“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...”
At first, Tan Wenbin let out a simple chuckle, but he couldn't help but laugh more and more exaggeratedly, gradually pulling Runsheng and Xue Liangliang into the laughter with him.
Li Zhuyuan didn't try to fit in on purpose this time.
He didn't laugh out loud, but the corners of his mouth did curl up slightly.
After experiencing danger and seeing the mysterious, and after all the unexpected twists and turns, they had finally survived.
Normal people have a talent for forgetting pain after healing, and no matter how bitter or difficult things are, once they get through it, their brains help them deliberately downplay negative feelings.
It even allows them to recall moments with a sweetness akin to tasting flower nectar by the roadside while walking to and from school.
Tan Wenbin felt a wave of exhilaration wash over him from top to bottom.
Adventure indeed can be addictive.
However, as they laughed, the ground around them began to tremble.
Tan Wenbin jumped in surprise, “Did we just laugh and cause a resonance?”
It was definitely not from their laughter, but the tremors were real, and stones began to roll down from above.
The four of them quickly got up, heading toward a flat area below.
After a while, the shaking stopped and calm returned.
However, the place where they had been sitting had sunken significantly, and the stone crack they had crawled out from had disappeared.
In truth, even if they found it again, it wouldn't matter, because the passage below was surely blocked now.
Xue Liangliang commented, “It should be a chain reaction caused by the collapse of the underground palace.”
Tan Wenbin replied, puzzled, “Could that big thing be so ruthless, that it went home and buried itself?”
Xue Liangliang shook his head, “I don’t know. Maybe it wanted to go back to find its mother?”
Hearing this, Li Zhuyuan couldn’t help but think of that snake-faced woman sitting on the bed.
Xue Liangliang found a higher spot to observe and determine their direction, then led everyone toward the camp.
It wasn’t actually far, but the path was difficult to navigate, which delayed them for quite some time.
Fortunately, by the afternoon, they finally spotted people – a group of militia armed with guns and explosives.
They were probably the first batch sent for support after the incident.
After learning that the four were “missing persons” from an exploration team, the opposing side quickly arranged for someone to take them back.
They encountered some surveyors still working in the area, who greeted them warmly and expressed their gratitude.
This gratitude felt a bit inexplicable to them, and after chatting, they learned that for some reason, the events of that night had turned into a story where Xue Liangliang led a few people and lured the giant beast into the cave, saving everyone.
Xue Liangliang quickly explained that the beast had run into the cave on its own, and they were just fleeing for their lives.
However, it was clear that those colleagues merely nodded in acknowledgment, but their expressions suggested they didn’t quite believe it.
This made Xue Liangliang anxious; he didn’t want to take credit for that honor.
Tan Wenbin turned to Li Zhuyuan and muttered, “If there’s an honor like this, could we get extra points in the college entrance exams?”
The four of them were first escorted out of the mountain area and then got into a vehicle.
Once they returned to the town, they were sent to a hospital in Wanzhou City for detailed examinations.
After the check-ups, they went to a guesthouse to rest.
During this time, many related personnel came to visit, and some took notes.
Xue Liangliang handled all these matters, and in accordance with their prior agreement, they decided to temporarily keep the underground palace's situation confidential.
They weren’t trying to hide the truth.
They were already informed that Luo Tingrui would be arriving, and Xue Liangliang and Li Zhuyuan planned to report everything to him once he arrived, allowing him to decide how to report it upward.
Unlike previous incidents in the village where someone had died, and they concealed it to avoid affecting their lives, this matter involved a national project, so it must be handled transparently.
The group leader, Ma Yiming, arrived before Luo Tingrui.
He looked disheveled, with visible signs of exhaustion and weariness.
Upon seeing Xue Liangliang, he held his hand tightly and then moved to see Li Zhuyuan and the others, repeatedly saying, “Thank you, thank you.”
Thank you for coming back alive.
After the incident, he hadn’t slept a wink and had been under tremendous mental pressure, feeling as if he had lost eight people among his temporary workers and regular staff combined.
Now, with four returning alive, he finally felt slightly relieved.
As soon as Ma Yiming left, Luo Tingrui arrived with two others, seemingly intending to stagger their arrival.
Xue Liangliang went with the two accompanying personnel into a room, telling them all about the underground palace.
Of course, he omitted any details regarding Li Zhuyuan's special role in the situation.
After concluding their inquiries regarding Xue Liangliang, the two personnel moved to Li Zhuyuan, Runsheng, and Tan Wenbin, asking each a few questions before departing.
In the room, only five people remained.
Luo Tingrui tightly held Xue Liangliang's shoulders, shaking him several times, “You nearly scared me to death!”
At his age and in this industry, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the status of a successor often holds more weight than a biological son, especially since he didn’t have a son, and his only daughter wasn’t studying in the same field.
Following that, he walked to Li Zhuyuan, bending down to give the boy a strong hug.
Top professionals in the field could clearly foresee that the country would soon undertake numerous large construction projects.
However, such projects required extensive time from design to completion.
