The Brocade Handkerchief
"My disciple, a dying man's words are often kind. You are my only disciple, Li Ruihai."
"Everything I've done is for your own good." The old Daoist's eyes were full of kindness.
"My fatal wound was inflicted by Shen Yidao, an elder of the Diancang Sect."
Although oaths and vows are useless these days, I can still swear a solemn oath to you.
If you have the chance, avenge your master. I'll give you one of my master's treasured century-old True Gathering Pill.
With this Hundred-Year True Gathering Pill, I think your cultivation will reach the Early-Stage Martial Master in six years...
Tang Tianshu pursed his lips and had no choice but to swear an oath.
Li Ruihai nodded, "My life is nearing its end... The key is whether today's medicinal bath can heal your injuries."
If I cannot heal my injuries, Master, there is a coffin in the west room that I prepared for myself long ago.
After I die, bury me behind this thatched hut.
"And cover my face with this handkerchief." As he spoke, Li Ruihai laboriously took out a handkerchief.
"Understood, Master." Tang Tianshu looked at the brocade handkerchief in Li Ruihai's hand with a worried expression.
A square, golden-yellow brocade handkerchief.
There were some black lines drawn on it, and Li Ruihai never allowed Tang Tianshu to touch this handkerchief.
"After you bury your teacher, you must guard my grave for six years."
Six years later, you will exhume my body and cremate it.
This handkerchief is for you.
"And once you dig me out, you'll also get the method to remove the Gu worms from your body." Li Ruihai smiled. "Disciple, remember this: only your master has the way to remove the Gu worms from your body."
Alternatively, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm could solve this.
During these six years, your cultivation cannot stagnate. Besides continuing to improve your martial arts level, you must also continue practicing the Spirit Gathering Art I taught you...
Of course, remember not to rush things; balance work and rest, and don't overwork yourself—it's not worth it...
Damn it, you're already dead, and you still want to waste six years of my youth...
"Disciple understands. But... but it would be extremely unfilial of me to dig up your grave!" Tang Tianshu kowtowed.
"Master, I forgive your filial impiety, as long as you bury me, cremate me, and don't leave my body to rot in the wilderness..."
"Master, don't say discouraging things. Aren't you going to have a medicinal bath soon?"
"I believe this medicinal bath will definitely help Master recover." Tang Tianshu comforted him.
"This medicinal bath is also a folk remedy that I obtained. The method is somewhat dangerous, and this is the first time I've tried it. The recipe is written in ancient characters..."
I know you don't know the ancients, so I've standardized the names of some herbs in modern Chinese characters.
You can take the herbs from the pharmacy and throw them into the fire.
Remember, the fire must not be allowed to go out.
"After I take a medicinal bath overnight, I'll recover about 70-80%."
The so-called medicine involved Li Ruihai sitting inside a bronze cauldron filled with water up to his waist, which was then heated with fire.
In addition to charcoal, many special herbs were added to the materials used to heat the bronze cauldron.
Li Ruihai waved his hand, telling Tang Tianshu to go dig the grave...
Having buried his master, Tang Tianshu had no choice but to dutifully guard his grave...
Seven days later, he went to pay his respects again, set out incense and candles, burned paper money, and Tang Tianshu silently knelt before the tombstone.
"Hey, I have to stay here guarding this grave for six more years..."
"What if, six years later, I dig up my master's corpse and don't find a way to remove this Gu worm? Wouldn't I be doomed immediately..." Tang Tianshu murmured to himself.
"That's not right... This old Daoist told me to dig him up and cremate him in six years, and then I would know how to find out the Gu worm inside my body."
But he's dead, how can he tell me this? And he still tells me that for the next six years I must both study hard and take care of my health.
This usually stingy old Daoist priest actually gave me a Hundred-Year True Gathering Pill, allowing me to reach the Early-Stage Martial Master cultivation in six years...
Could it be... that six years later, this old Daoist priest will be resurrected and possess me at will?
