As soon as Runsheng and Tan Wenbin looked at Li Zhuoyuan, their gazes were filled with intensity; at this moment, silence spoke louder than words.
They had faced many strange occurrences since leaving home, and although they had witnessed death in various forms, they had grown weary of gourmet meals and began to crave simpler, lighter fare.
To them, retrieving a body was a way to cultivate their character.
Li Zhuoyuan nodded affirmatively.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, with Runsheng lighting a “cigar”, while Tan Wenbin rubbed his hands together in excitement.
Yin Meng entered the inner room, pushing open the coffin lid.
She then stepped outside to retrieve a warm ceramic pot, pouring the contents into a bowl and spooning it carefully into the old man's mouth.
What she fed him was not medicine, but rather a thick syrupy substance, meant to sustain his life for a little longer.
Once finished, Yin Meng opened a basin of hot water, changed the old man's soiled diaper, and meticulously wiped his body before dressing him in clean clothes.
After completing these tasks, she wiped the sweat from her brow.
The old man opened his eyes.
Yin Meng was momentarily taken aback before breaking into laughter. “Grandpa, you can actually open your eyes! Your complexion is much better; it seems you’re getting better.”
Li Zhuoyuan watched quietly from the side.
He understood that the old man could open his eyes; he was not a vegetable, merely paralyzed by a stroke.
Moreover, even many vegetative patients could briefly open their eyes.
Previously, the old man had deliberately withheld his responses to dishearten his granddaughter, wanting her to tend to him as if he were an old mule.
He was aware of his own condition and didn’t want his granddaughter to harbor false hopes.
Today, willingly opening his eyes was probably his way of taking a last look at her.
The improved color on his face was, after all, just a sign of impending death.
After exchanging a few joyful words with the old man, Yin Meng took the basin of dirty clothes outside to wash.
Li Zhuoyuan approached the coffin, gazing at the old man, and saw a sense of relief in his eyes.
Last night, the old man did not ask him to reveal the truth to Yin Meng, which suggested that he did not want his granddaughter to experience yet another emotional wound after already suffering the scars of abandonment in her childhood.
From the way Yin Meng behaved toward her two half-brothers—ah, old man, please don’t let your granddaughter handle two burdens.
However, Li Zhuoyuan quickly dismissed his concern, thinking that the old man would not make that mistake.
Simply put, in the world of mortals, there were no true good-hearted people.
Killing someone in this line of work was as simple as tying a stone to sink them down.
These people had skills and cunning; on ordinary days, they relied on moral principles, good behavior, and social conventions for restraint, but what if one day they no longer cared?
Therefore, one must never push the “simple person” too far.
Li Zhuoyuan reached the inner room door just in time to see Yin Meng wiping away her tears while hanging up laundry.
Well, after all, she was a legitimate corpse retrieval worker; how could she fail to recognize the signs of death approaching?
They were merely putting on a performance for one another, seeking a dignified conclusion.
Yin Meng thanked and agreed to Tan Wenbin’s offer of help.
After tidying up the house, she led everyone on their way.
On the road, the two boys seemed eager to chat with their peer, Li Zhuoyuan, yet he was being carried by Runsheng, ignoring them, determined not to engage, to remain distant, uninvolved, and unbound.
The journey wasn’t far; they soon arrived at a neighboring town's village, where many villagers had gathered by the riverbank to watch.
Two corpses—a man floating face down and a woman face up—were still bobbing in the water, their bodies tightly pressed together, appearing unwilling to be apart even in death.
Had it not been for their frequent brawls in the village, it might even have been rumored that they had chosen to die together.
Li Zhuoyuan climbed down from Runsheng’s back and took a quick look at the scene.
It was clear to him that the two were not bound by love, but stuck together after death.
Unlike the usual whitish glimmer of floating bodies, theirs was of a dark hue, resembling pieces of spoiled black pig skin gelatin.
Two middle-aged men were arguing with a one-eyed old woman.
Given their equipment, they appeared to be local corpse retrieval workers.
With two corpses floating around, they would need to negotiate a different price for retrieval, as their conditions were especially grim.
Evidently, the two sides had reached an impasse on pricing, as the one-eyed woman would rather see her children continue floating than to “suffer this loss”.
Seeing Yin Meng arriving, the one-eyed woman immediately pointed triumphantly and laughed, “No need for your two black-hearted fellows; my granddaughter has arrived!”
She approached with a friendly smile that gradually changed to tears, a mix of sobbing and laughter as she wiped her eyes and took her granddaughter’s hand, as if she had finally found her anchor.
“Granddaughter, you’re finally here! Quick, pull up your parents; they are so pitiful!”
Tan Wenbin couldn’t help but roll his eyes, wondering how someone could be so shameless.