Luo Tingrui needed the passing of knowledge and the baton to achieve his aspirations.
With a smile, Luo Tingrui waved his hand, “Let’s go, I’ll treat you all to supper.”
The supper stall wasn’t far from the guesthouse, specializing in Wanzhou grilled fish.
Luo Tingrui looked at the three and asked, “Do you all want some drinks? I can have a few with you.”
Tan Wenbin immediately waved his hand, “We don’t drink alcohol.”
In fact, Wenbin occasionally had a drink with his great-grandfather at home, but he wouldn’t be ignorant of the situation if the highest-ranking individual at the table didn’t want to drink.
“Then let’s get some soft drinks.”
“Alright.”
Tan Wenbin got up and carried out a basket of soy milk, “Hey, this shop only sells this.”
As he spoke, he used a bottle opener to open bottles for everyone and placed them in front of each person.
Luo Tingrui said to Xue Liangliang, “Don’t let it get cold. Let’s chat while we eat.”
Everyone picked up chopsticks and began to eat the fish.
Xue Liangliang then recounted the events of the underground palace to Luo Tingrui again.
After listening, Luo Tingrui merely nodded and smiled.
Tan Wenbin quickly remarked, “Look, this is a person with worldly experience.”
Luo Tingrui took a sip of soy milk and said, “Regarding this matter, apart from the relevant departments asking, don’t mention it to outsiders.”
The four nodded immediately in agreement.
Luo Tingrui then smiled again, “Indeed, I’ve seen several similar cases before. In our modern times, we walk on this land, but we can hardly imagine how much history and mystery is buried beneath our feet.”
Mysterious events had always been present on construction sites, especially for large projects that often excavated deeper, making it easy to encounter strange matters.
Many eerie rumors in society often started with people saying, “I had a father, a relative, or a friend who once encountered something while working on a particular construction site...”
In Luo Tingrui’s tale, he was the protagonist himself.
He began to share an experience from many years ago when he was newly employed and temporarily assigned to a project in Jilin.
He found it quite strange, as, despite the country being unified, it was typically the northeastern region sending talents and industries inward during that time.
When did the inland need to send an engineering team there?
Though the area was in the mountains, it was not remote, close to Jicheng.
Upon arrival, he received his assignment, which wasn’t about planning, designing, or constructing but reviewing an existing underground facility.
This was supposed to be a secret project, very likely a personal defense project, of considerable size, but for some unknown reason, it had severe water leaks.
They divided into many teams to check various points, and some key areas were marked off-limits for them to approach, to be handled by others.
One day, while working, Luo Tingrui and his colleague found a drained outlet, large enough for a cow to pass through.
Logically, with the construction standards at that time, even if damage occurred due to natural reasons, it wouldn't create such a big hole.
More importantly, when they inspected this area yesterday, that hole hadn't appeared.
They left one colleague to guard the entrance while Luo Tingrui and another ventured in to investigate.
As he reached this point, Luo Tingrui chuckled, “I was also young then, completely ignorant of what fear was. Looking at those slogans drawn on the walls of the construction passage, everyone was full of drive and courage. The one left as a guard was the one who lost at rock-paper-scissors, feeling wronged.”
The hole was deep, narrow enough for only one person to pass sideways, but no matter how much they walked, it felt like they were getting nowhere.
Logically, they had long since passed beyond the construction area, but the surrounding conditions didn’t resemble geological movements or mountain fractures.
In some corners, recognizable marks of tool chiseling could be clearly seen.
The two young men were extremely excited at that time, believing they had encountered sabotage from enemy spies.
But as they continued deeper, an unsettling feeling grew as they noticed many primitive tools and some bloodstains on the ground.
Eventually, they even heard voices coming from further depths.
Then, it seemed those people also heard the sounds of someone approaching, as footsteps rapidly approached them, and they could faintly see flickering lights, which turned out to be torches.
Though the two weren’t frightened, they felt it imperative to relay this information, so Luo Tingrui told his companion to run ahead while he jogged slowly, keeping an eye on the back in case they needed to hold off any threats.
After all, in such a narrow space, he could easily block the path with a corpse.
At that time, the two young men still leaned toward the suspicion of enemy saboteurs being at work.
But gradually, the voices and footsteps faded away without them realizing when.
Their companion had run far ahead, perhaps already out of the cave to report, knowing reinforcements would arrive soon.
Luo Tingrui decided to move deeper instead of continuing to advance outward.
As he walked, he began to feel dizzy, his steps grew unsteady, and his vision started to blur.
“I initially thought it was due to low oxygen, but in hindsight, I should have...”
Luo Tingrui paused, looking at the four people sitting before him.
Tan Wenbin and Runsheng were captivated by the story, while Xue Liangliang chimed in, “Poisoned?”
Luo Tingrui then turned to Li Zhuyuan, gesturing for him to guess.
Li Zhuyuan gave a shy smile and asked, “Did you fall asleep?”
Upon hearing this answer, Luo Tingrui slightly agape in surprise, “Xiaoyuan, how did you guess that?”
