had witnessed enough arbitrary killings by warlords and bandits over the years; compared to vengeful ghosts and zombies, he feared armed men more. The sight of the black muzzle instantly weakened his knees, and he dared not move an inch from his post, hardening his resolve to assist in steadying the bamboo ladder and pointing it toward the Zijin Guo.

The two first used the ladder to push aside the Qixing Ban (Seven Star Board) partially covering the coffin. Lowering the head of the ladder, they swept it inside like a dragon churning the sea. They felt a heavy resistance, confirming the hook had caught something substantial. glanced at , who was poised, then signaled with her eyes and pulled hard on the ladder.

Both and felt the bamboo ladder become extraordinarily heavy, forcing them to pull together. Unexpectedly, they dragged a large mass out of the coffin. Bathed in the clear moonlight, the three observers watched clearly: the copper-clad hooks at the end of the Wugong Guashan Ti were snagged on the dead stump-tailed monkey’s mouth. The dead monkey’s jaws were pulled wide open, its lifeless face tilted upward, being hauled from the coffin like a fish on a line.

was accustomed to death. Even the most grotesquely posed corpses appeared to him as mere clay or wax sculptures. He was loath to take extreme measures that might damage ancient remains unless absolutely necessary, believing that only reverence for death allowed one to repeatedly escape the summons of the Grim Reaper. However, probing the corpse with the bamboo ladder was a necessary action, as no one knew how the zombie inside might react. Seeing the dead monkey body drawn out, his expression did not change; he remained calm as still water, watching closely, fully prepared for any sudden danger.

But , witnessing the monkey corpse’s terrifying and gruesome state, had only entered the tomb-raiding profession later in life and felt a wave of bone-chilling horror. She dared not look directly at the monkey’s face. Mustering her courage, she and the already trembling exerted force, slowly raising the Wugong Guashan Ti.

What the ladder lifted was not just a furry monkey corpse. The dead stump-tailed monkey was tightly bound to the zombie within the coffin. The ancient corpse’s head was buried in the dead monkey’s neck, seemingly gripping it tightly. When the ladder pulled the deceased old monkey, it actually dragged the Yuan Dynasty zombie out along with it.

The weight of the old stump-tailed monkey was limited, but the Yuan Dynasty zombie was bulky and extremely heavy—perhaps preserved with mercury. In short, sweat beaded on the foreheads of both and . After several attempts to lift the ladder, the combined bodies seemed rooted in the coffin, proving difficult to hoist out quickly.

had insisted they use the Wugong Guashan Ti from a distance because he feared approaching the Zijin Guo too closely. Since the lid and planks of the coffin had already been shaken loose, if the zombie erupted suddenly, he needed distance to react effectively. However, the ladder only managed to lift the bodies obliquely a few feet before becoming utterly immovable. The long ladder bent heavily into a bow, its structure vibrating with a loud gā zī zī sound.

A sense of unease struck : "What strange trick is this? Is the zombie unwilling to come out?" Puzzled, he stepped toward the side of the coffin. As soon as he shifted his weight, he saw a pair of enormous black pincers emerge from behind the zombie, clamping onto the dead monkey like crab claws. From the back of the zombie's neck, a slick, black segmented tail also protruded. It turned out that a scorpion, as large as a dog, attracted by the Yin energy in the coffin, had entered during the shock when the tomb was first disturbed. The creature that had terrified the monkeys might have been this venomous giant hiding inside.

Normally, the scorpion would raise its tail high when facing an enemy, but for some reason, it had nestled beneath the zombie’s body after entering the coffin. When the stump-tailed monkey disturbed the Qixing Ban, the scorpion, which had been dormant, suddenly attacked. It raised its long tail, lifting the zombie along with it, stinging the stump-tailed monkey to death, and dragging both corpses out of the coffin together via the ladder. Now being pulled from the bottom of the coffin, the scorpion seemed reluctant to leave the Zijin Guo and refused to release the monkey carcass, instead engaging in a tug-of-war with the Wugong Guashan Ti.

