"Thank you, Granny Sha," Grandpa said, relieved to see Chen Shi awake.
The old woman put down her peculiar instrument and chuckled, "Old Man Chen, we're all family here, no need for thanks. Without your Water and Fire Refinement, my Soul Summoning Technique alone wouldn't have brought Little Shi back from the underworld. Even if I did, his body might have rotted."
Grandpa dismissed the water and fire above his head and looked at Chen Shi, asking, "Little Shi, how do you feel? Does your chest still hurt?"
Chen Shi tried to speak, but his throat was too dry to make a sound.
"He was dead for seven days, his body was cold. It's a miracle we brought him back on the seventh day," Granny Sha said, peering into Chen Shi's mouth. "His throat muscles are relaxed; he can't speak yet. Once he warms up and gets used to his body, he'll be able to talk."
"It's his body, not a corpse," Grandpa corrected her.
"Same difference," Granny Sha laughed, her eyes narrowing to slits. "Old Man Chen, your Water and Fire Refinement is quite impressive. You've used a technique meant for becoming a Corpse Liberation Immortal on Little Shi. Since I saved your grandson, will you teach me this Water and Fire Refinement?"
Grandpa was cautious and shook his head, "I paid you for your help. But my days are numbered. If you agree to be Little Shi's godmother, I'll teach you everything about Water and Fire Refinement."
"Be Little Shi's godmother?" Granny Sha's expression changed. She glanced at Chen Shi lying on the bed, hesitant, "Be his godmother? I'm not sure I can handle that... Should I take the risk? I don't dare!"
She began to cry, "Old Man Chen, are you trying to pass this burden before you die? Are you scared too? I can't accept this wealth; I'm afraid I can't handle it and become a sinner..."
Chen Shi, lying in bed, was puzzled, "Why is the old woman crying? Why does she say she'll become a sinner?"
After some time, Chen Shi could speak and asked for water.
Granny Sha gave him some water and then started to usher them out. Watching Grandpa place the still-immobile Chen Shi onto a wooden cart, she suddenly burst into tears again.
"Old Man Chen, you can't take the Water and Fire Refinement to the grave with you!"
She cried, "Teach it to me, and I'll wear mourning clothes for you as your daughter!"
Grandpa didn't look up, "You become Little Shi's godmother."
"No way!" Granny Sha refused flatly, "You might as well take the Water and Fire Refinement to the grave; I'll dig it up later!"
The Armored Horse Talisman slowly activated, and the wooden cart began to move.
Heiguo trotted ahead of the cart, and Chen Shi lay on it, swaying as they left Granny Sha's village.
Chen Shi strained to look outside. The village seemed unfamiliar; he hadn't visited during the Moon Festival.
"Grandpa and Granny Sha seem to know each other well. She even calls me Little Shi, knowing my nickname."
Chen Shi blinked. He must have been here before, but he couldn't remember.
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" Grandpa called the dog, which turned back, puzzled by the cart taking a different path, then happily ran over.
"We're not going to Yellow Slope Village; we're heading somewhere else," Grandpa told the dog. "Little Shi's body is too cold, his blood isn't flowing well. We need to go to a corpse nurturing ground for a couple of days."
Heiguo nodded solemnly and led the way.
Chen Shi weakly said, "Heiguo, thank you."
The dog paused, wagged its tail, and continued.
"This is Hillock Village, north of the mountain. Granny Sha is a good person. When you were born, she held you and praised your strong bones. After you topped the county exam, she came to congratulate you. When you got hurt, she was furious and did everything to help summon your soul. If I die, I'll leave you the 'Water and Fire Refinement Technique.' Give it to her to repay her kindness."
Grandpa paused, "She's loyal and emotional. If you give her the technique, she'll remember your kindness and do everything to repay you. She might not dare be your godmother, but she'll protect you as best she can."
Chen Shi listened to the sound of the cart wheels, whispering, "Grandpa won't die."
"Heh," Grandpa chuckled, patting his head, "Silly child, no one lives forever. I can't stay; when the moon rises, I'm afraid I won't resist the hunger..."
He fell silent.
Chen Shi quickly changed the subject, "Grandpa, is Heiguo a normal dog? How did it enter the underworld to save me?"
"You suspect it too?" Grandpa's eyes darkened as he looked at Heiguo. "I've suspected it for a long time, but I can't catch it doing anything."
The dog shivered, feeling their gaze.
Living in the Chen family was tough.
Why was its life so full of challenges?
It just wanted to be a regular dog.
Heiguo led the way, and the cart followed into the mountains, traveling further along the rugged path.
Some paths were so steep that even people struggled to climb, yet the cart moved as if on flat ground.
After a long journey, they arrived at a picturesque place with low mountains surrounding a valley. In the center was a deep pool, its water crystal clear, looking like a dark eye from above.