“Because I do the same when I’m tired.”
Luo Tingrui nodded in acknowledgment and continued, “In retrospect, I must have indeed fallen asleep because my companion who rescued me later told me that I was in a faint state within the crevice. But I didn’t think it was a dream, as everything felt too real.
I stumbled into a magnificent hall where I saw singers and dancers performing, and people indulging in drink and merriment. They invited me to join, asking me many questions while I also inquired about them.
I can’t recall the exact questions and answers, only that it felt like we talked for a long time and drank a lot, and in the end, I got drunk and lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself lying in a tent at the camp.”
“Doesn’t that sound like the ‘Peach Blossom Spring’?”
Tan Wenbin nodded, “It does sound alike, and everything was initially narrow, then opened up, followed by similar developments, chatting and feasting.”
Xue Liangliang asked, “So, did you report this, Teacher?”
“Of course I reported it, but there were many reports during those days. Someone saw soldiers in ancient armor while others encountered strange women in traditional clothing in the passage.”
“What about later investigations? What happened to that crevice?”
“Later on, the water levels rose, and the project got submerged. Also, something seemed to have happened in those key areas, as some people didn’t manage to get out. I don’t know the exact details. Our task was essentially halted midway. My report didn’t receive any feedback after that.”
“Did the higher-ups not believe it?” Xue Liangliang inquired.
Luo Tingrui shook his head, “They probably believed it, but still didn’t consider it serious.”
Tan Wenbin remarked, “Then it’s not like the ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ anymore. Your story sounds a little eerie; ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ is a beautiful tale.”
Li Zhuyuan suggested, “Perhaps the place recorded in ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ isn’t a village of living people to begin with.”
“Xiaoyuan, why do you say that?” Luo Tingrui looked at the boy curiously.
“I’m just expressing a sentiment. Teacher, could you share more details?”
“Details? Sure, do you have paper and pen? I can draw.”
“I do!” Tan Wenbin quickly took out his notepad and pen and handed them over.
Luo Tingrui began to draw with great skill, illustrating the intricate details.
He first sketched a piece of clothing, then a knife, and finally a suit of armor.
Clearly, despite many years having passed, it seemed this matter had lingered deeply in Luo Tingrui's mind, as he vividly remembered every detail.
The four leaned in to take a look, but to the other three, they could only recognize that they were ancient items.
Beyond that, they couldn’t tell.
After a couple of glances, Li Zhuyuan asked, “Goguryeo?”
Luo Tingrui crossed his hands earnestly, “Xiaoyuan, have you considered switching majors?”
The boy quickly shook his head.
“I’m just worried you might go to waste with your talent.” Luo Tingrui gently ruffled the boy’s hair, “How much stuff is packed inside this little head of yours?”
Tan Wenbin, puzzled, asked, “What is Goguryeo?”
Xue Liangliang pointed out, “The incorrect pronunciation is Gojuli.”
Tan Wenbin, realizing, said, “Oh, now I understand. Good thing history doesn’t test pinyin.”
Luo Tingrui continued, “Later on, I took the things I dreamt of and sketched them out, then went around asking for information, which led me to uncover some clues.”
Goguryeo was a substantial and well-known frontier regime in the northeast, though its fame often came from being backdrop to the likes of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, and Tang Taizong and Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty.
Chinese people generally weren’t that interested in its cultural side, while people from Korea often liked to claim it as their ancestry.
That was why when Li Zhuyuan recognized the items, Luo Tingrui was so surprised.
“Later, due to work and personal reasons, I visited Jicheng several times. During my last two visits, I consulted experts specializing in the excavation and study of Goguryeo culture, and went to the local museum, which confirmed that what I dreamed that night wasn’t false. Before that night, I had never come across anything concerning Goguryeo culture and had never seen it in real life; how could I possibly have imagined it?”
Xue Liangliang asked, “Teacher, what about that project?”
Luo Tingrui lit a cigarette and took a puff, “A year prior, I researched it again. I found out that the incidents from that project were far more serious than what I knew. However, all related information and archives from that project have been sealed, making it impossible to access.”
Tan Wenbin laughed, “You really can’t forget about it, like a cherished memory.”
Luo Tingrui also found the comparison amusing, “Indeed, since back then I was young, and I entered the workforce early; I’m not much older than you now.”
“In fact, during my subsequent work, I encountered a few even more serious and bewildering events.”
Tan Wenbin eagerly said, “Could you tell us more?”
“I can’t. Regarding the Goguryeo incident, I don’t have the power to access the archives from that time. As for the other incidents, they belong to sensitive archives that should remain confidential.”
“Oh, what a shame.” Tan Wenbin sighed, feeling disappointed.
“Such things will happen to you in the future; at that time, you will also be required to keep secrets. Alright, let’s talk about matters at hand. Let’s not discuss the underground palace any longer; just the underground river you all discovered is enough to dismiss the proposal that Leader Ma advocated.”
Xue Liangliang began, “Actually, this matter doesn’t involve Leader Ma...”
