Chapter Six: The Art of Survival?

“Yin-Yang Heterotype!” the Ghost Doctor exclaimed in shock.

It was no wonder he reacted so strongly. The last time Tong Jin’s heterotype had erupted was three years ago, back when his grandfather was still alive. At that time, his grandfather had been frightened by the outbreak but, despite internal injuries, had forced his own true qi to suppress it. Afterwards, Tong Jin’s grandfather scoured ancient texts and finally found records about this rare constitution.

“Extreme Yin and extreme Yang, a celestial omen bestowed from above; a heterotype of creation, daring to defy the heavenly order. Azure blue profound Yin, crimson orange profound Yang; Yin transforms to softness, Yang transforms to hardness. Breathing in heaven and earth, revered by all creatures; breaking down to rebuild, the true edge emerges. Yin-Yang heterotype, one in a million, a century’s rarity. Such a constitution must endure trials; misfortune and blessing intertwined…”

The ancient tome called "The Legendary Heterotypes" only gave a sparse description of the Yin-Yang heterotype. This constitution was naturally exceptional, almost nonexistent since ancient times. Almost every heterotype eventually became the pinnacle of their era. For these elusive beings, records were especially difficult to come by.

The Ghost Doctor had indeed perused this volume before, though he had taken it merely as a collection of curious anecdotes. But when he heard Tong Jin utter the words “Yin-Yang heterotype” and recalled the strange changes in his body, a complex emotion welled up within him.

“Boy, how do you know about the Yin-Yang heterotype?” the Ghost Doctor asked solemnly.

Tong Jin, still reeling from the heavy blow, stared blankly at his hands, as if trying to summon that mountain-splitting, earth-cracking power once more, but all in vain.

The Ghost Doctor gathered his thoughts, rubbed his face with both hands, muttered, “You should rest for now,” and turned to leave the cave dwelling.

The sky darkened; thick black clouds rolled from west to east. The howling, damp wind swept through the Medicine Valley. The Ghost Doctor glanced at the sky, sighed helplessly, then entered a small stone cave nearby, situated on slightly higher ground.

Inside the cave, stone boxes roughly a yard in size were neatly partitioned. Each box was separated by thick stone slabs and sealed with reinforced copper plates, leaving only a tiny ventilation gap. The Ghost Doctor walked to the deepest part where the stone box was noticeably larger and sturdier. He pressed a mechanism, and as the copper plate slid open, a buzzing of wings filled the air, followed by a flurry of black shadows darting out.

“Ah, they must be starving,” the Ghost Doctor said, his eyes shining with anticipation as if speaking of his own children. “Huh?” His brow furrowed as a clearer buzzing sound rapidly approached from outside. The Ghost Doctor had been searching for the largest corpse-stinger ant—this very one.

“Looks like no mistake; it must have bitten him,” the Ghost Doctor mused inwardly. Despite his usual caution, this queen ant had slipped past his defenses. It was the very first ant he had discovered, and as the insect matured, its intelligence grew. No wonder it had burrowed through the stone wall to sneak out for food.

The Ghost Doctor took a round, plump porcelain bottle from his bosom, poured out several black pills exuding a fishy stench, and tossed them into the air. The dozen or so buzzing poison ants swooped down lightning-fast as if drawn by a feast, devouring the pills before they touched the ground.

“All right, time to go back. No more mischief,” the ants seemed to understand and flew back into their stone box. The Ghost Doctor closed the copper door, inspected the area, and sealed the small hole the queen ant had made. Satisfied, he nodded and went to tend the other insects in their enclosures.

Upon stepping out, the Ghost Doctor found Tong Jin standing dazed by the cave entrance.

Tong Jin’s vacant eyes gazed toward the rolling black clouds. No expression touched his face. Suddenly, a dazzling lightning tore through the sky, followed by a thunderclap—crash! Boom!

“Boy, why are you up?” the Ghost Doctor sniffed the dampness in the air signaling a coming downpour and asked.

Turning around, Tong Jin smiled weakly. “Just wanted some fresh air, Old Ghost. Thanks.” His smile was forced, the kind no fourteen or fifteen-year-old child should bear.

“The heavy rain’s coming,” the Ghost Doctor said nothing more, looking up at the darkened sky with a sigh.

“Old Ghost, you know medicine, right?” Tong Jin’s question startled the Ghost Doctor briefly, then he understood his meaning.

“Don’t worry. Even if I can’t restore your powers, I’ll teach you life-saving techniques,” the Ghost Doctor replied indirectly, unwilling to admit that even he could not guarantee success. Years ago, his reputation had spread far and wide because as long as there was a breath left, he could bring the dead back to life. But this was no ordinary healing—it was an unprecedented challenge.

Tong Jin smiled faintly. “As long as I can get revenge, I’ll do anything!” That smile carried so much—pain, grievance, helplessness, but also determination, resolve, and a fierce willingness to fight to the death.

The Ghost Doctor felt a pang of sorrow. He hoped this child could emerge from the immense shadow that loomed over him. He sighed softly.

Crackling sounds of raindrops fell like peas, the downpour pouring down in torrents. “Go inside the cave. Your body is still weak; you mustn’t get wet.” The Ghost Doctor patted Tong Jin’s shoulder and turned inside first.

Tong Jin tilted his face up, feeling the stinging rain pelting his skin. “Ah—” he let out a raw roar, as if to release all the pressure in his heart. Crack! Boom! Another thunderclap seemed as if even the heavens answered his cry.

Inside the cave, the Ghost Doctor busied himself cleaning the disordered furnishings. Tong Jin scratched his head sheepishly. “Old Ghost, was my heterotype eruption really that terrifying?”

The Ghost Doctor rolled his eyes. “Terrifying? More like monstrous. If it weren’t for my deep inner strength, just being near the cave would have made my orifices bleed.” Seeing Tong Jin gradually regain his former cheerfulness, he teased him playfully.

Tong Jin chuckled at the Ghost Doctor’s self-proclaimed title “Old Ghost.” “Hey, Old Ghost, you said you’d teach me life-saving techniques. What kind of skills are those exactly?”

Feigning mystery, the Ghost Doctor coughed. “You little brat, are you just going to watch me clean up your mess? First, tidy up the cave, then we’ll talk!”

After a while, the cave returned to its previous order, but several thick, worn books lay on the stone table, not returned to the shelves.

“Boy, if you want to learn my life-saving methods, start with these books!” the Ghost Doctor drooped his eyelids and lounged in a wooden chair, looking every bit like a teacher. “By the way, you can read, right?”

Tong Jin sniffed embarrassedly. “Old Ghost, I’ve read quite a bit.” He rolled his eyes and casually picked up the topmost book.

“Huh? ‘Secrets of Insect Breeding’?” Tong Jin read aloud with curiosity.