Beside the pool stood an ancient manor, its tall trees blocking all sunlight, making the interior pitch black. It took time to adjust and see clearly inside.
Heiguo sneezed several times; it was too cold, making it shiver.
It stayed outside, not entering the manor.
Above the manor's gate were the words "Mirror Lake."
Mirror Lake Manor.
Chen Shi found it strange. There were no mosquitoes in the manor. Lying still, he should have been bitten, but there were none.
Not only were there no mosquitoes, but there were also no bird sounds. Everything was eerily quiet, unsettlingly so.
A large tree caught Chen Shi's eye. Its bark resembled dragon scales, growing downward, and it was so thick that it took three to five people to encircle it.
Beneath the tree stood a black coffin, upright, leaning against the trunk.
Chen Shi tried to see more clearly, but another dragon scale tree and vertical coffin came into view.
Then a third tree, and a third black coffin.
The cart stopped under a dragon scale tree in the manor's center, where another small upright black coffin stood, likely not meant for adults.
Grandpa opened the coffin and placed Chen Shi inside, closing the lid.
Strangely, despite the cold, Chen Shi felt his body warming up inside the coffin.
His heart began to beat stronger and stronger.
Even more oddly, he felt at peace inside the coffin, as if he was familiar with the place.
He even fell asleep until Grandpa opened the coffin, waking him.
Grandpa checked his hand, finding it warm, and his heartbeat strong.
Chen Shi climbed out of the upright coffin, moving his limbs, feeling fully recovered, though full of questions.
"Grandpa, have I been here before?"
"Yes."
"Did I lie in this small coffin before?"
"Yes."
"Was it like this the last time?"
"Worse. You were badly hurt last time."
Chen Shi thought for a moment, "Was it when I topped the county exam? How long did I sleep here?"
"Yes, a long time," Grandpa replied gruffly.
He packed up the cart, glancing over.
Chen Shi carefully closed the coffin lid, treating it as another "home," afraid of damaging it.
The two got on the cart, and Chen Shi looked at the other upright coffins in the manor. There were eight in total, with the other seven under ancient trees. He saw no spirits and didn't know if anyone was sleeping inside.
However, he sensed a strong pressure from some coffins, growing stronger as he looked.
Clearly, something remarkable was inside those coffins!
"This corpse nurturing ground was found by me and some acquaintances," Grandpa said, steering the cart out. "Not really friends, just people I know, talked to a few times. They're afraid of death, like me, so we built this manor together. Our bodies here won't decay. Some old folks couldn't wait and moved in. But everyone must follow a few unwritten rules."
He paused, "Don't ask about others' backgrounds, don't ask who moved in, don't reveal this place to outsiders, and don't bring more than two people at a time. Break these rules, and everyone will attack. Heh, if they rise from their coffins, it'll be terrifying."
Chen Shi laughed, "No wonder the dog didn't come in."
The cart left the manor, and Heiguo quickly joined them. Nearby was a luxurious carriage, unlike Grandpa's simple cart. It had a wooden frame, bronze axles, gold accents, and jewels for decoration, with a canopy on top. Four fine horses pulled it, wearing gold and silver armor.
A coachman sat on the carriage, holding a whip.
Inside sat a noble-looking man, dressed in white, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding elegance and charm.
Seeing the two come out, the man in white gracefully stepped out of the carriage.
He wore a long sword at his waist, its lacquered scabbard with diamond patterns, narrow in the middle like a woman's waist. The hilt and scabbard tip were made of tortoiseshell, beautifully crafted and eye-catching.
The man wore the sword hilt down, his posture tall and steps steady.
As he left the carriage, the four horses quickly turned to stone!
The coachman also became a clay figure, still holding the reins as if guiding the horses.
Chen Shi was amazed as the man in white approached them, bowing in greeting.
Grandpa returned the bow.
"Long time no see, Master Chen, still as impressive as ever."
"Not at all. Prince Xiao, you're as graceful as ever, far beyond me."
They exchanged pleasantries.
Prince Xiao looked deeply at Chen Shi, praising, "Water and Fire Refinement, truly extraordinary."
Grandpa's pupils narrowed.
Chen Shi felt uneasy, like being watched by a wounded leopard, puzzled, "Why does Grandpa feel like killing again?"
Prince Xiao sensed the hostility but said nothing more, excusing himself and entering the manor.
Chen Shi watched as Prince Xiao approached a large upright coffin. It resembled a small house, twelve feet high and eighteen feet long, covered in intricate talisman scripts, dazzling to behold.
The coffin lid opened automatically, flying out, followed by a yellow board, then a silver one, a golden one, and finally a jade board, similar in size to a regular coffin lid.
Prince Xiao entered the coffin, and the boards flew back in, sealing him inside.