To possess me, my cultivation level must reach the Early-Stage Martial Master?...
Five years ago, I took the [Aperture-Opening Pill] given to me by Mystic Spoon Immortal Venerable, which allowed me to cultivate immortality, on the condition that I might be possessed by Mystic Spoon Immortal Venerable in the future...
Recalling the greedy look in the old Daoist's eyes as he lay dying, Tang Tianshu felt increasingly terrified.
"You old geezer, I don't believe you for a second! Anyway, the seventh day after his death is over..."
I'll find the cure for this poisonous insect myself..."
Tang Tianshu cursed angrily, quickly returned to the thatched hut, hastily packed his belongings, and ran down the mountain...
After running a few steps, Tang Tianshu turned back.
Although the old Daoist priest had robbed him, poisoned him with Gu worms, and was also harsh and mean to him,
But after all, he did hold the title of master and provided me with food and drink for five years.
My father Tang Yuan, once said: Everything has its consequences.
Tang Tianshu felt he should repay this kindness, so he came to fulfill his obligation and promised to cremate the body.
What goes around comes around... Let's cremate him...
Tang Tianshu found a shovel and dug up Li Ruihai's grave.
After offering one last prayer, Tang Tianshu opened the coffin.
He put the corpse in himself. He had participated in many rituals involving the dead with the old Daoist priest in the past, so Tang Tianshu was not afraid of the dead.
Looking at the talismans placed in the coffin, many of them were related to rebirth in the afterlife.
Tang Tianshu increasingly felt that six years later, the old Daoist priest might really possess his body.
"Master, you said it yourself."
You're the one who made me dig up your grave and cremate you... only six years earlier.
You taught me to be humble. A wise person does not stand under a crumbling wall.
I feel it would be dangerous for me to continue guarding your grave...
"So..." Tang Tianshu muttered to himself, fetching kerosene for lighting lamps and incense for the ritual, and began to cremate Li Ruihai's body.
Watching the raging flames, Tang Tianshu sat cross-legged and began chanting the Rebirth Sutra...
After reciting the Rebirth Sutra countless times, Tang Tianshu saw the flames gradually die down and sighed softly.
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.
Even if your cultivation is high, you are nothing but a handful of ashes..." He took an iron shovel and began to cover the grave.
Tang Tianshu frowned as the first handful of sand was thrown into the grave.
Because he clearly discovered that a piece of golden brocade inside had not been burned.
Using a wooden stick, Tang Tianshu picked out the brocade cloth and examined it carefully with a frown.
This golden, square-shaped brocade cloth was clearly the handkerchief that the old Daoist priest had always cherished.
Looking at the winding, maze-like lines on the handkerchief, Tang Tianshu frowned, thinking: This handkerchief was promised to him by the old Daoist priest.
Tucked the handkerchief into his robes, Tang Tianshu continued burying the grave...
Tang Tianshu walked along the mountain path, his mind heavy with thoughts...
By cremating the old Daoist priest six years early, he was no longer able to obtain a way to remove the Gu worms from his body.
Six years later, he knew he would surely die.
The old Daoist priest said that only he or Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator knew how to remove the Gu worm.
"In this vast sea of people, where can I find this cultivator...?"
"Could it be that I'm heading south now, back to my home in Dangwu Village on the Purple Mother Continent?" Tang Tianshu frowned.
Tang Tianshu regretted not taking the Aperture-Opening Pill earlier, nor reading the Cultivation Method his older brother and sister practiced.
If I were to return to Dangwu Village now, I'd just be a burden, a useless person who needs my older sister and brother to take care of and protect me...
Tang Tiansong suddenly remembered: Old Daoist Li Ruihai had said that the treasure he wanted to steal from the Diancang Sect seemed to be related to this cultivator.
If we can obtain this treasure, we might be able to find the path to immortality.
Looking south, Tang Tiansong bowed respectfully, steeled his resolve, and swiftly headed towards Mount Diancang...