The moment spotted the massive scorpion beneath the zombie, his instinct was to shoot it dead. If he waited until it retreated into the coffin, he would have to approach to fire. His German-made twenty-shot pistol was already cocked, ready to fire. was renowned for his marksmanship, capable of hitting a target a hundred paces away. He immediately raised his arm to pull the trigger.

Yet, fast as was, the scorpion was faster. Sensing a living approach, it abruptly swung its tail around, spitting a stream of black venom like a water jet toward . The climate near Bottle Mountain in Old Bear Ridge was unique, characterized by perpetual dampness and rain, making the mountain rich in exotic flora and fauna. Scorpions in this area were not only huge but also possessed tails capable of ejecting venom like a King Cobra—with electric speed, making them impossible to guard against.

smelled a foul wind; before he could even see how the scorpion spat venom, the toxic water jet was upon him. With no time to dodge, instinctively shielded himself by raising the mirrored box pistol in front of him. The venom struck the metal body of the German-made gun with a faint ci lā sound. Fearing the corrosive liquid would drip onto his hand, he immediately discarded the twenty-shot pistol and retreated swiftly backward.

By this time, and had also spotted the scorpion lurking behind the zombie and were startled. Their grip loosened slightly, and the scorpion dragged the zombie and the dead monkey back into the coffin.

jumped to the side and shouted, "Quickly, release the Phoenix Chickens from the bamboo cages!" Before entering the dense forest for the tomb raid, the three had carried a rooster each in bamboo cages. carried the most extraordinary one, the Nuqing Rooster. and also carried roosters selected from the best of a hundred.

The "Phoenix, Qilin, Dragon, and Tortoise" are the Four Auspicious Beasts of Chinese mythology. Since the Shang Dynasty, totems of the Black Bird and Golden Phoenix existed. However, like the Dragon, the Phoenix was largely mythical—a long-lived Black Bird in legend that could be reborn from flames, dwelling only on phoenix trees and never landing on barren ground. Thus, it was highly valued by alchemists and cultivators throughout history. Nuqing signified the cry of the Phoenix. The fact that emperors throughout the ages established their imperial alchemy chambers in Bottle Mountain, Xiangxi (Western Hunan), was likely connected to this place name.

Tracing the origin, the prototype of the Phoenix was very likely derived from the wild pheasant. Wild pheasants in the mountains possess vibrant, colorful plumage and tails comparable to peacocks; they can also soar and circle in the air, closely resembling the mythical bird. However, only among domestic fowl does the extremely rare Nuqing Chicken appear. Its eyelids close from top to bottom, unlike ordinary fowl, and it is the natural nemesis of a hundred kinds of venomous creatures.

The biological clock effect on fowl is pronounced, however; as soon as night falls, they become lethargic, and their vision and sensory perception decline sharply. Although they had been jostled in their bamboo baskets without sleep, they were all drowsy and silent. and the others had no time to worry about this now. They tore open the baskets and hurled the three roosters as far as they could toward the Zijin Guo.

Led by the Nuqing, the three roosters beat their wings as they descended. They were natural enemies of venomous creatures and would fight to the death upon sight. Though subdued by the moonlight, upon suddenly encountering the mountain scorpion, their eyes immediately reddened. As soon as they landed in the coffin, they began pecking furiously.

The mountain scorpion hidden beneath the zombie, though unwilling to leave the Zijin Guo, was forced by necessity. In the confined space of the coffin, it could not maneuver effectively. It let go of the zombie and the dead monkey, retreating the way it had entered through the crack in the coffin.

The three watched from a distance. They saw the scorpion, covered in dust and pitch-black, its pincers as thick as a child's arm, covered in hard, needle-like black hairs. Its back and abdomen were incredibly thick, and its tail was segmented thirteen times, moving with lightning speed when agitated. It darted around, its venomous tail curved upward, appearing extremely agitated. Although the three roosters surrounded it, in the deep night, they could not immediately rush in for the kill, instead engaging in a running fight to exhaust its ferocity.