In her childhood, Yin Meng hadn’t understood everything.
Whenever she cried looking for her mother, her mother would deliberately hide, and the one-eyed woman emerged with the most venomous insults for the girl.
Once, during a frigid winter, the one-eyed woman poured a basin of water out, drenching Yin Meng as she cried her way home.
The little girl, naïve as she was, went home and told her grandfather that she had fallen into a ditch while playing.
The old man, gullible, actually believed her.
Li Zhuoyuan understood that the old man truly cared for his granddaughter, but he was also careless; otherwise, he wouldn’t have believed the letter left by his son.
Yin Meng didn’t reciprocate the one-eyed woman’s affection, simply stating, “Let me retrieve the bodies.”
“Ah, all right, all right!” The one-eyed woman replied.
Yin Meng glanced at the two local colleagues.
Their expressions turned sour, but they didn’t dare protest; they could only light a cigarette and silently turn away with their gear.
Since it was her own mother being retrieved, it was technically not stealing business.
Although they felt a bit miffed, they were merely playing along.
Tan Wenbin set up an offering table and lit candles while Runsheng moved a small fishing boat to the riverbank.
Yin Meng stood at the offering table, beginning the ritual.
Li Zhuoyuan stood beside her, watching with great interest.
Compared to the free-spirited rituals of his great-grandfather, Yin Meng’s actions were clearly more standardized and professional.
Many of the rites, though not entirely formal, showed traces of ancient customs.
Especially the obscure sounds emanating from her throat, which Li Zhuoyuan found intriguing.
Last night, the old man, while conducting his business, had similarly communicated with that ghostly figure using this very method.
Speaking of supernatural matters, sometimes it may even be a compliment to certain special abilities.
As the ritual concluded, Yin Meng began to prepare for the retrieval, but before she could step away from the altar, she saw that Runsheng and Tan Wenbin had already set out in the boat, using Yin Meng’s own equipment.
Yin Meng stood with her hands on her hips, a bit helpless as she looked at Li Zhuoyuan. “How can I accept this?”
“It’s fine; they’re just eager,” he reassured her.
Yin Meng chuckled, “I feel eager too.”
With high prices and few opportunities throughout the year for corpse retrieval, this was her chance to stretch her legs.
Runsheng and Tan Wenbin worked in perfect sync.
Since the two bodies were stuck together, the pair simply stood shoulder to shoulder and then: “One, two, three!”
They leapt off the boat and landed on the ground.
After watching the entire process, Yin Meng remarked, “The corpse retrieval customs in Nantong seem similar to ours.”
Li Zhuoyuan remained noncommittal.
If his great-grandfather had been present, she would likely have felt quite differently.
Runsheng’s method was corrected according to the teachings of Wei Zhengdao, including techniques from the “Zhengdao Fumog Record” used to deal with floating bodies, which Li Zhuoyuan had passed on to Runsheng.
What Runsheng and the others just demonstrated was textbook behavior, the most professional actions imaginable.
Not wanting to take the time to pack up and roll again, they directly brought the bodies into the one-eyed woman’s house.
A long bench was laid with a big cooling mat, and the corpses were placed on top.
The one-eyed woman found a white sheet to cover her son and daughter-in-law, then feeling a lump in her throat, she prepared to cry as she walked toward the room entrance.
Meanwhile, the two women beside her nudged her waist and whispered something in her ear.
The one-eyed woman instantly sprang into action, dispersing the villagers who had come to see the bodies, allowing only her own family to enter.
She specifically took Yin Meng’s hand, leading her inside as she propped the door shut.
Outside, the villagers murmured among themselves.
Seeing Li Zhuoyuan sitting on a small stool, Tan Wenbin squatted down beside him, curiously asking, “Xiao Yuan, why aren’t they rushing to prepare for the funeral? What are they doing?”
Li Zhuoyuan replied, “They’re entangled in bonds of grief.”
Tan Wenbin exclaimed, “Can they be so shameless?”
Li Zhuoyuan didn’t answer, staring at a worm struggling to burrow its way out of the dirt, half its body exposed and half still buried.
Tan Wenbin persisted, “Xiao Yuan, what should we do?”
“What to do?”
“I mean, should we help her?”
“What does it have to do with us?”
“At the very least, she’s considered a friend, right?”
“Then let’s respect her choice as a friend.”
“Uh…” Tan Wenbin scratched his head vigorously, “But this feels wrong. What if she actually loses her mind and agrees?”
“Then let’s respect her fate.”
Inside the room,
Yin Meng stood in the middle, surrounded by a crowd, which included the two boys.
The one-eyed woman pointed at the adults and introduced them. “Granddaughter, these are your relatives: here’s your uncle, here’s your second uncle, and here’s your aunt and second aunt…”
The one-eyed woman had three sons and one daughter, and Yin Meng’s mother had married her youngest son.
