Chapter 21 - Battling the Nightmare

“Hey, Shaoxian, there’s something in here,” Xiao Zhuang said, tapping Chen Shaoxian on the shoulder.

Chen Shaoxian and Liu Baodong had been focusing all their attention on the yin script above the shrine. Prompted by Xiao Zhuang’s remark, they peered inside the model and indeed saw a lamp.

This lamp was carried by a copper bixi, which glowed a purplish-red under the flashlight-likely made of bronze. Chen Shaoxian suddenly remembered something and quickly turned around to look; just as he had thought, there was a lamp at regular intervals along the wall, and these lamps were lit. It wasn’t due to any carelessness on their part, but rather because the lamps were barely noticeable under the light of the flashlight. If one didn’t look closely, it was hard to tell they were lit because the flame was actually black.

Chen Shaoxian swallowed and whispered, “Gentlemen, we have both feet in the Yincao Underworld now.”

Seeing their puzzled looks, he pointed at the lamps and said, “Black as pitch, these damn things are guiding lights of the Yincao. If my calculations are correct, there should be forty-nine lamps in this circle, plus the one inside makes fifty. The great number fifty, use forty-nine and spare one, these forty-nine representing the yin numbers of the great number, and the remaining one is the ultimate yin number. Whether we can get out safely now depends on it.”

The three turned back, and Chen Shaoxian opened the model’s door, taking out the lamp and the copper bixi. He examined it carefully and said, “The original form of the Bagua Pattern Bixi built on this mound must be this thing. This model is a ceremonial mound, and that well is the soul mound; what we are looking for must be in the well.”

Chen Shaoxian tucked the copper bixi into his chest and the trio cautiously exited the great hall, heading towards the well in the courtyard.

Before they reached the well, Chen Shaoxian noticed two weapons lying near the edge of the well. He walked over and picked them up; they were the command sword and the evil-slaying blade that he and Xiao Zhuang had used on the evil spirits, and they looked to be ruined.

Upon reaching the well, they saw that it was covered with a net woven from red string, though it was already badly damaged.

Chen Shaoxian whispered, “Get your weapons.” After clipping the flashlight to his belt, he drew the evil-slaying blade and handed one to Xiao Zhuang. Holding the blade in one hand and the flashlight in the other, the three of them gathered at the edge of the well, peering down into it with the beam of light.

The well was deep, and under the flashlight’s beam, they could see their reflections shimmering back at them. An oily, animalistic stench emanated from the liquid inside.

Chen Shaoxian placed the evil-slaying blade at the well’s edge, took a bundle of ink line from his pocket, and rewove a net over the mouth of the well. He removed the talisman from his chest, unfolded it, and stuck it above the net. He then pulled out a paper packet containing incense ash and glutinous rice. He instructed Liu Baodong to be ready to throw a nectar glass into the well if something emerged.

Having said that, Chen Shaoxian scattered the contents of the packet into the well.

As soon as he did, small bubbles began to form, much like baking soda fizzing in vinegar. Soon, the oily surface started emitting blue smoke that was quite choking, and then the surface began to churn violently. The bubbling oil slapped against the well walls with loud pops. Liu Baodong was about to throw the nectar glass into the well, but Chen Shaoxian stopped him. He whispered, “Wait a bit longer,” and continued to watch the changes in the well intently.

The oil level had risen significantly and continued to churn.

Suddenly, a dark orange giant human head emerged from the well, like a ball of fire. The oil it touched sizzled as it burned, and the filth it brought up turned into blue smoke instantly. The head, rising from the oily surface, did not rush upwards but seemed to stare back at those peering into the well.

Inside the head, countless worm-like things wriggled incessantly, even the facial features moved as if alive, occasionally belching a puff of dark blue flames that made the nearby oil sizzle.

Chen Shaoxian knew they could wait no longer. He surreptitiously tugged at Liu Baodong, signaling with his hand-one, two, three.

As Chen Shaoxian’s hand showed three, Liu Baodong, through a gap in the net, hurled the nectar glass into the well. The moment Liu Baodong threw the nectar glass, Chen Shaoxian pulled him and Xiao Zhuang back swiftly as a dull roar echoed from within the well (woo-ong).