“The higher-ups are aware, but when incidents arise, someone has to shoulder the responsibility. Of course, they wouldn’t seriously punish him; the key is whether he can pull through this situation himself. I don’t want to see him in tears either, nor do I feel like comforting him. Since the founding of our country, how many memorials have been erected beside bridges? I’ve seen many with my own eyes, and the best way to console them is to continue building our homeland.”
Saying this, Luo Tingrui raised the cup of soy milk he held, and everyone raised their cups to clink them together.
Tan Wenbin downed the soy milk in one go and couldn’t help but sigh: After all, he’s a leader; he values things much more naturally than one’s own father.
“Liangliang, in a couple of days, you’ll accompany me to another group. We need to focus on that proposal and aim to complete it as soon as possible.”
“Alright, Teacher.”
“What about you, Xiaoyuan?”
“Ah?” Li Zhuyuan pointed at himself, “Can I continue going?”
“I wanted to ask if you need a break after experiencing all this.”
“Okay, a break.” Li Zhuyuan nodded.
He really felt tired, and he still needed to go to Fengdu.
“Yeah, you’re still young. You need to pay attention to balancing work and rest and stay active. I’ve heard that prodigies often don’t take care of their health.”
“It’s not that exaggerated, Teacher. But I will remember your words.”
Xue Liangliang took the initiative to mention something, “Teacher, we didn’t actively lure that thing to save anyone.”
“I know, didn’t you just mention it?”
“I don’t want to take credit for that honor.”
“Liangliang... And you all, listen, sometimes we dream of being innocent and pure individuals in this world, but it’s inevitable there will be dust, and sometimes sandstorms will blow.”
“I understand that, but Teacher…”
“When this incident occurs, if an exemplary model can emerge, it will significantly help people like Ma Yiming.”
“I understand now.”
After the supper, Luo Tingrui left first, while the four returned to the guesthouse.
Tan Wenbin, still not satisfied, said, “Wanzhou grilled fish really tastes good. If I learned some skills here and opened a branch outside, I would definitely make money.”
Xue Liangliang replied, “If you have that idea, I can investment you.”
“Don’t, don’t. I just brought it up; making money isn’t as important as studying.”
Then, Tan Wenbin quietly asked, “This, can honors score extra points?”
“Our Haihe University isn’t that hard to enter, and this incident will be kept confidential from society.”
“Oh?” Tan Wenbin slumped his shoulders.
Runsheng asked, “Can’t you think of other ways to score extra points?”
Tan Wenbin shrugged, “Other ways involve my father earning honors in his job.”
Runsheng was taken aback.
The sack of rotten straw that Tan Wenbin brought out was handed to Xue Liangliang along with a piece of paper.
“Brother Liangliang, the paper has the restoration method written on it.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t join that group with the Teacher until a couple of days later. I’ll drive back to Shancheng and have my unit help you handle this matter first,” Xue Liangliang glanced at the items needed on the paper, “The materials aren’t hard to get; most of them are readily available. But since you want to keep it confidential, you really can’t reach out to the cultural relic units. I do have a friend who can help, but it might take a while.”
“It’s okay, just take your time processing it. The key is that this thing can’t stay in the external environment for too long, and I don’t have good storage conditions here.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it. Are you going to Fengdu next?”
“Tomorrow Runsheng needs to change his dressings once, and we’ll set off the day after.”
“Be careful on the way. Contact me when you’re going back, and I’ll book your tickets.”
“I’ll let you know when we leave.”
On the morning of the third day, Li Zhuyuan set off with Runsheng and Tan Wenbin for Fengdu, first taking a car and then switching to a boat, directly disembarking at the dock in Fengdu County.
In fact, the most convenient way would be to call the Ding family to ask them to find out if the Yin family’s members in Fengdu were still around, but after all, that was related to Grandma Liu, and Li Zhuyuan didn’t really want to do that.
He decided to give it a try to see if he could find them himself.
From the moment they disembarked, the noise was overwhelming.
On their way up the street, people crowded together, and vendors set up stalls, as it happened to coincide with the ghost festival fair in Fengdu.
Tan Wenbin was thrilled, looking around, “Hey, I must say, this temple fair is indeed far more bustling and fun than ours in Nantong. No, our home’s fair can’t even compare.”
Li Zhuyuan responded, “Brother Bin, tourism is essentially moving from a place you’ve grown tired of to one where others are bored.”
“Ah, true. I almost forgot, going back to Nantong for you is essentially travel.”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“But Xiaoyuan, I truly believe that people from Sichuan and Chongqing love life more and understand it better. Back home, after evening classes, it would be so hard to find a night snack stall.”
“Ha, I want to eat that; don’t you?”
A variety of local snacks dazzled the eyes, and they were also quite inexpensive.
Even Runsheng, who usually avoided spending money and didn’t like eating out, didn’t mind this time.
The three sampled various foods, treating it as lunch, and within this lively atmosphere, Runsheng’s indulgence in eating didn’t draw too much attention.
Tan Wenbin arrived at a stall selling ghost face masks, where two craftsmen were painting them.