Yin Meng’s gaze swept over the faces of her “relatives” who shared no blood ties with her.
At that moment, each one wore a smile.
The one-eyed woman continued, “Granddaughter, your parents have departed, and my world feels like it has collapsed. As an old woman, my body won’t hold up much longer, but these two grandsons can’t be left uncared for. They still need an education, food, and clothes. I truly can’t manage on my own!”
Then the one-eyed woman began her act of sorrow.
The surrounding “Uncles and Aunts” immediately echoed her sentiments. “Yes, yes.”
“It’s hard, indeed hard.”
Yin Meng remained silent.
Seeing the girl not engage, the one-eyed woman was undeterred, taking Yin Meng’s hand and calling the two grandsons over.
“Come here, Niuwazi and Mawa, from now on, you will live with your sister. She will support you with food and schooling. Quickly, thank your sister.”
“Thank you, sister.”
“Thank you, sister.”
The one-eyed woman then turned to Yin Meng with affection in her gaze.
“This arrangement is for your own good. You’re by yourself at home, and if you marry in the future without any family to help, you could be bullied. Niuwazi and Mawa are your biological brothers, after all, you can raise them. They can support you in the future, as that would also bolster your strength.”
With this, the one-eyed woman was all smiles as she intended to open the door, first talking among the family before revealing it to the villagers.
Even without written agreements, the traditional process would make it official.
Yin Meng finally asked, “You want me to take care of the two of them?”
“Ah, yes! You must really love your two brothers, don’t you think they’re just adorable?”
Every time the two children came to the town, when visiting the coffin shop, Yin Meng would either feed them or give them pocket money, which the one-eyed woman knew attested to the girl’s kindness.
Yin Meng repeated, “You want me to take care of the two of them?”
“Of course! Isn’t it wonderful? When you marry in the future, having your brothers there means your husband’s family wouldn’t dare bully you. And even if you don’t plan to get married, your two brothers and their future children will help you in your old age.”
“Oh.”
Yin Meng nodded.
Seeing this, everyone around relaxed and wore smiles, showering the girl with compliments.
The one-eyed woman beamed, her wrinkles unfolding like daisies.
The two boys, clearly prompted by their elder family members, hurriedly grasped the girl’s legs. “Sister.”
Yin Meng raised her hand and struck down hard on both boys.
“Smack! Smack!”
Both boys fell to the ground, covering their swollen right cheeks, blood trickling from their split lips.
At that moment, the room fell silent.
The silence was shattered by the cries of the stunned boys.
The one-eyed woman slapped her thigh and wailed, “Heavens, this is inhuman!”
As she cried out, she lunged toward Yin Meng.
Yin Meng lifted her foot and aimed a kick directly into the woman’s stomach.
“Thud!”
The one-eyed woman tumbled to the ground, rolling a few times.
Seeing the fight break out, the two “uncles” rushed forward angrily.
Instead of retreating, Yin Meng advanced as well, tossing one of them down with a shoulder throw.
Then she restrained another one’s hand and kicked him in the back.
She was capable enough to tussle with the dead; taking on ordinary mortals was child’s play.
“What are you hitting people for?”
“Do you have any manners?”
The “aunties” and “young aunts” nearby chattered away, while Yin Meng approached, grabbing one’s hair and delivering two slaps across the face.
“Smack! Smack!”
The others attempted to dodge, but Yin Meng chased after them, grabbing their hair and dragging them back, forcing their faces to press against the corpses on the cooling mat, giving them a thorough “facial”.
Yin Meng pressed down on their heads, rolling them back and forth for quite the unconventional beauty treatment, leaving both faces slick and unrecognizable.
“Ah!!!!”
Screams echoed.
Once Yin Meng had dealt with everyone in the room, she ensured no one could rise without facing another kick from her.
With a calm expression, she neither cried nor shouted nor swore, yet her blows were heavy.
At first, the two boys left abandoned in the chaos, came seeking her out, begging her to stop hitting.
In her frustration, she slapped them both again to maintain symmetry.
Hitting kids was wrong, yet she was still a child at heart; most importantly, it felt good to vent her frustrations.
After tidying up the room, Yin Meng walked up to the door.
“Boom!”
She kicked the door off its hinges and stepped outside.
The villagers were peering in, seeing a heap of people sprawled out inside.
Tan Wenbin stood up, walked over to Yin Meng, and clapped forcefully. “Well done! I was worried you might actually agree with them.”
Yin Meng shot him a glare. “I’m not foolish.”
Runsheng observed the chaos within and shook his head. “They didn’t even lose all their teeth.”
