Monk's Skin

The three of them set up a perimeter with sour foods, fruits, seasonings, and other supplies.

At first, all was calm, but as the scent began to spread, some Chang Gui couldn't resist and cautiously crept over to lick it up.

Soon, the number of Chang Gui grew, and the three quickly headed towards the house where the Zhanji Tiger was.

According to the plan, Chu Danqing and Da Bao hid first, and Guo Ming, upon reaching the courtyard, began to cry out loudly, "Brother Chu, Brother Chu!"

Chu Danqing felt his scalp tingle, he almost thought he had really fallen in.

Movement came from the house. The massive tiger shadow donned the human skin, and the creature rushed out in a strange posture, hurriedly asking, "What is it?"

"Abbot, Brother Chu wanted to fetch some water and accidentally fell into the well."

Hearing this, Zen Master Yinke's face showed surprise, "This is a dry well, where would the water come from?"

Then, as if remembering something, he exclaimed, "Not good!"

He rushed over somewhat frantically, sticking his head into the well to get a clear look.

In that instant, Chu Danqing and Da Bao burst out, and the three of them pushed together.

The two of them weren't much, but Da Bao's strength attribute was high. Caught off guard, it was pushed in.

Chu Danqing reached out and grabbed the human skin, and the entire skin slipped off smoothly.

The human skin contained a striped tiger. At first, it was small, but as it slid down the well, it swelled up, and by the time it reached the bottom, it had returned to its original form.

It let out a terrifying roar at the two at the well's edge.

The sound wave formed by this tiger's roar made Guo Ming unsteady on his feet, and thankfully Chu Danqing supported him.

Da Bao's actions were also swift, bringing two large stones in succession and stacking them together to seal the well's mouth, immediately muffling and weakening the roar.

"Da Bao, kill the Chang Gui," Chu Danqing ordered decisively. Da Bao's 9 points of agility exploded in an instant, rushing with all his might towards the gathering place of the Chang Gui.

Chu Danqing and Guo Ming didn't dare to linger and quickly left.

It would take the Zhanji Tiger some time to get out, and they couldn't stay long.

On the other side, Chu Danqing, holding the human skin, asked, "Speak, what's going on?"

Zen Master Yinke's human skin fluttered in his hand, but remained silent.

"I know you're alive. If you don't speak, I'll burn you first," Chu Danqing threatened.

The data provided by the Appraisal Technique was Zen Master Yinke, not a Chang Gui, which meant that the real Abbot, although only a human skin remained, was still alive.

Otherwise, the name given would have been Chang Gui.

"Why must benefactor be so aggressive? I only wish to survive," a helpless voice came from the skin.

"Tell me, what's under the dry well? Why is the Zhanji Tiger so panicked?" Chu Danqing cut to the chase.

The Zhanji Tiger definitely wasn't afraid that Chu Danqing had really fallen to the bottom of the well, depriving it of a meal. There must be some other secret at the bottom of this well.

"I didn't expect benefactor to already know this is a Zhanji Tiger," the skin responded, then said, "Each time the Zhanji Tiger eats a person, it throws their skull into the well."

"It seems to be feeding a ferocious creature."

Chu Danqing's face darkened, "This is your temple. You've been worn by the Zhanji Tiger more than once or twice. How could you not know what's down there?"

He didn't believe that this Zen Master Yinke was a good person. He must have been an accomplice to the tiger's evil deeds.

In fact, Chu Danqing already had a vague guess. He suspected it was the Middle Corpse Stumbler.

But then he thought again, the Middle Corpse Stumbler should be on the Zhanji Tiger.

That's why he was puzzled about what exactly was at the bottom of the well that could make the Zhanji Tiger so flustered.

"I don't know. Benefactor might as well take a look for yourself," Zen Master Yinke said, looking like he wouldn't give an inch.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing could only roll it up, take out a bundle of thick hemp rope from his Storage Space, tie it into a cylindrical shape, and fasten it around his waist.

With this attitude, it was clear he knew why, but wouldn't say it.

So, he still had value.

Chu Danqing's methods were rough, and this action made Zen Master Yinke scream, shouting for him to be gentle.

A constitution of 1 was really low. Chu Danqing's actions had scraped the skin of Zen Master Yinke.

"He practiced evil arts in life, and that's why he became a painted skin after death," Guo Ming sneered, then said, "First, coat it with a layer of lard, then roast it an inch above a candle."

"Add cold water to wet it, and you'll make this painted skin ghost wish it were dead!"

Guo Ming's words made Zen Master Yinke stop shouting, clearly, this method really had an effect on it.

"Coincidentally, I have candles, lard, and clean water," Chu Danqing said, taking out the corresponding items from his Storage Space at the same time.

He looked like he was planning to try the method immediately.

"Wait!" Zen Master Yinke was truly afraid, "The thing at the bottom of the well is indeed related to my temple."

"It's not difficult for me to tell you, but you must first kill this Zhanji Tiger to avenge my South Mountain Temple."

Upon hearing this, Chu Danqing didn't refuse, "It's a deal."

After saying that, he put the things away.

"Before that, tell me about the Zhanji Tiger's weaknesses." Chu Danqing could wait to learn the truth at the bottom of the well.

Killing the Zhanji Tiger was the priority now.

Without the Zhanji Tiger's threat, Guo Ming had plenty of methods to make Zen Master Yinke talk, given his knowledge.

"A strange creature resides in the tiger's mouth, transformed from one of the Three Corpses of the human body, called the Middle Corpse Stumbler."

"Only by eliminating it first can you kill the Zhanji Tiger."

"Secondly, its left hind leg. The Zhanji Tiger was caught in a hunter's trap before it became a demon, and it has been crippled ever since," Zen Master Yinke hurriedly said.

Upon hearing the words "Three Corpses," Guo Ming's face showed surprise, as if he hadn't expected to encounter the Three Corpses here.

From his expression, it was clear that he knew the origin of the Three Corpses.

"I already knew that. Tell me something I don't know. It's nothing more than the Way of Peace plotting in the dark," Chu Danqing said, not intending to hide anything.

Zen Master Yinke then suggested killing the Chang Gui first, but Chu Danqing punched him to shut him up before he could finish.

"The Zhanji Tiger is the Middle Corpse Stumbler transformed by the method of severing the Three Corpses from the human scroll in the Book of Great Peace. I happen to know a weakness."

"My father once had ties with someone from the Way of Peace and learned a mantra used for severing the Three Corpses, which can disturb the Three Corpses."

"This mantra isn't difficult, only forty characters. I'll gladly pass it on to Brother Chu," Guo Ming said.

Chu Danqing was astonished. What was Guo Ming's background? How did he even know this?

He wasn't worried about Guo Ming being strange, though.

He had gone to great lengths to injure himself, sacrificing his servants and even faking unconsciousness in the snow. What was his motive?

If he was really injured, wouldn't it be suicide for him to not run and instead go kill the Zhanji Tiger with someone he didn't know?

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony then," Chu Danqing said, accepting directly without declining.