He watched for a while, then asked them to make him a Sun Wukong mask.
He didn’t dare to buy a ghost face mask to take home; otherwise, he might scare himself awake with a glance at it when he got up for a midnight bathroom trip.
Once completed, he paid and put the mask on, posing like a monkey: “Hey, demon, hand over my Xiaoyuan!”
Next, they came to a tea stall.
At this season, covered bowl tea was all the rage at temple fairs.
People often added sugar or various fruit crystals.
It’s nice to buy a cup and drink when tired from wandering.
However, the covered bowl tea here was notably different from other places; it was brewed on-site, and though he couldn’t pinpoint what kind of tea leaves were used, the taste was strong, with “Soul Confusion Tea” written on the left and “Meng Po Soup” on the right of the canopy.
Tan Wenbin bought three cups, and the three of them sat on small stools, sipping.
The taste was good—strong but not bitter.
The temple fair was primarily filled with locals, but many tourists drawn in by the ghost festival also flocked in, and they could even see some foreigners.
“Xiaoyuan, is that really the Hall of Yama?” Runsheng pointed at a building complex above and asked.
“Yes, this is Dangdu Emperor, who governs the underworld, the one who brings back souls from around the world.”
“That sounds impressive.” Tan Wenbin sipped his tea, “Is he from this area?”
“Some say that Dangdu Emperor is Yin Changsheng, who was the brother of the Eastern Han Empress Yin Lihua. He didn’t crave familial riches but focused entirely on cultivating, ultimately receiving enlightenment, and ascending in broad daylight in Fengdu.”
“The emperor’s brother?” Tan Wenbin smacked his lips, “Why not enjoy wealth and glory, instead of pursuing Tao?”
“Everyone has their different pursuits. Didn’t you refuse Brother Liangliang’s investment to open a Wanzhou grilled fish branch just two days ago?”
“Turns out I too can be noble and unsullied.”
Runsheng inquired, “Xiaoyuan, why does every shop here have a small water tank in front?”
Li Zhuyuan replied, “It should be some kind of tradition, I guess.”
After they finished their tea, the three continued up the street.
Li Zhuyuan planned to find a funeral home to ask about local body retrieval workers—if they had the surname Yin, they would send a sum of money to the family to settle the cause and effect associated with the underground palace incident.
Passing through the large entrance of “Fengdu Ghost City,” they later spotted a stone tablet with an inscription:
“Children shouldn’t walk at night; how can they know that night travelers exist?”
This line came from Ge Hong’s “Baopuzi” from the Jin dynasty, discussing words once spoken by Yin Changsheng.
The gist was that he spoke of recognizing the multitude of immortals in the world only after becoming immortal, just like one wouldn’t realize there are others traveling at night if they stayed indoors.
This line sparked a different sentiment for Li Zhuyuan; before interacting with body retrievers, he had no idea dead bodies existed, yet only after hearing and learning did he realize there were indeed quite a number, plus many peers.
Looking past the stone tablet, they found a shop with the sign reading “Yin Jun Coffin Shop.”
In front of the shop, two signs hung, saying “Ascending coffins for wealth” and “Fortunate opportunities come.”
Yin Jun was a respectful title for Yin Changsheng, so the shop owner might not necessarily have the last name Yin.
However, since it was a coffin shop, it should have ties to body retrieval workers.
For instance, his great-grandfather used to maintain strong ties with the funeral industry’s supply chain until he started his own business.
Entering the shop, they found it quite quiet.
Inside, there were two coffins in red and black, and on the counter lay various small coffins, resembling toy figures.
Each was decorated with distinctive patterns, including Ultraman, Astro Boy, and Transformers.
Tan Wenbin picked up one coffin, opened it, then shut it, exclaiming, “How exquisite! The owner has quite a business acumen, but no matter how hard one tries, if the route is wrong, it’s all in vain.”
With the temple fair going on, other shops were bustling with customers, yet this place remained deserted.
Clearly, neither locals nor tourists were keen on purchasing a coffin while strolling at the fair, let alone a toy coffin to bring back home.
Tan Wenbin opened and closed it several times and jokingly asked, “Xiaoyuan, what do you think; should we buy two to take back as pencil cases?”
“Hey, what do you like? Buying both together can be considered cheaper.”
At that moment, a girl, about the same height as Tan Wenbin, emerged from behind the curtain holding a bowl.
Though her skin was slightly darker, she was tall among the locals and radiated a refreshing energy.
“Here, I want these two.”
“Got it.”
Tan Wenbin sensed Li Zhuyuan wanted to inquire about something, so he made his purchase first.
Runsheng asked, “Are you getting another for Zhou Yunyun?”
Tan Wenbin, instead of getting upset, felt tempted, “Hey, don’t say that; it’s actually quite romantic.”
The girl owner smiled, “We also have couple sets.”
“Give me a set.”
“Alright, coming right up.” The girl brought out two small coffins, one black and one red, exquisitely crafted, complete with joint grooves so they could be connected together.
Tan Wenbin laughed, “This is really fun.”