At that moment, a voice cried out from among the villagers, “The village chief is here! The village chief is coming!”
A burly middle-aged man wearing a hat and chewing on a cigarette approached.
His gaze swept over the scene, and instant silence fell; evidently, this village chief held considerable authority.
“Someone’s been beaten! They could die; call the police!”
People crawled out of the house, their faces swollen like pig heads, hair disheveled as if they had escaped from a fierce ghost.
The village chief looked at Tan Wenbin and Runsheng standing next to Yin Meng, just about to speak when Li Zhuoyuan interjected, “Runsheng, Wenbin, step back.”
The two immediately retreated.
Li Zhuoyuan pointed at Yin Meng, declaring, “Everyone saw it; she went in alone. No one else followed her.”
The villagers all nodded in agreement.
The village chief was stunned; this girl managed to take down an entire room of people by herself?
He turned to her and asked, “So why did you hit people?”
Yin Meng began, “They wanted…”
Li Zhuoyuan interrupted, “They wanted to tie her up and marry her off for a bride price; that’s human trafficking!”
The village chief paused, regardless of whether it was true or false, once that allegation was made, especially with only the girl fighting, this conflict would resolve itself without any follow-ups, even if it reached the police.
“You're talking nonsense!” The one-eyed woman shrieked, blood filling her mouth as she shouted hoarsely, “Who wants to sell her?”
Li Zhuoyuan countered, “Then why did you call her inside? What blood ties do you share? What sort of relatives are these?”
Without waiting for the people inside to respond, Li Zhuoyuan waved his hand. “Let’s go, return home.”
Runsheng and Tan Wenbin hoisted their gear and promptly led Yin Meng through the crowd.
The villagers were merely spectators; seeing two boys with a shovel and a hook made way for them.
A few young villagers hesitated, glancing at the village chief, uncertain whether to intervene, stemming from their village traditions, but the chief gave no sign.
The one-eyed woman, in disbelief, exclaimed, “You’re just letting them walk away? They nearly killed someone!”
The village chief shot her an annoyed look, demanding, “What did you pull her inside for?”
The one-eyed woman answered as if it were obvious, “To let her take care of those two brothers!”
Hearing that, the villagers exchanged glances, and the village chief was rendered speechless.
“Serves you right!”
He spat on the ground and strode away.
By the time the four returned to town, dusk had set in.
Yin Meng did not rush back to the coffin shop but instead pointed to a hot pot restaurant and said, “Let’s eat hot pot; it’s on me!”
Entering the shop, they ordered a pot with a divided section, knowing they hadn’t eaten much during the day and felt famished after all the walking and fetching.
They quickly started cooking tripe and duck intestines.
Yin Meng ordered some liquor and filled glasses for Runsheng, Wenbin, and herself.
She also poured some soy milk for Li Zhuoyuan.
Raising her glass, she declared, “Cheers!”
Afterward, she gulped it down and immediately erupted into a coughing fit.
Tan Wenbin, finding it both amusing and pitiable, remarked, “Never mind; if you can’t drink, let’s skip it. You and my buddy Li can just share the milk instead.”
Yin Meng wiped her mouth and said, “We must go through the motions!”
“It’s all done; all done! Come on, the tripe is ready; eat up before it gets old.”
As busy as Runsheng or Li Zhuoyuan had been during the recovery, the most zealous at the meal was still Zhuang Zhuang.
When it came time for the hot pot, everyone tacitly avoided discussing the day’s events.
Tan Wenbin asked Yin Meng what she wanted to do in the future if she didn’t keep the coffin shop.
She answered honestly that she didn’t know, adding that perhaps her desire not to change was also a kind of contentment with the current situation.
Yin Meng inquired what the three of them wanted to do.
Li Zhuoyuan and Tan Wenbin replied they wanted to go to college, whereas Runsheng said he would ride a tricycle to take them there for their studies.
After everyone was stuffed, Yin Meng went to settle the bill.
The four walked back side by side to the coffin shop, and while washing up, Tan Wenbin chuckled, “I’ve realized sleeping in a coffin is actually rather comfortable. I’ll have to persuade Old Li to prepare a casket early when we return. That way, I’ll no longer have to sleep at the round table. What do you think, Runsheng?”
“You dare to say that? Old Li will surely beat you to death, making you lie down in that casket first!”
“Just joking! I’ve made some breakthroughs in my studies lately.”
“What breakthroughs?”
“Not convenient to discuss now; wait until we take the boat tomorrow; I’ll explain it in detail. If you want to learn, I can teach you, provided you ask me nicely.”
“Can’t I just ask Xiao Yuan?”
“Don’t say that; Xiao Yuan might not really be able to teach you.”
Just yesterday, Xiao Yuan had instructed him on the method of walking the Yin, advising him to seek a feeling of buoyancy.
