Chapter 73 - Sacred Mountain in Myanmar (Part XXVII)

Chen Shaoxian habitually searched his shirt pocket for cigarettes. When he reached in, he found something sticky. Pulling his hand out, he fished out a handful of soaked tobacco, frowned at it, and tossed it into the water.

He shone his flashlight on the road, noticing how smoothly it had been repaired. This path skirted around the whirlpool and led deep into the area. Chen Shaoxian couldn’t help but admire the ancient builders who created all this. He could tell that the road was carved along the mountainside-no small feat, as constructing such a road was akin to scaling the sky.

Feeling rested enough, Chen Shaoxian stood up to check on Xiao Zhuang. Seeing that Xiao Zhuang was fine, he felt much more relieved.

Elena, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes, which delighted Thomas. He rushed over, offering her water and food.

Chen Shaoxian was also very pleased, as traveling with two unconscious people was quite inconvenient. Elena waking up eased the burden significantly and boosted everyone’s spirits.

Song Yumu removed the bamboo from the bamboo raft, thanks in large part to Yang Xiao’ang, who prevented the raft from being swept away by the current.

Song Yumu split the bamboo raft in half, found three shirts, and threaded the sleeves through the split bamboo to make a makeshift stretcher. The group carefully moved Xiao Zhuang onto the stretcher.

They took stock of their belongings and checked their weapons and equipment. Fortunately, after Nie Wei and the others were subdued by the Inu Oni, some weapons remained on them. Otherwise, they really would have been out of resources.

The remaining weapons were redistributed, and each person had a pitifully small amount of ammunition.

Chen Shaoxian scratched his head and dismantled all the bamboo from the raft, splitting each piece into four parts. He then sharpened one end and wrapped the other end with cloth. Everyone received a bamboo spear, and the extras were placed in the empty spaces on Xiao Zhuang’s stretcher since they could be used as ranged weapons and even for starting a fire once dried and oiled.

After completing all the preparations, the group continued along the path.

They quickly reached the edge of the whirlpool, which roared loudly while a whizzing sound was made by the air being sucked in.

Gazing into the seemingly bottomless whirlpool, the group marveled at nature’s breathtaking craftsmanship. Chen Shaoxian, awestruck, quipped, “It’s like a giant washing machine.”

His comment lightened the mood, and even Elena, who had been somber over Howard’s situation, couldn’t help but laugh, brightening her spirits somewhat.

After pausing for a moment, the group turned to leave, and the cavern again felt expansive. As they reached a spot where the sound of water was no longer audible, mounds appeared before Chen Shaoxian and the others. These small mounds, barely over a meter high, were likely graves.

However, these were not ordinary graves. Thomas exclaimed upon seeing them, “Oh my God, there are so many, all single round platforms!” He moved to examine these skyward graves closer but felt immobilized. Turning around, he realized Chen Shaoxian was holding the back of his collar. Thomas pleaded, “Don’t throw me over there, I won’t go.”

Chen Shaoxian released him and cautioned the others, “Everyone be careful and remember, do not look back, no matter what you hear. And respect this place; these are the ancestors of Xiao Zhuang.” He directed the last remark specifically at Thomas.

Thomas nodded meekly and rejoined the group.

With great caution, they walked along a narrow path through the middle of the graves. Some of the graves, due to their age, had collapsed, even exposing the urns that held the ashes.

At each such grave, Chen Shaoxian would bow and utter something inaudible to the others.

The number of graves was uncountable, stretching as far as the eye could see, one after another. The group moved silently among them, feeling a chill in the air, hardly daring to breathe.

Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed from beside them. All flashlights turned in that direction, but there was nothing there.

Chen Shaoxian called out towards the source of the noise, “Howard, come out, I know it’s you.”

Hearing this, Elena gasped, covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face. Thomas, too, teary-eyed, looked on.

But there was no response. Before Chen Shaoxian could speak again, Elena cried out through her tears, “Older brother, please come out. Let’s go home together. Father and Mother are waiting for us.” She then collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

“George, come back, I’ll take you home,” Thomas said, choking up.

Chen Shaoxian turned to look at Thomas and Elena, surprised by the concern the three of them showed.

At that moment, a sobbing sound came from behind a grave, followed by Howard’s voice, which sounded muffled: “I am no longer the Howard I used to be; I just want to see you all get out safely.”

Howard’s words reminded Thomas of the Walking Dead Chen Shaoxian had spoken of.

Thomas hurried to Chen Shaoxian, knelt down with a thud, and pleaded, “Chen Shaoxian, please, I beg you, for the sake of Howard helping us escape, save him.” He then repeatedly kowtowed with a thumping sound.

“Uncle, don’t do this, perhaps only God can save me now,” Howard’s voice came again from behind the grave.

Chen Shaoxian helped Thomas up and pulled out a relatively clean towel, pressing it against Thomas’s bloodied forehead, and said, “I really can’t do anything.”

“No,” Elena shouted loudly, “Howard, please let me see you.” She then fainted again.

“Elena,” Howard swiftly stood up.

Seeing Howard’s appearance, Thomas agonized, clutching his hair and screaming in torment.

Seeing Thomas in hysterics, Chen Shaoxian quickly embraced him, then pulled out a small green bottle and administered a few drops to Thomas.

Thomas felt a refreshing fragrance that traveled from his mouth to his mind, which sobered him up a bit. He then retched a few times, spitting out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.

A more lucid Thomas looked at Howard and said, “Oh God, punish me instead, let me take George’s place.” He then knelt down again and prayed to the heavens.

As he looked at the unconscious Elena and the nearly mad Thomas, Chen Shaoxian sighed, then turned to Howard and said with difficulty, “I can’t save him, but I can give him peace, free from suffering.”