Chapter 24: Wu Erbai and His Connection with the Ban-Shan and Xie-Ling Schools

Chapter 24: The Connection Between Wu Erbai and the Clans of Xieling and Bashan

For the next few days, Wu Yu accompanied his mother as they strolled through Shacheng, soaking in the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. His daily routine remained unchanged: chanting scriptures and discussing Taoist philosophy with the elderly woman. After the Lantern Festival concluded, Wu Tianzhen, unable to bear it any longer, dragged him straight to the Shacheng airport.

To facilitate this, he even went so far as to pay for Wu Yu’s airfare out of his own pocket.

"Are you not even going to say goodbye to our uncle?" Wu Yu asked, unable to fathom the father-son dynamic between Wu Tianzhen and Wu Yiqiong.

"It’s fine, he’s used to it," Wu Tianzhen waved his hand dismissively. "I studied history and archaeology, following the path they laid out for me, yet they still look at me with disapproval. What gives?"

Whenever the topic arose, Wu Tianzhen was filled with complaints and grievances, leaving Wu Yu at a loss for words. As the plane slowly took off, the two closed their eyes to rest.

Back at the old Wu residence, Ling looked at Wu Erbai with a grave expression. "Since the boy returned, I can feel that the awakening of the bloodline within him is dozens of times faster than before. The curse has taken deep root; it is even more severe than what my senior brother, Partridge Whistle, faced in his time."

"According to our sect's records, the stronger the curse, the purer the bloodline and the greater the power of the clansman," Wu Erbai replied.

"Third Brother told me about what happened in the tomb and about Yu'er. How does he know how to control a sword? And the power of his sword techniques is terrifying. Could this also be a heritage of the Bashan sect?"

"I don't recall the Bashan sect having such a legacy," Ling mused. "At his strongest, my senior brother, Partridge Whistle, possessed the strength of the Nine Cauldrons, but he could only unleash it three times. He once said that each use deepened the curse within him uncontrollably, and his body could not withstand that power beyond three times."

"Sigh," Wu Erbai sighed. "I thought I had this boy figured out, but it seems he has been hiding quite a lot from us. In a while, I plan to visit the Old Celestial Master at Mount Longhu. I wonder if he would be willing to offer some guidance, given my father’s reputation."

"The Old Celestial Master? That is a figure akin to a living immortal!" Ling’s eyes lit up. "My senior brother wanted to visit him, but was always delayed by other matters before he could reach the mountain. It was never meant to be. He once said that if anyone in this world could save the Bashan lineage, it would be the Old Celestial Master."

"I am looking for an opportunity," Wu Erbai took a deep breath. "The Old Celestial Master is not someone you can see just because you want to. However, with my deepening business ties with the Company in recent years, I should have an opening."

"If that’s the case, that would be wonderful!" Ling felt a glimmer of renewed spirit.

"There is one more thing I want to discuss," Ling hesitated before continuing. "With me, the Bashan lineage has likely reached its final generation. But I cannot bear to watch our traditions die out. I want to pass the techniques of Bashan to Xiao Yu. You..."

"No problem, I agree," Wu Erbai gestured for her to stop. "The boy has his own plans; I can see that now. Though I don’t know why he acts as he does, we as parents should simply be his shield. Having an extra skill to rely on will only be to his benefit, won't it?"

Ling looked at Wu Erbai with deep affection.

The story of how Ling became Wu Erbai’s wife dates back to the Great Tomb of Mount Ping. While that area was indeed the territory of the Xieling faction, it was not far from the Nine Gates. The Nine Gates had long kept records of the significant tombs surrounding their lands.

The Xieling faction had conspired with local warlords, thinking their actions were secret, but some within the Nine Gates had already taken notice, with Wu Erbai being the primary instigator. While he rarely went grave-robbing himself, he was no stranger to the practice of "black eating black"—intercepting the spoils of others. After all, why risk one's life entering a tomb when one could simply wait at the entrance? Because Wu Erbai was ruthless and left no survivors, few knew of his deeds.

He had personally witnessed the Xieling faction ascend Mount Ping and eventually join forces with the Bashan clan to search for treasure. Had their stances not been at odds, he might have been swayed by the charisma of the Xieling leader, Chen Yulou, to reveal his identity and join them. Even now, he held the leader of the hundred thousand Xieling followers in high regard.

Ultimately, reason prevailed. Mount Ping was treacherous, infested with poisonous creatures that claimed many lives even among those well-prepared. It was then that he encountered Ling, who had been out gathering herbs. Though she hailed from the Bashan Taoists, she specialized in alchemy and medicine. While her skills were respectable, she was the weakest of the three.

In that desolate wilderness, she encountered a rotting, bone-exposed, yet living venomous tiger. In her panic, she fled toward the Nine Gates' camp, where a classic tale of a hero saving a beauty unfolded. Ling, seeing the severely injured men of the Nine Gates, used her skills to treat them. The two days they spent together left Wu Erbai completely captivated.

After Ling departed, Wu Erbai abandoned his original plans, disguised himself as a member of the Xieling, and infiltrated the mountain. He witnessed the Six-Winged Centipede, the mighty White Ape, and the Lord of Mount Ping—the Corpse King.

At the final moment, the Guanshan Taibao, who had become half-ghost, half-spirit, appeared, using poison and formations to drive the Xieling followers to slaughter one another. It was then that Wu Erbai, hidden in the shadows, destroyed the formation’s anchor, saving both the Bashan and Xieling clans.

Unfortunately, Ling’s spine had been severely injured. While her life was saved, it left her with a chronic ailment. Through Wu Erbai’s persistent courtship, he won her heart and eventually gained the approval of Partridge Whistle for their marriage.

Later, in her desire to leave an heir for Wu Erbai, Ling insisted on carrying Wu Yu. The pregnancy placed impossible strain on her injured spine and nerves, leaving her permanently confined to a wheelchair.

Over twenty years have passed. Wu Erbai has spent every waking moment searching for a way to resolve the curse and the damage to her spine. He even hoarded dozens of portions of the "Deer-Life Grass," which the Great Buddha Zhang and Eryue Hong had struggled so hard to obtain. Unfortunately, while it initially suppressed the curse, its effectiveness had dwindled to almost nothing.

The curse of the Bashan Taoists typically manifests at the age of sixty. Under normal circumstances, there would be over a decade left, but due to Ling’s severe injuries and weakened constitution, Wu Erbai estimated she had less than five years.

This was why he had not been his usual overbearing self when Wu Yu proposed seeking out Wu Sanshu; he understood that Wu Yu must have discovered the truth and wanted to help his mother. An extra choice was always better. Whoever could resolve this first would lift a great weight from their hearts. Why not pursue it?