It was akin to telling a piano novice: as long as you deeply feel it, you can play touching melodies.
But the catch is, he didn’t even recognize the keys, let alone read the music sheet.
After a thorough wash-up, everyone settled into their respective coffins for the night.
After a short while of sleeping, Li Zhuoyuan vaguely heard coughing sounds and turned his head over, sensing someone walking the Yin.
He entered the inner room, finding the old man climbing out of the coffin.
A “rustling” sound came from Tan Wenbin’s coffin nearby.
“He was like this last night; I could sense him. It seems he wants to walk the Yin, but when I actually pulled him out, he was so frightened to see me that he nearly fainted.”
Li Zhuoyuan’s gaze sharpened, and a shadow fell over Tan Wenbin’s coffin, instantly calming the atmosphere.
The old man was startled by the scene, hurriedly saying, “You can’t break his Yin walk like this! If you don’t gauge the intensity properly, it could damage his mind!”
After speaking, it seemed the old man realized something, quickly smiling and shaking his head. “Forget it, I’m just being overly cautious; you grasp it better than I do.”
Having witnessed the boy’s terrifying learning speed last night, the old man knew that the boy was already far more adept at the Yin family’s Twelve Methods than he, the legitimate heir.
Frequent Yin walking can lead to a loss of consciousness, and Li Zhuoyuan was now regulating Wenbin’s frequency.
Nevertheless, what puzzled Li Zhuoyuan even more was the old man’s current condition.
“How come it seems like you’ve improved?”
“Ah, I’m curious too; logically speaking, I shouldn’t even have the strength to walk the Yin today.”
“Has your life essence returned?”
“Are people dead?”
“Both have passed.”
“That doesn’t make sense; the deal was concluded; why’s there a refund?”
Logically, this should have been a good deal for him, yet the old man didn’t celebrate, but rather cursed, “Isn’t this just wasting time?”
Clearly, he had shown signs of returning energy and was just days away from taking his last breath, preparing for a release—yet here he was continuing to live.
The old man approached the wall, pressing a hand onto a mirror, causing the board to turn transparent.
The Ghost Festival had ended, and the temple fair was over, but the streets weren’t completely devoid of “people”; shadows still wandered sporadically.
Li Zhuoyuan sensed that Fengdu had its unique mysteries; he had never seen so many ghostly figures elsewhere.
Could it be that Yin Changsheng’s legend of ascension during the daytime wasn’t without reason? Perhaps this “daytime ascension” was different from ordinary understanding.
Though there were fewer foot traffic outside today, the customer inflow increased; as he opened the door, a shadow rushed in eagerly.
These shadows appeared nearly identical, cloaked in black robes, faces unseen, even their genders unrecognizable.
Yet, it felt familiar as if they had “met” yesterday.
The old man and shadow began their hushed, droning conversation.
Afterward, the old man sighed, returning to his chair, covering his face with a mix of bemusement and amusement.
The shadow did not leave but remained in place.
The old man waved his hand dismissively. “You should leave.”
But the shadow stood still.
Frustrated, the old man asked, “What? You plan to cling to me?”
The shadow turned and floated over to Li Zhuoyuan.
Instead of feeling fearful, the boy showed a hint of excitement, his eyes reflecting a desire to step forward.
Yet, the old man cautioned, “He’s from the Dragon King’s family.”
The shadow halted, without hesitation, retreating from the coffin shop and melding into the darkness.
Li Zhuoyuan looked at the old man. “Why did you say it?”
“This is a ghost street, beneath the feet of Emperor Fengdu; unless it’s absolutely necessary, one shouldn’t conflict with these beings.”
“You Yin family has been developing and passing on traditions here for quite a while; have you not conducted any research into this place’s unique circumstances?”
“We are the Yin, sharing the same surname as Emperor Fengdu; we… are his descendants.”
“Do you have a genealogy?”
“Indeed. Dating back to the Eastern Han, our family was once nobility.”
Li Zhuoyuan surveyed the coffin shop interior. “It’s hard to tell there’s any nobility here now.”
The old man shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s quite normal; pick any surname from the hundred surnames, don’t they all have an ancestor who was once considerable?”
“Has any research been done?” Li Zhuoyuan pressed on.
“Indeed.” The old man nodded vigorously, “Our ancestors practiced Dao cultivation, but their ascension was due to consuming an immortal pill.”
“I recall reading in the“Baopuzi”that your ancestor obtained a“Dan Scroll”.”
“That’s false; it’s documented in our genealogy. If such a thing existed, anyone could refine pills. Can you imagine how many ancestors would have ascended?”
“In truth, after multiple generations of investigation, it’s likely our ancestors didn’t eat an immortal pill.”
