Chapter 31
Mark had believed that his death would end his suffering and protect humanity from further harm. However, he had forgotten about the people he had killed in the prison. They had transformed into jiangshi and continued to plague the world. A high-ranking official learned of this and, driven by ambition, used these jiangshi to overthrow the Emperor, refining more jiangshi to serve as his undead soldiers.
The consequences were disastrous, leading to the burning of an entire city and the deaths of tens of thousands of people. But how had Mark, buried alive, returned to the world?
Several years ago, a powerful individual stumbled upon an ancient text. This book was written by the same author as the one Song Ling possessed. Song Ling’s book was the second half, detailing methods to combat jiangshi, while this person’s book was the first half, documenting the history of jiangshi and their origins.
This individual discovered that in addition to the jiangshi that had emerged from the prison, there had been similar incidents in a small village, where Mark had bitten several villagers. After extensive research, he found that all the locations where jiangshi had appeared in ancient times had reports of sightings of a foreigner with red hair and green eyes.
He traced the trail back to the descendants of the gravedigger who had buried Mark. The gravedigger, grateful for the fortune Mark had bestowed upon his family, had told his descendants about Mark and instructed them to venerate him as an ancestor.
After the gravedigger’s death, his descendants continued to honor his wishes, enshrining Mark’s spirit tablet and including his story in their family precepts, ensuring that future generations would remember their benefactor.
This led the ambitious individual to Mark’s grave. He sent men to exhume the body and discovered that it was indeed unusual.
Despite being buried for many years, the body hadn’t decomposed. It hadn’t even turned to bones. It was simply a desiccated corpse.
They consulted with Taoist priests, who, following the instructions in the ancient text, extracted fluids from Mark’s body and injected them into ordinary corpses. As expected, the corpses transformed into jiangshi.
They then discovered that Mark’s body still reacted to blood. They experimented by dripping blood onto his lips, and slowly, his body began to show signs of change.
They continued to refine more jiangshi, using different locations to avoid detection. The cave Song Ling and Li Xinjun had discovered was just one of their laboratories.
The Taoist priest in the cave had been feeding Mark animal blood for a year, but there had been little progress. He received orders to use human blood instead. Mark, having consumed a significant amount of human blood, was nearing full resurrection. This explained the dark shadow that had escaped from the cave. It was Mark, awakened by his newfound power.
Mark, emerging from the burning cave, fled into the nearby forest, disoriented and unsure of his whereabouts. He detected the presence of other jiangshi and, after investigating, discovered that someone was using his essence to create more jiangshi, unleashing them upon the world.
These jiangshi, however, weren’t created through his bite. They were refined using fluids extracted from his body. Therefore, they hadn’t inherited his full power. Some couldn’t even speak or think.
Mark was enraged. He was furious at the humans who had exploited his essence to create these abominations and at the innocent jiangshi who were being slaughtered. If humans didn’t appreciate their peaceful lives, then he wouldn’t show them mercy.
He decided to no longer care about the consequences of his existence. He would leave his fate to the heavens. He would no longer hide or run. He would live the life he wanted, making up for all the years he had lost.
He looked at his reflection in a pool of water and realized that despite the passage of time, he hadn’t aged. He tied his long, unkempt hair back with a strip of cloth. He decided to blend into human society and seek out the life he desired, no longer content to hide in the wilderness.
He left the forest and searched for a settlement. He arrived at a bustling city in Yunnan province, a prosperous place with many wealthy merchants and officials.
The most prominent figure in the city was Prince Anling, the youngest brother of the late Emperor Yongzheng. Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Yongzheng had granted his brothers titles and territories. Prince Anling had been assigned to Yunnan province. He had been a diligent and effective ruler, earning the respect and admiration of the people.
He had eradicated the bandits that had plagued the region, improved the economy, and raised the standard of living for the people.
Prince Anling was known for his compassion and often interacted with the common people, addressing their grievances, overseeing infrastructure projects, and comforting those who had lost loved ones in wars. Some even claimed that he was the most qualified candidate for the throne, after the current Emperor, Qianlong. Of course, these were mostly the sentiments of those who had benefited from his kindness.
Mark, through a chance encounter, met Prince Anling. They hit it off immediately and became close friends. Prince Anling, like his brother, Emperor Yongzheng, was fascinated by Western culture. He spoke fluent English and had a collection of Western artifacts.
