Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My name is Qiao Moyu. I’m a freshman at Nanjiang University, the sole contemporary Earth Master successor, and the Master of the Feng Sect.

In ancient times, an Earth Master was another name for a Feng Shui Master. Among the Eight Great Sects of Jianghu, the Feng Sect studies the geography, mountains, and rivers of the world. Every Feng Shui Master belongs to the Feng Sect.

Simply put, when it comes to Feng Shui, if I say I’m number two, no one would dare claim to be number one.

Recently, at the invitation of Feng Shui Master Chen Zhen, I went to Hong Kong to examine the Feng Shui of wealthy businessman Liu Xiong’s ancestral grave. Unexpectedly, Liu Xiong’s father underwent zombification. Several people were scratched by the Jiangshi and infected with corpse poison.

In nature, every poison has its counter. Where venomous snakes roam, an antidote can always be found within seven paces.

It’s the same with Jiangshi. Since ancient times, Xiangxi has been home to Corpse Herders and corpse-nurturing grounds. In their local old-growth forests, there is a plant called the Sun-Returning Herb, which is specifically used to neutralize corpse poison.

After returning from Hong Kong, I took a long leave of absence from school, planning to take Liu Xiong and the others to Xiangxi to find the Sun-Returning Herb.

For this trip, I intentionally brought along the school heartthrob, Jiang Haoyan. Haoyan was incredibly excited, thinking he possessed some extraordinary talent and that I was going to take him on as my disciple.

I shook my head. “I only picked you because you’re big and can help me carry the luggage.”

Jiang Haoyan was a tall guy, standing at 185 centimeters. He was also the captain of the university basketball team, and with that physique full of lean muscle, it would be a waste not to have him haul some heavy weights.

Haoyan looked disappointed for a second, but then he perked up again.

“It doesn’t matter. Once I show you what I can do, you’ll definitely discover my talent. I firmly believe that gold will always shine eventually.”

I had Jiang Haoyan prepare a mountain of supplies, and with two stuffed suitcases in tow, we set off for Xiangxi.

Xiangxi is known as the land of a hundred thousand mountains. Many Tujia and Miao people have lived deep within these mountains for generations, isolated from the world.

The Tujia are fine; the locals are generally mild-tempered. But the Miao are different. They are divided into the Cooked Miao and the Raw Miao.

The Cooked Miao are almost entirely Sinicized; aside from their traditional clothing, they are no different from the Han Chinese. The Raw Miao, however, insist on speaking their local Miao dialects and live in seclusion deep in the mountains, avoiding contact with outsiders.

“The Raw Miao can cast hexes, and they can be quite stubborn and sensitive to the gaze of outsiders. So, if you run into anyone speaking the local dialect, be polite. Don’t offend them.”

I lectured Jiang Haoyan the entire way. Once we reached Biancheng Airport and met up with Liu Xiong’s group, I pulled a stack of red baseball caps out of my suitcase and made them put them on.

“We are a tour group here to find inspiration in the mountains. Keep your hats on straight, and you all have to call me Tour Guide Qiao, understood?”

The group of old men was quite excited, each of them eagerly grabbing a hat.

“Sect Master… Tour Guide Qiao, I just saw several mountains from the plane that formed a rare General’s Brush! A General’s Brush can produce great military leaders. This kind of mountain terrain is rarely seen in Hong Kong.”

“Really? Where? Let’s take a car there first to check it out.”

The elderly group started chattering all at once, trying to make their own plans and ignoring my instructions.

My face darkened.

“What’s there to look at? Once you’re dead, I’ll bury you all right there so you can look at it for eternity!”