“What then?”
“A corpse pill.”
“It seems your family really put in considerable effort into research.”
Without ample evidence, who would demean their ancestors by claiming they consumed corpse pills? Who had the time to insult their lineage?
Religious texts recorded that after achieving enlightenment, Yin Changsheng lingered among the mortals before finally ascending... which meant that ascension here could also be interpreted as disappearance?
Was it possible that Yin Changsheng didn’t ascend but instead burrowed down?
Adding to this were the inscribed words on the stone at the shop entrance: “If one doesn’t walk at night, does one know of the beings who walk?”
Yin Changsheng stated that after his ascension, he realized just how many had succeeded since his dynasty, remarking that many immortals preferred solitude and concealed existence.
If Yin Changsheng consumed a corpse pill, then those secluded immortal friends he mentioned must be…
The old man began, “Our forebears were once very eager to research this, even to the point of madness, but over time, the family’s fortunes declined, accompanied by the realization that continuous study bore no useful results. The later generations of ancestors surfaced into silence. All of this is recorded in our genealogy; you can ask Mengmeng to get it out for you during the day. You might either painstakingly copy it or simply borrow it to read…”
As Li Zhuoyuan reached the spot where the shadow had once stood, he met the old man’s gaze across the counter and inquired, “Do you wish to trade with me?”
The secrets of the ancestors are indeed genuine, and he was willing to share the genealogy.
“Such things aren’t something one can merely hear and borrow without cost?”
The old man waved his hand. “I’ve grown tired of seeking a son-in-law for Mengmeng to inherit our surname. While the genealogy holds numerous secrets, what use is it to me and Mengmeng? If you like it, you are welcome to take it; it’s what one ought to do with resources, is it not?”
“Old man, I’ll give you one more chance—name your price.”
“Take Mengmeng away, let her follow you.”
“She isn’t an item; she is a person. You can’t just take her along like that!”
The old man appeared relaxed then, not outright refusing, but rather negotiating the price, indicating he was still interested in the deal.
“Mengmeng is good-hearted; I believe with your intellect, you can take her away. Ah, I’m not suggesting you have ill intentions.”
“When you’re alive, she won’t leave.”
“I will die.”
“You just told me about your longevity returning?”
“It didn’t solidify; the transaction fell through, so my longevity returned.”
“Yet two people died.”
“That shouldn’t have happened; the deal was sealed, so how could there be a refund?”
Rigorously, this should have been a profitable situation for the old man, yet instead of celebrating, he condemned it.
“This is just wasting time!”
Having returned to light briefly, he now sat on the brink of passing, about to liberate both himself and his granddaughter.
Yet, inexplicably, he continued on.
The old man reached for the wall, pressing a hand against the mirror, which instantly became transparent.
Ghost Festival had elapsed and temple fairs were over, but shadows still meandered along the path.
Li Zhuoyuan suspected that Fengdu harbored unique enigmas; he had not witnessed such a multitude of spectral forms elsewhere.
Could it be that the legend of Yin Changsheng's ascent under sunlight had merit? Perhaps here, “ascent” diverged significantly from typical interpretations.
Outdoors, despite foot traffic dwindling, the customer influx grew; as the shop opened, a shadow rushed inside eagerly.
These shadows appeared nearly identical, cloaked in black robes devoid of features, faces concealed, genders indiscernible.
Yet the atmosphere bore a sense of familiarity, as though they’d been “seen” just the day prior.
The old man and shadows began communicating in vague, resonating tones.
Once the exchange concluded, the old man sighed and returned to his chair, hiding his face while smiling wryly.
The shadows remained still.
The elderly man waved his hand. “You ought to leave.”
Yet the shadows did not budge.
“Why? Do you wish to remain?”
Instead, the shadows shifted toward Li Zhuoyuan.
The boy exhibited no fear; rather, excitement sparked in his eyes as though eager to embrace the plunge.
Yet, the old man cautioned, “He belongs to the Dragon King’s clan.”
The shadow paused but soon drifted away from the coffin shop, merging into the shadows around.
Li Zhuoyuan turned to the old man. “Why reveal this?”
“This is a ghostly street within Emperor Fengdu's domain; unless absolutely necessary, avoid conflict with such entities.”
“Your Yin family has long developed traditions here; has no research been undertaken regarding its peculiarities?”
“Our surname is Yin, akin to that of the Emperor Fengdu; we are… his descendants.”
“Is there a genealogy?”
“Certainly. Dating back to the Eastern Han, we were once nobility.”
Scanning the interior of the coffin shop, Li Zhuoyuan mused, “It’s difficult to see any signs of nobility now.”
The old man dismissed the thought casually. “That’s typical—pick any surname from the hundred, and you’ll find an ancestor who once held a position of power.”
