Chapter 298 - Light Miao Shuiyun Village

Xue Qiming tried to stir up some conversation as they took the main route out of the city. "Did your Miao family split up or something?" he asked.

The two were seated on a newly purchased ox cart. Xue Qiming drove and Xue Niang held a stick of tanghulu in her hand. After Xue Qiming posed his question, Xue Niang replied, "We've never been one family. The Light Miao and Dark Miao are always fighting."

Xue Qiming raised an eyebrow. "Really? Tell me more."

Xue Niang rolled her eyes. "How would I know why? They just keep fighting and fighting. No one's ever mentioned the reason. All I know is that the Dark Miao value martial strength, and the Light Miao are skilled in gu techniques.[1] The Dark Miao have always been the combative side..."

Xue Qiming rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Haven’t the Miao people rebelled several times before?"

"That’s all the Dark Miao," Xue Niang replied, "Our side follows ancestral rules that forbid such things."

Xue Qiming nodded, neither agreeing or disagreeing. After a pause, he asked, "You said the Light Miao are skilled in raising gu... I’ve only heard about it, but I've never seen it. Stories say that gu can control people's minds and kill without being seen. Are they really that magical?"

Xue Niang continued licking her candy and shook her head, "I don't know."

"You don’t know?" Xue Qiming raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you one of the Light Miao? How could you not know?"

Xue Niang pursed her lips, looked up at Xue Qiming, and stayed silent for long enough to make him feel uncomfortable. She finally said, "Our ancestral rules say gu techniques are only passed down to women."

Xue Qiming started. "Aren’t you a wo—"

"I was supposed to learn from the clan's gu master," Xue Niang continued, "but my parents took me away from Miaojiang before that could happen. My mother was from outside of our clan, so she didn't know any gu techniques.

"My grandfather was the clan leader, and thought my father had broken the ancestral rules by marrying an outsider and brought disgrace to the family. My father got angry and fell out with my grandfather.

"My dad just took me and my mother and left."

"And then?" Xue Qiming asked instinctively, regretting it as soon as the words left his mouth.

As he expected, Xue Niang glanced over flatly. "And then? Then my father and mother were killed by you, Master."

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Xue Qiming stammered weakly, "I-I... only went after your father. Your mother... that was... that was..."

Xue Niang turned her head away, ignoring him.

Xue Qiming rubbed the bridge of his nose, his expression awkward. He took out the order he had accepted and looked at it.

"Class A Superior... The Northern Commander-in-Chief of the Miao Rebel Forces, Bahu, with a bounty of five thousand gold taels..." Xue Qiming murmured to himself, "Wanted dead or alive."

***

Miaojiang, Light Miao Shuiyun Village.

WithIn the village chief's residence, a white-bearded old man with broad shoulders sat cross-legged on the bed. The chieftain seemed especially frail as he dozed off.

Knock, knock, knock—

The village chief opened his eyes and asked in a raspy voice, "Who’s outside?"

"Grandfather, it’s me, Gebao," someone said from outside the door.

A trace of hope flashed in the village chief's eyes as he said, "Come in."

The bamboo door swung open, and a sturdy middle-aged man stepped inside. He stopped in front of the elder’s bed with a heavy expression and nodded. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke in a solemn tone, "Grandfather, I am back."

"My son... Chunfu..." The village chief's heart tightened, and his lips trembled. "Is there any news about him?"

Lan Gebao gritted his teeth and gave a slow nod as if his head weighed a hundred jin.

The village chief's sense of unease deepened. He stared at Gebao for a long time before he asked, faltering, "Something happened...?"

Lan Gebao hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded again.

The chief closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. After a long pause, he waved his hand weakly. "Just tell me. I can take it."

"Uncle Chunfu... he..." Gebao clenched his fists, watching the elder's expression. "Uncle Chunfu and Aunt... are dead."

The old man swayed unsteadily and his fists clenched and unclenched on his knees. He exhaled and said, "Where did they die? How did it happen?"

Gebao wiped the sweat from his palms on his robes. "Fengxiang Prefecture, Shaanxi... it happened before the New Year last year. Their house was a burnt ruin when I got there. Later, I investigated... and found out the Ghostbane Association was responsible."

"Ghostbane Association..." The village opened his eyes, revealing a flash of ferocity. "Who commissioned the contract?"

Sweat dripped from Gebao's forehead as he hesitated. "About that... the Ghostbane Association is tightly run. I couldn't find out, but..."

The chief glanced at him sideways. "But what?"

Gebao took a deep breath. "I found out that Uncle and Aunt were killed not long after Ba Duyan came to discuss starting a rebellion with you. I remember that you refused him..." As he spoke, Gebao stole a glance at the elder’s expression and continued cautiously, "So I think... could it be that Ba Duyan bore a grudge and hired the Ghostbane Association to... get rid of Uncle and his family?"

Bang!

The old man overturned the low table on the bed, sending it crashing to the ground. "That bastard Ba Duyan! He’s gone too far!!!"

Gebao gritted his teeth and entreated the chief, "Grandfather! Let me kill Ba Duyan! I’ll avenge Uncle and Aunt!"

"Just you?" the elder rebuked. "You don’t know your limits! Ba Duyan has united almost ninety percent of the Dark Miao villages. By yourself, you would be dead before you reached their village! Courage is good, but a true Miao warrior needs wisdom as well."

"I'm not afraid of death!"

"Silence!" The elder slammed the bed heavily. "A few days ago, Ba Duyan came to me again, saying it was the last time he would try to persuade me to join him with the Light Miao. I told him that I would think about it. He’ll surely come back for my answer in a few days. At that time... I’ll show him my blade!"

"Grandfather!" Gebao clenched his fist. "Let me strike the first blow!"

The village chief exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down. He waved his hand in dismissal. "You’ll have your chance... Now go."

Gebao nodded, bowed slightly, and began backing toward the door. As he pushed it open, he turned around abruptly and said, "Grandfather..."

The chief had just closed his eyes. Hearing Gebao call out, he asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

Gebao hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It’s... I can't be sure, but I only found two bodies, there were only two bodies. Uncle and Aunt. It's possible that... my little sister Ling'er might still be alive... but there's a small hope—"

The elder’s eyes shot open. "Ling’er!"

Gebao nodded rapidly and said, "I only found two adult bodies. Ling’er’s whereabouts are unknown... but the Ghostbane Association never leaves loose ends. There’s not much hope..."

"Find her!" The elder’s breathing grew hurried. "Send people to search! If she is alive, I want to see her. If she is dead, I want to see her body!"

1. In folklore, gu(蛊) refers to a type of black magic or poison craft associated with the Miao people and other ethnic groups in southern China. It is said to involve raising venomous creatures like snakes, centipedes, scorpions, toads, and spiders in a sealed container. The creatures are left to fight, and the last survivor is believed to contain concentrated toxic or mystical powers, becoming the "gu." ☜