The three retreated further back, and Chen Shaoxian, pointing at the well with the evil-slaying blade, said, “The thing inside is a nightmare. Everyone, be careful.”

The nightmare was drenched in nectar water and billowed black smoke as it roared toward the well’s mouth. It violently collided with the ink line net at the well’s edge, which bulged upwards and immediately snapped back, sending the nightmare hurtling back into the well. A loud thud echoed from within, followed by a sizzling and crackling noise.

Chen Shaoxian watched as the nightmare repeatedly slammed into the ink line net. On the fifth impact, it finally broke through. The ink line net, sticking to the nightmare, ignited into flames. The ink lines seemed to scorch the nightmare, which ceaselessly howled and thrashed about in the air. In an instant, the nightmare used its own flames to burn the ink line net completely away, and then it suddenly froze in place.

Chen Shaoxian knew that the talisman paper was taking effect and hurriedly signaled for two people to ready their weapons against the suspended nightmare.

As the three approached, Chen Shaoxian could see that beneath the nightmare’s skin were numerous dark red little heads, writhing intensely within its body.

Chen Shaoxian instructed Liu Baodong to smash a nectar glass onto the nightmare. As the glass shattered, the water splashed onto the nightmare, causing its body to solidify instantly like magma meeting water. The red little heads inside the nightmare continuously moved towards the solidifying area, melting it with the flames they spewed.

Chen Shaoxian swung the evil-slaying blade fiercely at the solidified areas, while the other two, without needing a reminder, swung their arms wildly, chopping away. As the solidified sections continuously fell off, the nightmare’s body shrank.

While chopping, Chen Shaoxian kept an eye on the talisman paper stuck to the nightmare. Seeing the curse on it gradually fading, he quickly asked for the talisman paper on Liu Baodong’s body and stuck it onto the nightmare with the evil-slaying blade, just as the curse on the first talisman paper completely vanished, turning into black ash.

Finding no more places on the nightmare’s body to strike, Chen Shaoxian stuffed the last nectar glass inside the nightmare and smashed it with the blade.

This strike hit the mark, solidifying one-fifth of the nightmare’s body.

Chen Shaoxian found a good angle and exerted all his strength in a mighty chop. With a squelch, the blade sliced off a large chunk, also pulling out many of the red little heads inside the nightmare. These creatures squealed on the blade, crawling towards Chen Shaoxian along the blade’s edge.

Chen Shaoxian quickly plunged the evil-slaying blade back into the nightmare’s body, and drew out the last evil-slaying blade from behind Liu Baodong. Meanwhile, the oil inside the well churned again, and Chen Shaoxian shouted, “Run!”

The three quickly scaled the courtyard wall and dashed towards the cave entrance. They had only run a few steps when a loud boom sounded behind them, followed by a blast of red light as oil ignited from the well, spraying out. Two roars echoed from the courtyard, quickly followed by the sound of something crashing. The trio ignored the noise behind them and, using the light to guide them, frantically raced towards the entrance where the magic rope dangled from the cave’s bottom.

The roaring behind them ceased, and as the crashing sounds continued, the courtyard wall collapsed with a thunderous crash, and a giant black skull, engulfed in flames, charged towards them. Chen Shaoxian yelled, “This damn thing is the real deal!”

In an instant, the giant nightmare reached them. Without hesitation, Chen Shaoxian bit his tongue, spraying a mouthful of blood on the evil-slaying blade, which suddenly emitted a gray light. He swung it at the giant nightmare, which recoiled with a buzz, spewing a flame-like red fluid from its body, which fell to the ground and ignited. Chen Shaoxian shouted to the others, “Don’t let that stuff splash on you.”

Liu Baodong and Xiao Zhuang also fought desperately. Like Chen, Liu Baodong bit his tongue and sprayed blood on his blade before striking.

Knowing his efforts would be futile even if he bit off his tongue, Xiao Zhuang instead tossed aside his flashlight, pulled out the command sword from his leg wrap, and, holding a sword in one hand and the blade in the other, charged forward alongside the others to battle the giant nightmare.