“Has there been any research conducted?” continued Li Zhuoyuan.
“There has been.” The old man nodded vigorously. “Our ancestors practiced the Dao, and their ascension occurred because they ingested an immortal pill.”
“I believe I read in the ‘Baopuzi’ that your ancestor received a ‘Dan Scroll’.”
“That is a myth; it’s documented in the genealogy. If such a thing did exist, there would be plenty of pills to refine. Imagine how many ancestors would have achieved immortality!”
“However, according to multiple generations of research, it seems our ancestors likely consumed corpse pills.”
“What are those?”
“Clearly, your family undertook considerable effort in this research.”
Unless someone had ample evidence, who would demean their ancestors by claiming they consumed corpse pills? No one would engage in such ridicule.
Records in related Daoist texts noted that after achieving immortality, Yin Changsheng lingered in the human realm before finally ascending… which indicated that this “ascension” might also refer to disappearance?
Could it be that Yin Changsheng did not ascend into the heavens but rather delved into the earth?
And reflecting upon those inscribed characters at the shop's entrance: “One does not walk at night, how then does one recognize a nightwalker?”
Yin Changsheng mentioned after ascending, he discerned how many had succeeded since his time.
He remarked many immortals preferred solitude and hidden existence.
If Yin Changsheng consumed a corpse pill, one could assume those reclusive immortal companions he referenced were…
The old man resumed, “Previous generations were immersed in researching this, even to the point of obsession, but ultimately the family’s decline stunted progress. Eventually, future generations stopped pursuing such inquiries. All pertaining information remains within our genealogy; you may have Mengmeng retrieve it for you during the day. You might meticulously copy it or directly borrow it to study…”
As Li Zhuoyuan approached the spot where the shadow had rested, he locked eyes with the old man across the counter, asking, “Do you seek to barter with me?”
The secrets behind the ancestors' lore held validity, and he was willing to allow access to the genealogy.
“You think these things come without any costs?”
The old man waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve grown tired of searching for a son-in-law for Mengmeng to inherit the surname; the genealogy is steeped in secrets, yet of what use are they to me and Mengmeng? If you desire it, you’re welcome to take it. That’s putting resources to good use.”
“Senior, I’ll offer one more opportunity—name your price.”
“Take Mengmeng away; let her follow you.”
“She’s not merchandise; she is a person; it’s not as if I simply take her along!”
The old man's demeanor softened, neither outright declining, instead he began negotiations, hinting that he still desired to close this particular deal.
“Mengmeng possesses a kind heart; I firmly believe your intelligence will allow you to support her. I do not imply your motives are malicious.”
“Even while you are alive, she will not depart.”
“I shall die.”
“Yet you just mentioned your longevity returning?”
“It has yet to solidify; the transaction has fallen through, thus it has reverted.”
“Yet two lives have been lost.”
“Shouldn’t have happened; the deal was solid, so how could there be a refund?”
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a favorable transaction; nevertheless, the old man, instead of embracing joy, chastised himself.
“Is this not time wasted?”
Having seemingly returned from the brink, he was merely two days away from death, poised for release—yet he persisted in living.
Having approached the wall, the old man pressed against a mirror, which switched to a translucent state.
The overrated Ghost Festival had passed; the temple festivities were concluded, and yet the paths were not entirely devoid of “humans” but rather sporadically continuing their ways.
Li Zhuoyuan suspected Fengdu held its secretive allure; he had not observed such spectral gatherings elsewhere.
Could it be true that the narrative regarding Yin Changsheng rising in broad daylight wasn’t unfounded? Or perhaps it was simply rather divergent from the common perception of “ascension”.
Even though there were fewer humans wandering outside today, the guest influx heightened; as soon as the store opened, one shadow hastily rushed in.
These shadows shared an identical resemblance, cloaked in pitch-black robes that concealed all features—faces became indistinguishable, genders became obscure.
Yet the essence felt oddly familiar, like deja vu from the preceding day.
The old man and specters initiated their cooing discourse.
Upon concluding their exchange, the old man exhaled a long-held sigh, resumed his seat, shielding his visage behind his hands, revealing residue of bemusement and exasperation.
The shadow did not depart but lingered in position.
The old man waved dismissively, “You ought to scram.”
The shadow continued to remain still.
“What? Are you truly intent on clinging to me?”
Instead, the shadow turned towards Li Zhuoyuan.
The boy mirrored no fright; rather, he emitted a glimmer of eagerness, eyes displaying a yearning to leap into action.
However, the old man interjected, “He belongs to the Dragon King’s lineage.”
The shadow halted mid-way, but then stealthily retreated from the coffin shop, merging seamlessly with the shadows of the night.