Seeing that he had forced the scorpion out of the coffin, drew another German-made pistol, intending to shoot it dead. However, the roosters were deeply engaged in combat with the giant scorpion, obstructing his line of fire. Since this tomb raid depended on the Nuqing chickens to ward off venomous creatures and zombies, he could not risk injuring one. He patiently held his fire and watched the fight.

Just then, the scorpion's back suddenly bulged, its carapace stretching almost transparently, as if driven mad, lashing out everywhere. With a dull thud like tearing silk, the scorpion’s back split open down the middle, and a wisp of white vapor emerged, thick as mercury, surging straight toward the "Jade Rabbit" (a reference point in traditional anatomy/acupuncture).

Chapter Forty: The Black Pipa

The Banshan Fen Jia Shu (Banshan Separation and Division Technique) used by the Banshan Daoists in tomb raiding seemed mysterious to outsiders, but its core principle was rooted in the cycles of generation and restraint. Their entry into Bottle Mountain this time was specifically because the medicinal mountains were rife with poisonous Shen insects and miasma; hence, they had sought out Nuqing chickens from the nearby Golden Wind Stockade. The hundred poisons matured in the Yin shadows of the mountains were no match for them. However, with the night so deep, the chickens’ ferocity was already halved, and for a time, they struggled to subdue the scorpion that had emerged from the coffin.

and the others watched the battle from a dozen paces away. The broad-bellied, thick-backed scorpion thrashed wildly but could find no escape. Finally, it suddenly curled up completely, and a massive fissure split its back, from which a cloud of white mist emerged, gathering and refusing to dissipate. Although the three roosters were fighting fiercely, they were startled by this sudden movement and, uncertain of its nature, quickly retreated separately to take cover.

Seeing the strange white mist issuing from the scorpion’s back, quickly waved his hands, signaling and to retreat several more steps. A light mountain breeze then dispersed the mist, revealing that where the scorpion’s back had split, it was like a gaping black mouth. A mass of pale white hatchlings crawled out, breaking free from the mother scorpion’s back, scattering and fleeing in all directions.

The mother scorpion, its back completely ruptured, lay motionless on the ground like a broken husk, clearly having been dead for some time. The Nuqing chickens, seeing the dozens of pale-white hatchlings emerging from the mother, recognized them as natural enemies subject to the law of mutual repulsion. They immediately spread their wings and pounced, tearing and swallowing the small scorpions one by one. The other two roosters followed suit, sweeping up the several dozen small scorpions in a whirlwind, leaving none to escape—all were consumed.

clapped his head beside them and said to , "So the mountain scorpion entered the coffin... to borrow the Yin energy to give birth..." The venomous creatures of the Bottle Mountain area were all intensely toxic and constantly absorbed the mountain’s medicinal properties. Therefore, they preferred hiding in dark, secluded places, especially the mother scorpion during parturition, when she favored burrowing into coffins or grave soil.

There is a local saying near Old Bear Ridge: "The scorpion has no mother from birth." The mountain scorpions there only give birth once in their lives, delivering their young from their backs; the moment the hatchlings emerge, the old scorpion dies. Thus, orphans without kin in the Xiangxi stockades are called "Scorpion Children" by the mountain people.

The mother scorpion burrows into a coffin containing a corpse because the cold Yin energy temporarily alleviates the agony of her back splitting open in death. Most local mountain people knew that a mother scorpion gives birth to exactly thirty-six offspring—no more, no less—the exact number of tiles in a domino set. Hence, they also sometimes called the mountain scorpion a "Domino."

had never been to this fierce place, Old Bear Ridge, before. Despite his vast knowledge, there were things he did not know, and he was unfamiliar with the peculiar habits of the local mountain scorpions. Only after hearing the guide explain the reason did he understand. Still, considering the prevalence of rare medicinal stones in Bottle Mountain and the bizarre forms of the hidden venomous creatures, he could not possibly know everything; as long as he could discern the laws of generation and restraint, bringing a few roosters into the mountains should be manageable.

noticed that after devouring the dozens of small scorpions, the three roosters looked even more listless. He instructed to put them back in their baskets, while he and approached to inspect the contents of the coffin.