He was immediately drawn to Mark, a foreigner, and they quickly became friends. Mark, having been isolated from the world for so long, was intrigued by the gadgets and trinkets Prince Anling showed him.
The gramophone, which played enchanting music, and the dark sunglasses were novelties that hadn’t existed during his time. He was amazed by the advancements in technology.
Mark concocted a story about his past, claiming to be the son of a British merchant who had traveled to China with his father and been shipwrecked, spending years stranded on a deserted island. He had only recently returned to civilization and was unfamiliar with all the new inventions.
Prince Anling, hearing his tale, sympathized with him. Finding him to be a kindred spirit, he invited Mark to stay at his mansion as a guest.
He provided Mark with new clothes and had his appearance groomed. Mark, already handsome, was transformed by the elegant attire, shedding his former monstrous appearance and becoming a dashing gentleman.
Moreover, as a nobleman by birth, Mark hadn’t forgotten his manners and etiquette. He truly seemed like a shipwrecked aristocrat, convincing Prince Anling of his story.
Mark lived comfortably at the mansion for a while. He was surprised to find that Yunnan province was untouched by the jiangshi outbreak. Not wanting to disrupt the peace, he would travel to towns outside the province to feed whenever he felt the urge. However, he found this to be inconvenient and decided to leave. Coincidentally, the Emperor summoned Prince Anling to the capital to discuss the jiangshi problem. Mark seized the opportunity and asked to accompany the prince to see the capital.
Prince Anling, suspecting nothing, agreed. Upon arriving in the capital, Mark detected the presence of many jiangshi. He knew they were hiding among the humans, but he didn’t intend to interfere. He concealed his demonic aura to avoid being recognized as the jiangshi king.
If the other jiangshi discovered his true identity, it would be difficult for him to maintain his human facade and live among humans. As the jiangshi king, he emitted a unique aura that would compel other jiangshi to submit to him and become his loyal followers, just like the jiangshi in Chen Family Village.
Mark longed for a life of freedom and wanted nothing to do with the problems of the human world. These were human-made problems for humans to solve. He wanted no part in it.
He accompanied Prince Anling to the imperial palace for an audience with the Emperor. He was surprised to see that Emperor Qianlong, Aisin Gioro Hongli, was just a teenager, much younger than the middle-aged Prince Anling. A thought crossed his mind, but he wasn’t sure, so he dismissed it.
“Prince Anling, it’s been a while. How are you?”
“Your Majesty, thanks to your blessings, I am well.”
“That’s good to hear. I summoned you here today regarding the recent events in the capital. We have a jiangshi problem. These jiangshi are indistinguishable from humans, making it impossible for the soldiers to identify them. They are attacking and killing innocent people. My officials are at their wit’s end. I recall the late Emperor mentioning that you have some knowledge of jiangshi. Perhaps you could assist us in eliminating these creatures?”
“Your Majesty, I did read about jiangshi in an ancient text, but the book was damaged and incomplete, so I’m not sure how to deal with them. However, I am willing to share your burden and will do my best to find a solution.”
“Excellent! With your help, I feel much more confident. Prince Anling, you can stay at the palace for now to facilitate your work.”
“Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty, but I would prefer not to stay at the palace. Although Your Majesty is not yet married, there are other consorts and female attendants in the harem. I wouldn’t want to cause any impropriety. I will find a lodging in the city.”
“Yes, I understand your concerns, Prince Anling. Prime Minister, I know you have several properties in the city. Perhaps you could offer one to Prince Anling?”
“I have a vacant mansion, Your Majesty. If Prince Anling doesn’t mind, he is welcome to stay there,” the Prime Minister replied.
“Excellent. Prince Anling, would that be agreeable to you?” Hongli asked.
“I have no objections, Your Majesty. I will abide by your arrangements.” Prince Anling bowed respectfully.
“Very well. And who is this foreign gentleman behind you?”
“Your Majesty, this is a new friend of mine, a merchant from the British Empire. We met by chance in Yunnan province. We share many interests, and I invited him to stay at my mansion as a guest. Since I was summoned to the capital, I brought him along to see the city.”
“Marcus, at your service, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!” Mark stepped forward and knelt, bowing deeply.
“Rise. I’m impressed by your fluency in Chinese, Marcus.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. My mother was Chinese, so I am familiar with the language.”
“I see. Welcome to the capital. You are welcome to explore the city with Prince Anling. However, the curfew is still in effect, so please do not venture out after the permitted hours.”
“I understand, Your Majesty. I will abide by the rules.”
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