The girl owner replied, “Of course! If I were a girl and a boy I liked gave me this gift, I’d be over the moon.”
Li Zhuyuan curiously asked, “Aren’t you a girl?”
“Ah, I am!” The girl owner laughed, “I misspoke, I misspoke.”
Seeing Tan Wenbin genuinely paying and packing the four small coffins, Li Zhuyuan still couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Bin, are you really sending this to Leader Zhou?”
“I just think it's fun, not that I’d really send it,” Tan Wenbin rolled his eyes. “Why would I be so foolish?”
The girl owner frowned, “Why not actually send it? If the girl doesn't appreciate its meaning, that would simply be a traditional culture's romantic gesture.”
Tan Wenbin nodded, “Although I still wouldn’t send it, I agree with you.”
“Hearing your accents, you must be tourists from out of town. Where are you from?”
Tan Wenbin replied, “Nantong.”
The girl owner questioned, puzzled, “Where is Nantong? Anhui or Jiangxi?”
Tan Wenbin clarified, “Jiangsu.”
“Oh, Jiangsu, I know that! Nanjing, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Huai'an, Xuzhou—those are all well-known. Nantong... is known too.”
Tan Wenbin, playfully asking, “For example?”
“For example...” The girl owner froze.
Li Zhuyuan prepared to probe on a serious note: “Boss, do you know any body retrieval workers nearby, particularly anyone with the surname Yin?”
“Body retrieval workers?” The girl owner asked, puzzled, “Who do you want to retrieve?”
“Not anyone in particular; I’m just inquiring. Do you know anyone, specifically someone with the surname Yin?”
The girl owner quickly dashed into the back room, and shortly, the curtain was lifted again as she emerged holding a Yellow River shovel: “I’m named Yin, Yin Meng.”
Li Zhuyuan hadn’t anticipated it would be so easy to find, but he continued asking, “Do you have a family tree?”
“Why the specific question?”
“To send money.”
“Sure do.”
“Is it convenient for you to take it out for me to look at?”
“Is it just to give you money if I show you?”
“There should be a name, Yin Zhiwang.”
“Yin Zhiwang? Yes, the records are from almost two hundred years ago—I remember it clearly.”
“Hmm?”
“The family tree states that a man from Wan County encountered a man-eating giant snake, and he took people to catch it but never returned. Let me go fetch that for you.”
“No need,” Li Zhuyuan replied to Tan Wenbin, “Just give her the money.”
Tan Wenbin reached for his money and put it on the counter, tying a red string around it.
Yin Meng picked up the money, then skeptically asked, “What happened? Where did you meet him before he ended up dead?”
“Hmm.”
“Ah?” Yin Meng waved her hands dismissively, “Don’t scare me; I was just rambling.”
The fact that she could wield the Yellow River shovel and knew the term “dead body” confirmed she was indeed an industry insider and purer than someone like his great-grandfather.
Given this, there was no need to keep things too hidden.
“We owe him a favor, so this time I specifically came to repay it. You can keep this money; our matters will be settled.”
“Hahaha...” Yin Meng chuckled, counting the money, “Oh, look at this; it’s definitely my ancestor showing divine favor by sending money. I’m worried about how to pay rent next month.”
Tan Wenbin suggested, “With your business handling things like that, it’ll be tough to manage rent.”
“What else could I do?”
“You could sell Wanzhou grilled fish.”
Yin Meng blinked.
Tan Wenbin added, “You could sell Yangzhou fried rice too.”
Yin Meng pushed away the half-empty bowl of noodles, revealing that it was plain noodles without any toppings, only doused in soy sauce.
Tan Wenbin nodded to indicate, “I see.”
“Have you eaten? Do you want me to make noodles for you, or I could go across the street and buy some dishes to treat you to drinks?”
Li Zhuyuan replied, “We’ve already eaten.”
“Then stay for dinner; you came all this way to deliver money, so you should at least share a meal with us. I think my ancestor wouldn’t have been able to help you much either.”
“He helped.”
“I don’t buy it. If he could help you, he wouldn’t have ended up lost and unable to return home.”
“Also this jade pendant.” Li Zhuyuan retrieved the pendant and placed it on the counter, “I’ll give this to you as well.”
Yin Meng glanced at the pendant, then pushed it back, “A deal is a deal. I’ll take the money, but this jade pendant is yours.”
“Alright.” Li Zhuyuan didn’t push back and took back the pendant, “Then we’re off.”
“Hey, why not play a while longer? The attractions are up there.”
“We plan to go.”
“Boats leave early here, and since we’re out playing, we shouldn’t rush, let’s enjoy slowly. You can sleep in my shop tonight to save on hotel expenses.”
Since they had come out for fun, and the other party continued to extend such earnest invitations to stay, Li Zhuyuan didn’t continue to decline: “Thanks for your hospitality.”
“Hey, are you seriously not someone who crawled out of some watery grave?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, come on, let me check.” Yin Meng took out a piece of talisman paper from her pocket and stuck it on Li Zhuyuan, and when she saw he didn’t react, she pretended to be shocked, “Oh my, so scary; you really are fierce!”