The two walked up to the coffin with their weapons. First, they looked at the old ape crushed beneath the bottom of the Guo. The bottom of the Zijin Guo was cast with eight strange beasts acting as coffin supports; these were robust, scaled, half-human, half-beast figures. These scaled monsters not only indicated the high status of the corpse within but also served a damp-proofing function in the tomb chamber, slightly elevating the Zijin Guo above the ground. If rainwater seeped into the chamber, even if it couldn't be fully drained immediately, the coffin wood would not be submerged.

The white-furred old ape, smashed onto the ground by the falling coffin, was fortunate. Thanks to the structural design of the beast supports, there was a gap between the coffin and the earth. Furthermore, the forest floor was thickly carpeted with damp, fallen leaves. Combined with the white ape's tough musculature, it had miraculously survived the heavenly calamity without dying, though it was severely injured.

bent down, holding his oil lamp to illuminate the bottom of the Guo. He saw fresh blood flowing from the white ape’s mouth and limbs. It lay motionless beneath the structure, appearing as if dead.

wondered why the old monkey, which had been moving moments ago, was now still. He raised his foot and nudged the ape’s exposed arm. The old ape beneath the coffin indeed recoiled, and it opened its two cunning eyes, darting them around. It bared its teeth at in a threatening gesture. Its gaze held seven parts terror but three parts vicious malevolence.

Seeing the ape's cunning expression, knew it was no benevolent creature. All things in the world follow the natural cycle of life and death. When one lives for many years, their original fur color fades, turning from gray to white, and then from white to silver. At this stage, it is no longer an ordinary creature; it is either an immortal or a demon, capable of understanding human minds.

According to , the monkey troops near Bottle Mountain White Ape Cave often ambushed lone travelers to steal food, causing many deaths. They even took clothing and goods, fighting over them in their cave and dressing up, mimicking living people as they roamed the mountains. Most of these misdeeds were led by this very old ape.

surmised the creature was the same kind as the old fox from the Ancient Fox Stele and was already determined to kill it, planning to use his pistol to eliminate the old ape and erase the notoriety of the White Ape Cave. However, did not take 's stories of monkeys killing people seriously, nor had she witnessed the havoc the troops caused. Moreover, the old ape was heavily wounded and would not live long anyway. She persuaded to show mercy, reasoning that since the white ape had only a breath left, they should let it live a few more days. Given the many brothers who died that day, they should focus on performing rites for the dead.

Hearing her words, could not argue and suppressed his killing intent. After all, the old ape had only half a life left; letting it live a little longer was acceptable. He was confident in his quick draw and knew taking the ape’s life would be effortless. With the main objective at hand—opening the coffin to obtain the treasure—he was unwilling to be delayed. He holstered his gun, stood up, and ignored the old ape gnashing its teeth beneath the coffin.

The three men immediately took positions beside the purple-gold outer coffin, leaning over in the moonlight to inspect the scene within. As the moon cast its pale, dim light into the coffin, they saw that the dead monkey and the zombie were still piled atop one another. They proceeded to use the Centipede Scaling Ladder technique to pull the corpse of the bald-tailed monkey out of the sarcophagus and fling it under a distant tree.

This cleared the view, revealing the ancient corpse lying flat inside the coffin. Although this Yuan Dynasty zombie had been dead for nearly seven hundred years, and even the purple-embroidered brocade robe it wore had begun to decay, the features of the ancient corpse remained unchanged. Only the skin across its body was swollen purple and rigid, with a mass of disheveled hair half-covering its face. Despite being dead for centuries, the imposing and naturally formidable aura of slaughter surrounding it had yet to dissipate.

