Chapter 92: Digging Up a Tomb

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.

In an instant, the entirety of Fufeng Mountain was blanketed in a heavy, nauseating stench.

The northern wind howled as dry heaving sounds echoed one after another. Lu Chao Chao, with practiced ease, pulled out two pieces of cloth. Yuan Man looked at the white cloth in her hands and was utterly speechless.

“Who did this?!”

Angry curses filled the mountain.

“It was those two brats! The ones brought up the mountain today! Find them at once!”

“Those little rascals—urgh—it’s unbearable! This is too much…”

“Blowing up the latrine? What was she thinking?!”

With her hands in her pockets, Lu Chao Chao wore an expression of absolute nonchalance.

At this moment, Fufeng Mountain Stronghold was steeped in foul air. Song Yu, his brows tightly furrowed, asked, “What is going on outside? Why does it reek so terribly?”

He was in the midst of a solemn ritual, holding incense sticks high above his head, devoutly offering prayers.

The Second Boss, covering his nose, replied, “Those two brats who just came up the mountain threw a firestarter into the latrine and blew it up.”

Waving his hand, Song Yu instructed, “Send someone to take care of it. Do not disturb Father’s peace.”

“Today is Father’s death anniversary. No disruptions are allowed,” he said coolly, his voice pausing briefly.

“And do not harm that little girl. Children are mischievous by nature; it’s understandable.” The image of the young girl reminded him of his daughter, who had passed away far too soon.

Perhaps that was also why Madam Dong had abducted her.

The Second Boss quickly agreed and left in a hurry.

Staring at his father’s memorial tablet, Song Yu’s expression grew dark.

Song Mu sighed and said, “Your father mentioned something peculiar before he passed. He said an old blind man had once read his fortune. The man told him that at twenty, he’d become a bandit and carve out his own territory.”

“But luck was not on his side. He’d die at forty.”

“That same blind man also claimed he’d face a calamity at fifty,” Song Mu said, her face clouded with doubt.

“Your father’s death at forty was accurate enough, but what calamity could befall him at fifty when he’s been dead for ten years?” She had often pondered this late into the night but could never unravel the mystery.

[What calamity could haunt the dead?]

Today, the day marking her husband’s fiftieth birthday, the thought suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

Waving his hand dismissively, Song Yu replied, “Just the words of a conman. How could there be a calamity after ten years in the ground? Mother, don’t dwell on it. Take care of your health instead.”

With a sigh, Song Mu asked, “Will you truly not accept the imperial court’s amnesty?”

“If you pledge allegiance, your talents would surely grant you a promising future. Living as bandits for generations is no long-term solution.”

Tired of the constant bloodshed, Song Mu longed for a more peaceful life.

Song Yu’s brows tightened.

“Mother, let us not speak of this again. Years ago, Father turned to banditry, and thanks to Fufeng Mountain, the Song Family survived. It would be dishonorable to abandon them now.”

With a faint smile, he added, “Serving the imperial court as mere cattle and horses cannot compare to ruling as the emperor of Fufeng Mountain.”

Chuckling lightly, Song Yu continued his vigil before his father’s memorial.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao dragged Yuan Man up the mountain’s rear.

The small boy was out of breath, sitting atop a round, grassy mound. Hugging his milk bottle, he took a few sips.

“Man Man, gugu, meat!”

Beside the grassy mound was a small altar, complete with lit incense, candles, paper money, and offerings of chicken and duck. Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled.

She grabbed the roasted chicken and took a hearty bite. It was still warm.

“Hey! Stop eating that! Get down now! This is a grave! The offerings are for the departed!” Yuan Man panicked, hurriedly pulling her down.

“Spit it out! It’s bad luck!”

“Can eat, can eat!” she retorted, nibbling on the drumstick. Eventually, Yuan Man snatched it away and placed it back on the plate.

Surveying their surroundings, his fear grew.

The ominous cawing of crows filled the air, and mounds dotted the area. He shivered at the eerie sight.

“Mushroom, mushroom!” Lu Chao Chao exclaimed with delight, pointing at a cluster of mushrooms sprouting from a grave mound.

But Yuan Man, too scared to humor her, squatted in a corner and began to cry.

“Wuwuwu, I miss my parents… Grandfather, Grandmother, when will you come to save me?” As the cherished only son of his family for ten generations, his name, Yuan Man, reflected the love and expectations of his parents.

“Man Man misses home. Man Man is so scared… Wuwuwu!” He cried himself to sleep beneath a tree.

Tears still clung to his cheeks.

Lu Chao Chao, disgusted, pouted. “Crybaby.”

When no one was watching, she pulled out a small iron shovel from her spatial storage. This exquisite tool, once used for digging spiritual herbs, was deceptively simple in appearance yet strong enough to break through solid rock.

Squatting beside the grave mound, she began digging with determination.

“Heave ho, heave ho, heave ho!”

Focused and tireless, she worked until the lid of a black coffin emerged.

Clusters of mushrooms thrived around the coffin, lush and abundant. Thrilled, Lu Chao Chao plucked them all, standing on tiptoes to reach the highest ones. Once done, her gaze fixed on the coffin lid.

“What’s inside?” Curiosity overcame her caution. [Let’s find out.]

Channeling a trace of spiritual energy into her hands, she pushed the lid open bit by bit.

Peering into the coffin, she saw bones, their surfaces adorned with mushrooms. These hidden delicacies, untouched by sunlight, had grown magnificently.

Elated, she climbed into the coffin and began picking the mushrooms, smashing the bones underfoot in the process.

Before climbing out, she grabbed the skull, tucked it into her arms, and decided to take it with her.

Feeling immensely accomplished, Lu Chao Chao stuffed her clothes with mushrooms until they bulged. Then she woke Yuan Man.

“Man Man gugu! Man Man gugu!”

Rubbing his eyes, still groggy, he saw her covered in dirt and exclaimed, “What happened to you? Did you fall into a pit?”

Grinning, she replied in a sweet voice, “Gugu, mushroom… Go back, go back, make soup!”

Not daring to linger among the graves, Yuan Man quickly followed her.

Back at the stronghold, both children were immediately caught by furious bandits, who dragged them to the main hall by the scruffs of their necks.

The stench still lingered faintly in the air despite the day’s passing, though it was now bearable.

“You little wretch! Look at the trouble you’ve caused!” The Second Boss bellowed, furious and nauseated from the lingering smell.

“Do you want me to whip you?! How can a child be so mischievous?” The Third Boss raised a hand threateningly.

With a slight motion of his hand, Song Yu silenced them all.

He studied Lu Chao Chao, a mere one-year-old girl. Though bedraggled when she arrived, it was clear she had been pampered and cherished.

Now, after just a day, she was covered in dirt, her little hair buns drooping pitifully. It was as though a heavenly little fairy had been dragged through the mud.

Tears welled up in Lu Chao Chao’s eyes as her long lashes trembled gently, her pitiful gaze melting hearts.

“I-I didn’t mean to…” she stammered, her voice quivering with innocence.

Song Yu froze.

Once, he had a daughter, a sweet and clever child who was the love of his life. He had even considered surrendering to the court for her sake. But when she caught a cold at the age of two, all his efforts couldn’t save her. Grief-stricken, his wife had followed their daughter to the grave.

Tentatively, Lu Chao Chao approached him.

“Mushroom?” she offered softly, standing on tiptoe to hand him a cluster of mushrooms.

“Chao Chao picked them for you.”

To Song Yu, she was the very picture of his late daughter. Such a darling, obedient child…

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