Everyone knew she was just joking.
“I’m going to return the favor; hey, demon, I’ll give you one too!”
Tan Wenbin pulled out a talisman called “Zhuiyuan Secret Scroll” and stuck it on Yin Meng's forehead.
The next moment, the talisman turned purple.
Tan Wenbin was so startled that he jumped up and screamed, “Oh, my heavens!”
Yin Meng looked puzzled.
Li Zhuyuan stood on tiptoe to peel off the talisman, saying, “Brother Bin, the talisman got wet; when it meets oil, it turns purple.”
“Ah... oh!” Tan Wenbin scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Runsheng leaned in and said, “I can tell if there’s a water-body scent.”
Yin Meng nearly doubled over with laughter, “I almost thought I really was dead. Hahaha!”
The three of them walked out of the coffin shop.
At the doorway, Li Zhuyuan pointed to the small water tank outside and asked, “What’s the reason for placing these at the entrance of every shop?”
Yin Meng explained, “This is Fengdu Ghost City, and this street is called Ghost Street. It’s not just the living who like to stroll around; when night falls, they come out. Back in the day, there were no light bulbs. When it got dark, only candles illuminated the path, which didn’t shine brightly. Merchants often counted paper money when closing shop. It gradually developed into a custom where shop owners would place a water tank in front. The floating money inside would be fake, so they wouldn’t do business with those customers.”
Tan Wenbin asked, “Now that it’s all paper money and floats up, wouldn’t every shop need a bill validator?”
Yin Meng replied, “Those are too expensive; we can’t afford them.”
Tan Wenbin was taken aback, “Wait, can you still receive them now?”
Yin Meng reached into the drawer under the counter and pulled out a small stack of paper money from the Tian Di Bank:
“Here, this is what I received from the beginning of this month until now. It’s enough to cover next month’s rent, but who would’ve thought it wouldn't translate into real living business.”
Tan Wenbin cautiously touched the paper money with his fingertips, “You’re joking, right? Just to enhance the experience?”
“That’s right; what era are we in? Ghosts are long gone, and drownings aren’t seen much anymore. I haven’t done any body retrieval work in ages.”
“Not seeing any drownings? That shouldn’t be the case; there are so many water systems here. Surely, there are instances where someone might slip and drown, right?”
“I often seek workers from the village; they rarely come to me because they think the prices on the streets are too high.”
“Oh, so you’re quite cheap?”
“Indeed, it’s cheap.” Yin Meng explained, “If the prices were lowered, wouldn’t that hurt my reputation? After all, I’m a proper body retrieval worker. So it’s only fair if you struggle to pay rent!”
“Let’s go, Brother Bin.”
“Hey, wait for me, Xiaoyuan!”
The entire afternoon, Li Zhuyuan guided Runsheng and Tan Wenbin through a detailed and serious tour of Fengdu Ghost City, where many sculptures and temples adorned the area.
Exploring during the day didn’t feel frightening.
Along the way, they encountered two performance teams, and the trio watched the performances that were rich in traditional folk atmosphere.
Runsheng and Tan Wenbin watched intently, eager to read every explanatory plaque under the sculptures, while ordinary tourists merely skimmed through.
They were effectively taking a review lesson.
Li Zhuyuan leisurely admired the older architectural styles and sculptural designs since he already had plenty of information stored in his mind.
In his childhood, when Li Lan didn’t despise him so much, he would stay in her study while she worked.
She would either bring him drafting papers to play with or pile books before him to browse through.
As dusk approached, the three descended the mountain and returned to Ghost Street.
At this time, the street was still bustling with people, as many local residents had tasks during the day and could only come to the fair in the evening.
Additionally, the ambiance of Ghost City suited the night better, it heightened the charm, especially with many red and white lanterns above; once illuminated at night, it would be a perfect sight.
At the coffin shop, there were still few customers around, and even Yin Meng was once again too lazy to remain behind the counter.
“We're back.” Tan Wenbin greeted loudly.
Yin Meng lifted the curtain and poked her head out, “I made pig’s feet soup; let’s have a good meal tonight!”
“Sounds great.” Li Zhuyuan responded.
By seven o’clock, night had fallen.
Yin Meng brought out a large basin of pig’s feet.
Everyone gathered around a small table.
The pig’s feet melted in the mouth, cooked tenderly.
That is, until they overlooked the prickly sensation in their mouths, as Yin Meng forgot to remove the pig hairs.
She had such a lively and cheerful personality.
Perhaps because her business wasn’t bustling, she rarely had anyone to chat with and was especially merry tonight.
Runsheng busied himself with eating, while Li Zhuyuan occasionally responded to a few remarks.
Tan Wenbin was the main conversationalist, keeping up his end of the banter without falling behind.
Moreover, Binbin deliberately chatted in the Sichuan-Chongqing dialect he had just begun to learn.
His pronunciation was off, but he had learned the rhythm well; as the two conversed, their tones intensified, and their pace quickened, resembling a duet sung in the mountains.