With every slash from Chen Shaoxian and Liu Baodong, the gray hue on their blades faded. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhuang’s blade was quickly rendered useless. Realizing only Chen Shaoxian and Liu Baodong posed a threat, the giant nightmare ignored Xiao Zhuang and continued to charge and ram the other two.

Seeing the giant nightmare’s focus was on him and Liu Baodong, Chen Shaoxian shouted to Xiao Zhuang, “Xiao Zhuang, thread your Talisman onto the command sword and stab it into this beast!” After shouting, he viciously attacked the nightmare again to create an opportunity for Xiao Zhuang.

Seizing what might be their last chance, Xiao Zhuang moved behind the giant nightmare, pulled out his Talisman, and mounted it on the command sword. With a forceful thrust, he stabbed it into the nightmare’s body, causing the creature to howl and then fall motionless.

Chen Shaoxian saw his chance to escape and anxiously shouted, “You guys go first, I’ll cover our retreat.” The other two knew this was no time to argue, as every second was precious. Knowing that Xiao Zhuang was agile, Liu Baodong let him go first, handing over everything useful he had to Chen Shaoxian, who then climbed towards the cave entrance using the magic rope.

Chen Shaoxian took the items Liu Baodong stuffed to him and hurled them all at the giant nightmare. Holding the command sword given by Liu Baodong, he suddenly remembered something and, feeling through the leg wrap, he smiled as he reached into his pocket.

From his pocket, Chen Shaoxian pulled out a piece of soul nurturing jade wrapped in wrinkled yellow paper. The soul nurturing jade contained the realm spirit they had sealed while rescuing Liu Iron Mouth. Chen Shaoxian threw the jade into the body of the giant nightmare and, without looking back, climbed the magic rope towards the cave entrance.

Liu Baodong and Xiao Zhuang had already reached the outside and were anxiously looking into the cave. Seeing Chen Shaoxian climbing up the rope, they grasped the magic rope and pulled hard, dragging Chen Shaoxian out of the cave. Just as Chen Shaoxian reached the surface, the giant nightmare below roared, its cries interspersed with a buzzing sound.

Hearing the noise from the cave’s depths, Chen Shaoxian chuckled and said, “Motherfucker, bet the taste of having a parasite isn’t pleasant, huh?” Ignoring the others, he started rummaging through the bags he had brought.

Holding what he was looking for, Chen Shaoxian told the others, “You and Xiao Zhuang go down the mountain and wait for me, I’ll be right there.”

Hearing this, Liu Baodong became frantic, glaring as he yelled, “Stop the bullshit, I know what you’re trying to do. That thing’s nearly divine, no human can handle it, let’s get out of here now.”

Seeing Liu Baodong getting agitated, Chen Shaoxian quickly replied, “Don’t be angry, I’m coming with you.”

Once Liu Baodong saw Chen Shaoxian agree, and fearing he might still be playing tricks, he grabbed Chen Shaoxian without bothering about the items and turned to head down the mountain.

Chen Shaoxian watched as Liu Baodong turned around, then struck him on the back of the neck with a karate chop, knocking him unconscious.

Chen Shaoxian pulled out five pieces of soul nurturing jade and handed them to Xiao Zhuang, urgently saying, “Xiao Zhuang, take Uncle Liu down the mountain. You can ask him how to save him once he wakes up.” Knowing Xiao Zhuang would refuse, he added, “We can’t let that thing get out. We don’t have much time, hurry up.” Without waiting for a response, Chen turned and walked to the entrance of the cave, staring intently at the activity at the bottom.

Xiao Zhuang looked at Chen Shaoxian, his eyes moist, and with a tearful voice said, “Stay alive.” Then he hoisted Liu Baodong onto his back and started down the mountain.

Chen Shaoxian watched Xiao Zhuang descend the mountain and breathed a sigh of relief. He lit the lamp he had brought from the cave, placed the five thunder talisman he had just unearthed beside him, looked up at the sky, and lit a cigarette. Watching the fierce battle between the giant nightmare and the realm spirit in the cave, he chuckled and remarked, “Normally you have to pay to watch a show, but watching you two perform costs a goddamn life.”