The Yuan Dynasty military was not composed solely of Mongols; it included people from the Western Regions, the Northern Deserts, and even Goryeo and the Han Chinese. This general exhibited strong features characteristic of the Western Regions in his hair and countenance. Observing his tightly closed mouth, with cheeks appearing slightly full rather than sunken or withered, they surmised that he must have some precious artifact held in his mouth to preserve his looks.

Naturally, hoped the zombie’s mouth held a luminous pearl, but he was well aware that the funerary objects placed in the mouths of royalty and nobility generally fell into three categories: First, "Beauty Preserving Powder," a secret embalming agent primarily composed of mercury. Second, a "Jade Insert," where jade, known for its cooling properties, was carved into the shape of a human tongue and placed in the mouth during entombment to keep the orifices cool and prevent putrefaction. The most valuable inclusion was a Moon Bright Pearl harvested from the sea, or some other rare variety of pearl. The practice of placing copper coins in the mouth was rarely adopted by ancient nobility.

Gazing upon the zombie within this purple-gold outer coffin made of nanmu wood, constantly exposed to the night air, yet showing no obvious signs of shriveling or collapse, it was clear some specialized preservation method had been employed. However, as drew closer, a wave of shock and suspicion washed over him: the zombie’s nostrils and ear canals were stuffed completely full of pure gold powder. The use of gold for facial preservation was unheard of; why would a Yuan Dynasty zombie contain it? He pressed the muzzle of his gun against the corpse’s ear, and a patch of gold dust immediately fell away, followed by a surge of dark, bloody fluid pouring from the ear canal. The gore flowed into the coffin, emitting an unbearable stench.

was perplexed and unable to fathom an explanation. For now, the only course was to pry open the mouth and see for certain. Just as he prepared to enter the coffin and examine the corpse, a slight rustling sound came from behind the trees. He quickly looked up and saw the trunk of a crooked-necked tree vibrating faintly, shedding leaves as if someone were pushing it forcefully. Yet, the trunk was as thick as a person’s embrace; ordinary strength could not move it so.

cursed, "Too much noise. Could those thieving monkeys have returned?" As he spoke, he drew his German-made twenty-shot pistol, spinning it deftly in his hand. The hammer was cocked, and the muzzle pointed toward the white ape beneath the coffin. He thought that if the monkey troop was causing a disturbance nearby, he wouldn't be able to focus on opening the corpse to retrieve any jewels. It would be cleaner just to shoot this half-dead old white ape now.

Just as was about to end the white ape's life, suddenly leaped more than a foot into the air, crying out, "This is terrible! I completely forgot about this vital matter. Brother Mo, midnight has long passed—what day is it now?"

and saw the stark terror on ’s face, a fright that made him look like he’d seen a ghost, and they couldn't grasp his meaning. They both asked, "What day?"

by then had clutched the chicken cage to his chest, shaking it vigorously, and had recalled the date and time: "Let me both know—when midnight turns to the next day, the Mountain Scorpions operate on odd/even parity. Having just eliminated a female, there must be a fiercer male scorpion hidden nearby." Male Mountain Scorpions are the most vicious; though smaller than the females, their venom and aggression are deadly and difficult to handle. It was late at night, and the three roosters, having just gorged themselves on smaller scorpions, were completely exhausted. No matter how much he shook the bamboo basket, they refused to stir.

was panicked and alarmed, a thin layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. held him steady. "What’s the rush? It’s just another Mountain Scorpion. How much trouble can it stir up?"