However, they didn’t discuss much about body retrieval, as Yin Meng hadn’t had many practical experiences.
She had retrieved floating corpses but had never encountered any real dead bodies.
Her knowledge and skills were all taught by her grandfather.
Her parents had divorced when she was very young, with her father leaving for the south and never returning, while her mother remarried down in a neighboring town and had two boys.
When she was young, she had sought her mother out, but as she grew up, she realized her mother simply didn’t want to concern herself with her.
At this point, Li Zhuyuan and Yin Meng raised their glasses of soda to toast each other.
She spent most of her time living with her grandfather, who ran this shop and was an authentic body retrieval worker.
Later, her grandfather passed the shop to her to continue.
She was actually quite sharp; switching to a different business would likely lead to profit, but she didn’t want to alter the nature of this shop.
She understood her grandfather wouldn’t approve.
Li Zhuyuan had seen the calluses on her palms, as well as the changes in her toes every time she stood and sat down.
He knew she carried some skills.
This was also the reason a young girl could run a shop alone; she had beaten up most of the local ruffians.
She jokingly claimed that if she wanted, she could easily assume the role of the boss lady of Ghost Street, collecting protection fees.
Enthralled in devouring pig's feet, Runsheng raised his glass to toast her.
Li Zhuyuan asked if Yin Meng’s grandfather had left behind any books or similar items.
She replied, puzzled, “Aren’t body retrieval workers usually taught through oral tradition?”
This left Li Zhuyuan somewhat disappointed; he wanted to see what other practitioners preserved, yet there was none.
At the same time, he felt envious.
Judging by Yin Meng's various details, her grandfather’s skills should be quite profound, and she received a thorough “education.”
However, Li Zhuyuan didn’t consider his own great-grandfather to be ineffective; after all, his great-grandfather could “puff” blessings, and being around him meant living the good life.
In summary, this night was the most relaxing and pleasant one he had experienced since leaving Nantong.
They were all happy and relaxed.
That relaxed feeling continued until preparations for sleep broke the mood.
“What? You want us to sleep in coffins?”
Tan Wenbin hugged his head, looking incredulous.
Yin Meng was inside, preparing bedding for the coffins.
“What’s wrong? Sleeping in a coffin is quite comfortable, isn’t it?”
“Can I sleep on the ground outside?”
“It’s cold in the mountains at night, and I don’t have enough bedding here. The inside of the coffin is warmer.”
Tan Wenbin muttered, “It’s the first time I’ve heard of warmth being associated with coffins.”
The interior was a storage room and kitchen, with three coffins.
Outside, two more coffins were displayed.
Since they were already here, they might as well go with the flow.
In the end, Li Zhuyuan and Runsheng sleeping in the two outside coffins, while Tan Wenbin and Yin Meng took the ones inside.
Coffins seemed as off-putting as stinky tofu; they looked uncomfortable, but lying inside was surprisingly cozy, offering a sense of being wrapped up and secure.
Of course, the coffin lid was slightly opened for ventilation.
After a day of walking and exploring, they were worn out.
Tan Wenbin quickly fell into a deep sleep, only to hear scratching sounds against the lid of his coffin.
“Shh... shh...”
Tan Wenbin was so startled that cold sweat broke out all over him.
He pulled the blanket over his face, daring only to peek with his eyes toward the top.
Then, Runsheng's face appeared above: “Hehe.”
“What are you doing?”
“Bathroom.”
The restroom was in the back of the inner room, and Runsheng had to pass through it to go relieve himself.
Tan Wenbin, furious, shoved the blanket directly over his head and ignored him.
After a while, he heard the scratching sound again.
Tan Wenbin started to get scared; he felt this time it might not be Runsheng, but someone else.
In the next moment, Runsheng appeared again. “What exactly do you want?”
“I finished peeing, heading back to sleep, just letting you know.”
Tan Wenbin felt his teeth grinding in anger.
He finally managed to build up some semblance of sleepiness again.
“Shh... shh...”
Tan Wenbin opened his eyes and struck the coffin lid with his hand.
The noise stopped.
He turned over to find a comfortable position to fall asleep again.
“Shh... shh...”
Tan Wenbin pulled the blanket down, gripped the coffin edge with both hands, and sat up in the coffin.
He found no one around him.
Did Runsheng run off that quickly?
Tan Wenbin gulped, his heart racing again.
He didn’t dare go outside; instead, he shrank back into the coffin.
“Shh... shh...”
The sound occurred once more, and Tan Wenbin covered his head with the blanket, acting as if he couldn’t hear it while simultaneously curling his legs back under the covers.
Then the sound faded again.
Tan Wenbin's face remained buried in the blanket for long enough that he started to sweat, thinking that this time, Runsheng must have finally fallen asleep without disturbing him.
Deciding to take a breath, he clenched the blanket and resolved to do a quick lift and cover.
One, two, three...
The blanket on his face lifted, but it didn’t return as he imagined.
Because, at some point unknown to him, an old face had already poked into the coffin, now mere inches away from his own.
(End of this chapter)