The afternoon of the second day in Cai Nan City, Liu Yifeng, along with Tong Tong and Liu Chunsheng, embarked on a mysterious journey into Cai Nan.
Why is Cai Nan City mysterious? Cai Nan City not only boasts delicious wild mushrooms but also harbors many untold legends.
For instance, Gu poison.
Previously, when Tong Tong had helped Zhao Shubo in Country R break free from a love Gu, Liu Yifeng had witnessed its power and found the art of Gu to be incredibly mysterious and terrifying. This visit to Cai Nan City was partly to satisfy his curiosity.
As for why he didn't ask Tong Tong, since Tong Tong could dispel Gu poison, she would undoubtedly know the truth about Gu. However, as a father, Liu Yifeng still hoped to maintain a dignified image in Tong Tong's eyes. By enriching his own knowledge during the tour, he could also find common ground for conversation with Tong Tong.
The tour guide for this trip was a seasoned employee with extensive experience. On the way to the last tourist spot, he not only introduced them to many interesting mushrooms but also enthusiastically recommended several delicious fruits. Among them, the most intriguing legend was narrated with vivid detail. When the group heard the most terrifying parts, their hair stood on end, and a chill ran down their spines.
In the evening, the tour bus brought everyone to the Village of the Witch Maidens. As dusk was approaching, the guide arranged for everyone to rest. The accommodation provided by the tour group in the Village of the Witch Maidens was also quite unique.
For dinner, they were served Tuotuo meat barbecue and delicious mushroom soup. Of course, to challenge everyone's courage, there were also fried scorpions and fried centipedes. Many people were startled when the fried scorpions and centipedes were brought to the table, and Liu Yifeng dared not try them.
Seeing this, Tong Tong said, "Daddy, don't be scared! They're all cooked!"
Liu Yifeng chuckled awkwardly, "How could Daddy be scared? I just think this dish looks a bit unappetizing."
After saying that, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. As Liu Yifeng tasted it, he exclaimed, "Wow, it's crispy and very sweet, not much different from the roasted grasshoppers I used to eat as a child."
"Mmm, it tastes really good, so fragrant!"
Liu Chunsheng, seeing Liu Yifeng's transformation from feigned bravery to genuine delight, also picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. "Wow, it really tastes good, very crispy! And very fragrant, just needs a bit more seasoning. Some chili powder would be even better!"
Seeing Liu Yifeng and Liu Chunsheng eating so enthusiastically, Tong Tong's big eyes curved into a smile as she said, "Yes! Scorpions not only taste good! They also have great medicinal value. Daddy and Grandpa can also try this centipede!"
Liu Yifeng and Liu Chunsheng burst into laughter at Tong Tong's words. "Our Tong Tong knows so much!"
"Tong Tong, you try some too!"
Tong Tong waved her hand, "No, no! I'm still a child, it's not suitable for me to eat this!"
The surrounding tourists also chuckled at Tong Tong's words.
After the đặc trưng dinner, the guide organized a bonfire party and a performance of local ethnic dances. After watching the culturally rich dances, the tourists who had done some research on their visit became curious about the stories of the witch maidens and started asking questions.
"Guide Chen, do you know any legends about the witch maidens? Please tell us!"
Liu Yifeng's ears perked up as someone finally asked about it. He had been planning to rest, but now his spirits were revived.
"Ah, there are quite a few stories, but please just listen and don't take them too seriously!" the guide began to narrate.
"Legend has it that a long, long time ago, a young woman in the village suddenly gave birth to a baby girl one night. This baby girl had a strange mark on her forehead. From the moment she was born, this baby girl possessed a magical ability – she could communicate with snakes, rats, insects, and ants. As a result, the children in the village bullied her, calling her a freak. Later, the village was occupied by foreign enemies engaged in war. Many people in the village were enslaved, but this baby girl used her special ability to save the entire village and passed on her ability to all the girls in the village. From then on, the girls of this village gained a special ability, which was to create Gu poison. The Gu poison mentioned in the story is a type of poisonous insect, cultivated by young women with witch maiden bloodlines using their own blood. It is said to be able to drive people insane and kill them invisibly. As times evolved and rulers' ambitions grew, the art of Gu poison was suppressed by successive rulers, and it gradually declined. However, a few remaining regions still believe in the art of Gu, and the art of Gu poison has become legendary. Among them are some ethnic minorities in the Cai Nan City region."
"Is this story true now?" asked a girl sitting next to the guide.
The guide smiled mysteriously and continued, "They believe anything can become Gu, and those who are proficient in Gu arts are called 'Grass Ghost Maidens.' Grass Ghost Maidens are like witches in Western countries; because they possess strange abilities, they are shunned and appear very reclusive. Moreover, their houses are filled with various kinds of Gu insects, so ordinary people dare not provoke them. Ancient texts also record that 'Gu women secretly set up Gu altars, and if discovered by the living, the Gu women will suffer.' This means that these Gu insects are not shown to outsiders, and essentially, most people only know of their existence but have never seen them. Therefore, in reality, Grass Ghost Maidens generally live inconspicuously, just like ordinary women."
"Guide Chen, you know so much!"
"Yes, yes!"
"Do you know how Gu poison is made?"
"You all can't stump me! Everyone who comes here asks this question, and I've certainly done my homework!" Guide Chen replied proudly as he heard everyone's eager questions. He picked up his thermos and patiently continued to explain.
"Gu is formed when poisonous insects compete and devour each other in a container, with the last surviving insect embodying all poisons, becoming the ultimate poisonous insect. This insect is used as the Gu seed, and its eggs will be used to cast the Gu. This explains how Gu insects are cultivated. The most terrifying Gu poisons are mostly the eggs of Gu insects. Gu maidens often administer Gu in food. 'Chi Ya' states: 'Once the Gu is formed, it is first placed in food, increasing the flavor a hundredfold,' and it is usually placed on the first bite. Some Gu castings involve the insect itself, some involve the insect's feces, and some involve its saliva. Sometimes, Gu can be cast without food."
Liu Nan's "Notes on Miao Wilderness" states: "The Gu poison of the Miao is most fearsome. When casting Gu, it is not necessary to use food. Merely exhaling breath or looking with the eyes can transmit the poison to people. Using food is the inferior method of casting Gu. Scholars have verified that in the central plains during the Warring States period, methods of creating and using Gu to harm people were already practiced."