At that moment, suddenly pointed toward the flickering treetop in the distance and whispered, "Look quickly! What is on that tree?" and followed her gaze. In the moonlight, they could see clearly: clinging to the crooked tree was a pitch-black Mountain Scorpion. The creature hung upside down, resembling an old, dark pipa (lute), and with the slightest movement, the hard segments of its body scraped against each other with a resonant metallic sound. It was fierce and formidable, no less menacing than the Six-Winged Centipede lurking in the Dān Palace.

gasped, "Merciful heavens, it’s the Black Pipa Spirit among the Xiangxi Mountain Scorpions..." Before his words had faded, the black pipa hanging from the tree inverted itself, extended its fangs, and revealed a pair of blood-red pincers, dropping swiftly from the old, crooked tree.

Scorpion nature is far from ordinary; it tends toward extreme agitation and rashness. Actions like suicide, which some humans can achieve, are not universally possible, but among venomous creatures, only the Mountain Scorpion possesses the capacity for self-destruction. If one captures a scorpion and places it in a glass jar, focusing sunlight onto it with a convex lens, the creature, in its agony and with no escape, will turn its tail stinger inward and kill itself—a clear indication of its frantic temperament.

As the Black Pipa descended from the tree, sensing the dead scorpions and the roosters near the outer coffin, its latent ferocity was triggered. Filled with intense resentment, it whipped around the base of the tree like a black whirlwind, ripping the crooked tree out by the roots with a crash as it fell into the thicket. The pipa-shaped scorpion vanished into the undergrowth, the disturbed weeds showing its lightning-fast movement as it closed in on the purple-gold outer coffin.

shouted that it was fast, raising the mirrored twenty-shot box pistol in his hand and sweeping a long burst across the area. The barrage of bullets cut down a swath of tall grass, but the dense woods and rampant weeds obscured any clear shot at the Black Pipa. In moments, the twenty rounds in the magazine were spent. kept his eyes fixed on the trace of disturbed grass, rapidly swapping magazines. Simultaneously, he ordered and to quickly open the cage and release the roosters. The dense foliage and numerous obstacles meant that accurate shooting from a distance was impossible; using the fighting cocks to engage it was the only viable tactic.

In truth, and didn't need the order; they had already tossed the three semi-conscious roosters from the bamboo basket outside. However, the roosters were full, and the night was deep. Despite their deadly foe being right before them, they lacked the spirit to fully engage in a desperate fight. Frustrated, scooped up the three half-awake roosters and, aiming carefully, threw them through the air toward the Mountain Scorpion.

The furious (Raging Bright Cock), suddenly tossed into the air, became instantly alert mid-flight. Its blood-red comb snapped upright, anger surging through its colorful plumage. With a loud crow, it swooped down into the tall grass and immediately became entangled with the Black Pipa in a chaotic tussle. Fowl, unlike true birds, have limited wing movement and strength, but their neck and legs are exceptionally powerful. Seizing the scorpion’s tail with its golden claws, the rooster gave a mighty pull, wrenching the plated Black Pipa into a spinning circle on the ground.

The other two large roosters were thrown out shortly after. They lacked the heroic spirit of the ; having just fought an arduous battle with the female scorpion, they were already exhausted. Facing a new enemy now, they hesitated. One rooster hadn't even fully woken up when the frantic, maddened Black Pipa pinned it, severing its head with one pincer strike. The scorpion whipped its tail, flinging the bloody rooster head toward .

was already panicked, and as the severed head flew toward him through the air, trailing blood, it blurred his vision, making evasion impossible. Fortunately, was quick-witted and yanked aside. The severed head grazed past his face; had it been off by a few inches, the crushed rooster head would have surely blinded ’s right eye. A dull thud echoed out as the head struck something behind them.

and the others heard the strange sound—the head hadn't hit the coffin or a tree—and they quickly turned back, sucking in a sharp breath of cold air. The Yuan Dynasty zombie in the purple-gold outer coffin had somehow, silently, risen to a sitting position. Its claws were spread wide, appearing ready to climb out. The rooster head had struck the zombie squarely on the face, splashing blood all over the ancient corpse’s features and its mass of hair. In the moonlight, the sight was utterly grotesque.