Celestial Master Zhang then said, “There are many old fellows here today; you might as well ask them.”

Wei Mingyan nodded and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Celestial Master. I will go find them later.”

“No need, I’ll help you find people.”

Celestial Master Zhang turned around and glanced at his youngest disciple, Liang Weiping, and said, “Go and invite Master Wang over.”

“I understand.” Liang Weiping walked away.

Before long, he returned with an elderly man with white hair beside him.

Old Master Wang was in excellent spirits, walked lightly, and looked to be in very good health; it was clear that he exercised regularly.

When he saw Celestial Master Zhang, he wasn’t as reserved as the others; instead, he appeared relaxed and asked, “What do you want from me? Are you cursed?

“Being a Daoist master is a high-risk profession. You’re already so old, why don’t you retire early and let someone else take the job?”

Celestial Master Zhang laughed and scolded, “I’m not dead yet, don’t covet my position. Quickly help this young friend see what’s going on with him.”

Old Master Wang was the same age as Celestial Master Zhang and specialized in the study of curses with an extremely high rate of breaking them. He has long since retired from Daoist practice and was now enjoying family life. He wouldn’t have agreed so easily if it weren’t for the sake of Celestial Master Zhang.

When Wei Mingyan saw that Celestial Master Zhang was willing to help him, a faint ripple stirred in his stagnant heart, and a glimmer of hope appeared in his mind.

If Old Master Wang was to intervene, would he have hope?

However, after examining him for a long time, Old Master Wang’s expression gradually became serious, and his brows furrowed tightly. 

“You are not cursed.”

Lin Chuji was shocked and turned to look at An Rugu. “You two both said that he wasn’t cursed.”

Old Master Wang’s eyes widened, and he exclaimed in surprise, looking at An Rugu, “You were actually able to see that; you have some talent.”

Curses were ethereal and intangible; many people believed that physical pain or misfortune was due to a curse, but this was not necessarily true. Only those who understood curses and gu witchcraft could discern their true nature.

An Rugu remained calm and said modestly, “It was just a coincidence.”

Wei Mingyan looked completely bewildered. “If it’s not a curse, then what is it?”

Old Master Wang grabbed his arm, looked at the veins on his hand, his eyes sharp, and said with certainty, “You are under gu witchcraft.”

Everyone: “???”

Wei Mingyan was shocked and couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “But our family also consulted gu witches, and they said this was no ordinary gu witchcraft.”

They went through four generations, expended countless efforts, and investigated every possible direction, including the insidious method of gu witchcraft.

“Who did you ask to come and see this?”

Wei Mingyan had a good memory. After recalling for a while, he said truthfully, “We found some gu witches who were willing to come out of seclusion to take a look. They all said that we were not poisoned by gu, or at least not by any gu grubs they have ever seen. 

“They told us to go to the gu clan chief, but that place was too xenophobic, so we couldn’t enter.”

The Miao ethnic group was divided into many subgroups, such as the Black Miao, Red Miao, White Miao, Yellow Miao, and Green Miao.

Among them was a very mysterious Gu clan. It was said that everyone in their village, regardless of age or gender, knew how to raise and use gu grubs.

Old Master Wang stroked his beard then snorted coldly, as if he really looked down on them, “Their skills are too shallow. Did they even have red eyes?”

The deeper the path walked by a gu witch, the redder their eyes would be.

Wei Mingyan shook his head. “I didn’t see them with my own eyes, so I don’t know. Then, master, do you know what kind of gu witchcraft I’ve been afflicted with?”

Old Master Wang gripped his hand tightly, staring at his bluish veins with a sharp, piercing gaze. He chanted a spell and spoke with conviction, “Come out!”

As soon as Old Master Wang finished speaking, Wei Mingyan felt a sudden sharp pain in his heart, as if something was trembling inside.

Immediately afterwards, many things swam forward along his blood vessels, quickly climbing from the arms all the way to the palms.

He seemed to sense something and looked down, his pupils suddenly shrinking as a bizarre scene unfolded!

Countless red silk threads emerged from his palms, dancing wildly in the air like extremely fine snakes, as lively as living animals.

No matter how strong one’s will was, it was impossible to accept this bizarre scene.

Screams erupted from the side.

“Ah!”

“Ahhh!”

Many Daoist practitioners were so frightened by this scene that they screamed.

They had seen strange things before, but rarely anything this strange, especially one that crawled out of a human body.

They instinctively looked at their own bodies, goosebumps rising all over their skin, fearing that they too might turn into such abomination.

Wei Mingyan was in no better shape; his face was as pale as paper, his stomach was churning, and he felt extremely nauseous.

He seemed to have suddenly turned into a strange being, otherwise how could there be such terrifying red silk threads inside his body?

This was simply terrifying!

Old Master Wang remained very calm, let out a long sigh, and explained, “This is the long-lost worm-bird Heart Gu.”

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, pulled out the red silk threads fluttering on Wei Mingyan’s palm, and then wrapped them up tightly.

Seeing the red silk threads moving away from him, Wei Mingyan felt much better and couldn’t help but ask, “Am I already cured?”

Old Master Wang shook his head and sighed, “If I’m not mistaken, this is a hereditary disease in your family. The gu worms have been growing in your body for over twenty years, filling your heart and coexisting with it. You understand what I mean?”

Wei Mingyan’s face turned pale, and he was very disappointed. “…I understand.”

The gu worms now filled his heart and had become part of his body. If they were suddenly removed, not only would the gu worms die, but he himself would also die.

An Rugu’s gaze fell on the red silk threads now wrapped inside the handkerchief in Mr. Wang’s hand, lost in thought.

Previously, Qian Weilai from Youdu came to the Daoist temple intending to use gu worms on her. However, her sixth sense was exceptionally strong, and she was able to safely collect the gu worms that were about to crawl onto her.

It turned out that these gu worms were called the worm-bird heart gu.

“Master, what is the use of this gu worm?” An Ruguo asked.

Old Master Wang stroked his beard, put the wrapped-up, red silk threads into his pocket, and said, “This is a long story, and I only learned about its origin by chance.

“This is a very powerful, ancient gu worm that can manipulate people’s minds.

“It is said that the Miao people are descendants of Chiyou¹ and possessed many kinds of gu insects. Later, these particular gu worms became extinct, and the gu technique naturally disappeared. The only record I could find was in miscellaneous books from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and there have been no more since.”

I Livestream Divination to the World translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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T/N: If you recall, the missives that Lord Yan send to An Rugu are written in Bird-Worm Seal Script. It is very old, known from bronze engravings dated from the Spring and Autumn era (700BCE) and Warring States period (475BCE).

I think the name of this worm-bird heart gu came from that because the script looks like this:

…

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FOOTNOTE:

1. Chiyou is a tribal leader from Chinese mythology famous for facing the Yellow Emperor in war and eventually being defeated. After his defeat, his tribe scattered and some are said to have become the Miao people.
    
   Since the Yellow Emperor went on to unify the Central Plains and became the orthodox leader of China, Chiyou is often viewed in a negative light (and is probably why gu withcraft is linked to his descendants.)
   
   Chiyou along with the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor are called the ‘Three Ancestors of China.’
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