CHAPTER 198: CHAPTER 119: FUNERAL PROCESSION, WANDERING CLOUD_2

"And Daoist Xu is this?"

"Relocating the coffin to the homeland. Such a loyal and righteous person naturally deserves a peaceful burial."

"Where will the burial take place?"

Xu Qing glanced at Old Huang and replied irritably, "You dug up the corpse, and now you’re asking me!"

"Of course, where it was unearthed, it will be buried back."

Old Huang said excitedly, "Daoist Xu is planning to head to Xijing Mountain?"

Xu Qing beckoned Xuan Yu as he walked, saying, "My Funeral Shop’s main business is funerals, inviting immortals is merely a side job. This trip to Xijing Mountain is mainly for the funeral."

"Inviting the immortals is secondary."

Old Huang probed, "And what about the shepherd and those missing children..."

Xu Qing replied nonchalantly, "The children will be returned by the Immortal Hall, as for the shepherd... didn’t I say before that he needs a funeral?"

Old Huang gaped, "Is it not for the hunter?"

"The hunter hasn’t seen the kidnapped children return home, how could he rest in peace?"

"We’ll deal with his funeral affairs after the children are found."

Xu Qing filled the food bowl of the Golden Simurgh with glutinous rice and threw in a few red dates. After these preparations, he closed the shop and went outside the city with Xuan Yu.

Old Huang had already gone ahead to Xijing Mountain to search for the shepherd’s traces. Seeing no one around, Xu Qing released the Five-Colored Steed from the Box Garden.

Xuan Yu saw the tall horse for the first time and exclaimed in surprise.

"Xu Qing, what kind of horse is this? Why is it... so..." The horse was majestic, leaving the cat at a loss for words.

"This horse is refined from the people’s fat and wealth. Though it looks golden and jade-like outwardly, inside, it’s merely a mass of white bone and clay."

Xu Qing took out his top-grade Wolf Hair Brush and drew several Armor Horse Talismans, sticking them on the four legs of the Five-Colored Steed.

Even the lowest grade Armor Horse Talisman can increase leg strength by two hundred li, and with four, it’s eight hundred li.

Xu Qing’s mountain-driving technique is top-notch, and the Armor Horse Talismans he engraves are extraordinary.

He pasted the four talismans inscribed with "White Clouds Rising" on the horse legs, drew two Flying Talismans, and stepping on the character "Kui Gang", he formed seals with his left hand while chanting with his right. He inhaled one breath of yin energy and recited the Crane Feather Cloud Riding Spell seven times, causing the Flying Talismans to rise without wind, transforming into a cloud of blue qi surrounding the horse’s hooves.

After ensuring everything was in place, Xu Qing looked around before donning his treasured phoenix crown and wedding robe.

The hunter suffered a fiery death, and Xu Qing saw the scene of the shepherd blowing flame winds in the hunter’s vision. The phoenix crown and wedding robe, being impervious to water and fire, and resistant to blades and spears, was perfect attire for venturing into the forest and negotiating with the Yin Sect Members skilled in fire techniques.

Besides wearing the wedding robe obtained from the Ghost King Mausoleum, Xu Qing also took out two hundred Fireproof Talismans he made earlier, tucking them into his wide sleeves closely.

Xuan Yu stared at Xu Qing, stunned by his transformation from white shirt to bright red wedding robe.

"Daoist Xu looks so beautiful."

"..."

Xu Qing kept an impassive face, his complexion unchanged. If he weren’t a zombie, his face probably would have flushed to the ears by now!

After all, which proper male zombie would wear a red wedding robe meant for female ghosts?

Ignoring Xuan Yu’s praise, he mounted the horse and gestured to the lovesick cat on the ground.

Xuan Yu crouched low, wagging its rear slightly, and with a precise leap, it landed on the horse’s back.

"Hold tight!"

Donning the wedding robe made Xu Qing look more stern and rigid than usual. He tightened the reins, and the Five-Colored Steed immediately galloped three feet above the ground.

Despite the wet soil in the mountain forest after the rain, there were no hoof prints along the path the horse traveled.

Scenes flitted past rapidly, and the five-colored horse paired with the Armor Horse Talisman could travel thousands of li in a day.