Li Zhuoyuan eyed the old man. “Why reveal that?”
“This is a ghost street, shielded under Emperor Fengdu; one should refrain from conflicting with these beings unless entirely necessary.”
“Your Yin clan has operated here for an extensive period; have you not undertaken any analyses of the unique phenomena around?”
“Our surname is Yin, a correlation to Emperor Fengdu; we… are his descendants.”
“Is a family tree available?”
“Certainly,” he nodded earnestly. “Tracing back to the Eastern Han dynasty, our family was previously esteemed nobility.”
Scanning the establishment of the coffin shop again, Li Zhuoyuan remarked, “Difficult now to recognize any signs of noble descent.”
The old man waved dismissively. “This is typical; grab any name from the hundred surnames, and one will find an ancestor who formerly wielded power.”
“Have there been inquiries conducted?” he pressed on.
“Indeed.” The old man nodded vigorously. “Our ancestors pursued the Dao; attaining ascension transpired from consuming an immortal pill.”
“I recall reading in an ancient text that your prior ancestors secured a ‘Dan Scroll’.”
“That seems fabricated; the family tree documents it. If there were such a thing, many could cultivate pills, and who knows the multitude of ancestors that might ascend!”
However, referencing the investigative efforts throughout successive generations, it appeared they likely consumed corpse pills.
“What exactly are those?”
“Clearly, your family invested countless efforts into this pursuit,” he reiterated, suggesting, “How else would they belittle their ancestry?”
In registration, historical texts narrated instances of Yin Changsheng and his lingering presence in mortal realms before defying death.
It raised the question—could “ascension” also imply a form of extinction?
Moreover, contemplating those incised stones emerged the enigmatic invitation: “He who doesn’t wander the night; how does he cross paths with the night wanderers?”
Yin Changsheng asserted that after attaining eternity, he grasped how many had succeeded since his dynasty, asserting many immortals cherished solitude; they wished to remain hidden.
Should Yin Changsheng have inherited the mysterious composition, would not those companions he spoke of imply…?
The old man resumed his voice, stating, “Historical figures studied earnestly, engaged at levels bordering on madness, but eventually, as family lines dwindled, few heirs engaged in this pursuit diligently.”
Thus, such details reside fondly across the genealogy. “You can have Mengmeng retrieve the genealogy. You can make detailed copies or simply borrow a text.”
As Li Zhuoyuan neared the area once occupied by the specter, locking eyes sharply with the elder through the counter, he enquired once more, “Are you truly hoping to make an exchange?”
“Your family’s past; is it real?” he implored, “Even obtaining the genealogy?”
Such assets do not merely surface out of generosity; do they?
The elder waved once more, saying, “I’ve grown weary of none seeking Mengmeng to bring forth the family’s surname. While secrets dwell within the genealogy, the worth it bears for both of us stands trivial; serve your purpose!”
“Elder, one more chance; name your price!”
“Take Mengmeng away. Let her accompany you.”
“Do you consider her mere goods? No such pick-up can be casually arranged!”
Yet, the elder appeared more lenient now, neither dismissively following nor outwardly rejecting, revealing a desire for negotiations; a chance remained to solidify a semblance of transaction.
“Mengmeng embodies unconditional loyalty; thus, your charm and intellect fill the role within reach; I impart no ill feelings.”
“Even amidst your presence, she shall not depart.”
“I shall die.”
“Yet earlier, you expressed resurrection.”
“It remains in suspension; no realization exists to justify abandonment.”
“Two lives stand lost.”
“That shouldn’t exist; solidarity was grasped, hence the refund mirage.”
Principally counterintuitive, this should have borne gain, but the elder, instead of rejoicing, lashed out.
“Isn’t this all trivial?”
Seemingly on the cusp, he anticipated a flickering light, teetering dangerously after days awaited the ultimate freedom—a surprising twist veering deeper into living.
Approaching an ethereal barrier, the elder pressed his hand to an unyielding surface which granted sway to translucent clarity.
The fabled ghostly sievens have dissipated; however, whispers of day rambling experienced in shades emerged.
Li Zhuoyuan felt a latent secretive allure in the very essence of Fengdu; a tapestry unveiled of spectral layers overlooked elsewhere.
There must have been truth in tales of Yin Changsheng soaring into light; perhaps a stark representation veiling profound distance from all ordinary perceptions.
As the steady hum of darkness remained constant in vacuity, subtly urged investigations surfaced.
Standing under starlit embrace, they were primed for all revelations and reluctant alternate paths; however, far beyond mere words, reality tested notions of hidden specters and celestial unraveling; so smoothly painted future motions paced proudly onward, even against the realms ruled by death and life.
With that onward march, a story conceived, a journey forged anew.
(End of Chapter)