The red robe embroidered with cloud patterns, flowers, birds, and dragons fluttered in the wind, and the phoenix crown tassels jingled as Xu Qing galloped along, while Xuan Yu gleefully wished the horse would go even faster.

Fifty li from Linhe District, Old Huang heard the sound of thunder breaking through the wind. He instinctively looked to see a colorful shadow speeding by.

It was like a flash of lightning.

Old Huang rubbed his small eyes and reopened them, he found the mountain forest path returned to calmness as if the sight earlier was an illusion.

The Five-Colored Steed traversed the forest path often traveled by Liu Youdao during his corpse-driving times, taking a shortcut to Xijing Mountain.

Xu Qing noticed Xuan Yu’s wide-eyed expression throughout the journey, contemplating.

Xuan Yu had previously mentioned disliking the outside world because it was too dangerous. But seeing its happy expression now, Xu Qing realized it doesn’t dislike the outside world itself.

"Xuan Yu must work hard at cultivation. Someday, perhaps it won’t need companions, and it can travel freely, visiting the North Sea by day and Cangwu by night."

"North Sea?"

"It’s a far and beautiful place."

"Is Cangwu beautiful too?"

Xu Qing shook his head, "I don’t know because I haven’t truly been there. Books say it’s like a fairyland."

"Hmm..." The coal-black cat’s eyes sparkled brightly, "Then Daoist Xu must work hard too, then we can journey to the fairylands together."

Xu Qing smiled faintly, without replying.

...

The horse swiftly traversed familiar wild forests before ascending mountains.

At Chaotic Stone Mountain, Xu Qing placed his fingers to his lips and whistled toward the distant mountain mist.

Soon, seven or eight black crows scattered the fog and flew over.

Seeing the leading crow, Xu Qing smiled.

His luck wasn’t bad, these crows with spiritual essence were still in their nest, not flown far.

The crow leader eyed Xu Qing curiously.

The phoenix crown and wedding robe were luxurious, yet the wearer wasn’t a woman.

The Five-Colored Steed was full of color, strikingly majestic.

And atop the horse sat a black-furred, strikingly beautiful cat.

What kind of combination was this?

The crow, astonished, didn’t dare come too close. Suspended mid-air, it fluttered its black feathers, asking:

"Who are you to know our bird language?"

With mountain winds blowing, Xu Qing’s robe billowed. He smiled, clasping hands in greeting, "I’m the sect leader of Linhe District’s Cat Immortal Hall, this is the cat immortal of the hall. As for how I know to call crows..."

Xu Qing, claiming to be a friend of the hunter, said he was trusted by Old Huang to handle the missing children in the village.

The crow wondered, "Cat Immortal Hall? That’s a new one... However, the shepherd is quite formidable, even skilled individuals couldn’t defeat him. Are you sure there’s confidence?"

Xuan Yu spoke, jumping down from the horse, first running then slowing its pace as it reached Xu Qing’s side.

Casually sitting on exposed mountain rocks, Xuan Yu’s tail naturally coiled in front, covering its coal-black paws.

Xu Qing nodded and smiled, confirming, "Just as Profound Jade Immortals said, but we still need your help locating the shepherd and his flock."

Although Xu Qing could use Purple Star Astrology to estimate someone’s whereabouts like southeastern water lands or northern high places, the Shoe Throwing Inquiry Technique also served for searching.

Yet these methods were cumbersome.

The shepherd roamed the forest constantly. Waiting to find him through those methods could mean many people turning into lambs.

The crow, hearing Xu Qing, didn’t hesitate.

"Please follow me, Daoists."

With a burst of crow cries, the crow flock flew northeast.

Xu Qing mounted, following closely with Xuan Yu.

After a while, crossing several mountains, Xu Qing heard the gurgling stream.

Amidst the water sounds were mountain goat calls.

Xu Qing’s heart stirred. The old shepherd used fire techniques, while he excelled in water control. With the flock drinking stream water, it was the perfect time to strike.

Storing the Five-Colored Steed back in the Box Garden, Xu Qing walked on the moist grassy shores.

The grazed grass had no sheep chew marks, only chaotic hoof prints and no sheep droppings.

Following behind carefully, Xuan Yu avoided the wet grass, pausing briefly between steps.

Not far away, an old man smoking a clay pipe by the stream turned to look.

Seeing a white-faced youth in wedding robes with a black cat approaching, he was visibly stunned.