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Chapter of Revenge The Corpse Lantern
Zhu Gang, hearing no response, raised his torch and strode over to see us clearly. He smiled apologetically, "Master Ma, I'm sorry. If someone calls my name at night, please don't respond. When you called me just now, I really didn't answer."
"I know. Where are you all headed?" I asked, feigning ignorance. In truth, I could hear their conversation perfectly well. I couldn't just say, "Hey, you're here to pick me up; my face is worth less than a rural dustpan."
"We're here to find you." Under the enthusiastic escort of Zhu Gang and the others, we headed toward Zhu Gang's home. On the way, he informed me that many police officers had appeared in the village that afternoon, conducting thorough inspections and checking the poultry carefully. They even administered vaccinations. Additionally, his mother was hospitalized for observation, arranged by the person on the business card I had given him. Hearing him mention Chi Xinrong with such joy and excitement made me think he might have fallen under Chi Xinrong's spell.
Zhu Gui's body had been returned, and the examination report stated: the deceased died accidentally, with numerous wounds on his body. The wounds contained a thick saliva from a certain type of creature, classified as anesthetic. The wounds were consistent with bite marks from a bat.
Could it really be related to bats?
I quickly dialed Qin Jian's number and confirmed over the phone that Zhu Gui had died from sepsis, caused by an infection from a bite wound leading to organ complications and ultimately heart failure. Due to Zhu Gui's incident, Qin Jian brought people to the village for a large-scale inspection. The results showed there was nothing on Zhu Gui that could be fatal.
Qin Jian also asked, "Ma Qi, what are you up to? I couldn't reach you all afternoon; what were you doing?"
"I went to a place you wouldn't expect; it's not somewhere I could contact you from."
After finishing our conversation, Qin Jian added, "Yu's remains have already been buried at Ten-Mile Temple. Ma Qi, I don't understand; Ten-Mile Temple is just a dilapidated shrine. Is it really useful to bury Corpse there?"
"You'll find out if it's useful later." With Bone Jade's matter settled, I felt relieved about one less concern.
It seemed Qin Jian had other matters to attend to. "Alright! You rest; we'll keep in touch if anything comes up."
After hanging up with Qin Jian, I went to check the mourning hall. After confirming that the power supply was fine, I took a look at Zhu Gui lying in the hotel.
Now his face was covered with yellow paper, a coin placed in his mouth. In front of the Ice Coffin was an Altar Table set with a corpse lantern to prevent dogs and cats from entering. Incense was burned on a Tablet, and a bowl of rice was offered with a pair of bamboo chopsticks inserted upright—this was called "upside-down rice," sharing the same significance as leg-stretching chicken.
I inquired about tonight's vigil; it remained unchanged—the deceased took precedence. Along with Pang, we aimed to uncover the truth behind Zhu Gang's father's death but inadvertently stirred up other issues that almost prevented Pang from returning. I lit incense and prayed: "Uncle Zhu Da, according to your preferences, I've ventured into forbidden grounds and encountered some unexpected events. If you have any spirit left or are unwilling to wait, feel free to come find me; I'll help you."
We Morticians have a special technique for measuring fortune and misfortune, which is burning incense.
I have my own rituals when it comes to burning incense: I cleanse my hands, maintain silence, and focus my mind. After lighting three sticks of incense, the signs of fortune and misfortune become clear.
For humans, the worst fate is to meet an untimely end, while for spirits, it is two short lives and one long one.
Three sticks of incense with two short and one long is no simple matter. I need to stay and see what could frighten even a New Soul to elicit such a strange warning.
I will remain here; Fatty can go back. No one but me knows what he has gone through, and the things he has experienced cannot be casually shared with others. Even if spoken of, few would believe it, so only we three know.
After everything was settled, I clarified the arrangements for sending offerings to the Land Temple and asked the Boss in charge of affairs to prepare some Black Rice Noodles for the burial on the second day of the lunar month. As for Fatty, I instructed Zhu Gang to take him back to the Funeral Home with another person.
I learned that Zhu Gui had been separated from Su Aizhen for many years, so I decided to rest in his room.
Zhu Gui is dead, and everything on his bed had fallen onto the roof. I looked at Baymax; it seemed there was a bed covered with a faux duck down comforter that hadn't been washed in ages, looking dirty and greasy under the sunlight.
Zhu Gui had a heavy appetite in life; he ate everything except for feces from the latrine. If it was edible, he could get his hands on it and make it palatable before consuming it. He had eaten countless snakes, yet after death, there was no good flesh left on him. The sweat that poured from his body during his lifetime was foul and greasy.
Now I lie on this bed. It has been thoroughly cleaned by them, with a somewhat new sheet laid over it. Even so, someone specifically prepared this place for me to rest.
The room has lights but feels dim; outside is eerily quiet. Most of the idle folks have returned home, leaving only a few behind to keep vigil, so it’s very peaceful.
I overheard people outside discussing playing cards; they are waiting for Zhu Gang and another person to return before they can gather enough for a game. I can't help but wonder if they are playing cards or Mahjong; I know a little about Mahjong. Zhu Gui was also a gambler; if my guess is correct, there will definitely be some noise tonight.
Having gone through those experiences in the Underworld, once things quiet down, my mind fills with thoughts of bats. Unable to sleep, I start researching; I find out that our country does not have Vampire Bats and that worldwide there are only three types of bats that feed solely on blood: the Common Vampire Bat, the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat, and the White-winged Vampire Bat.
All three types of bats originate from Aeria and Ei. Moreover, typical Vampire Bats do not feed on human blood; they usually suck blood from livestock or animals but may bite humans in self-defense.
In our rural areas, bats are widespread; most species prefer fruits and insects as food, with no Vampire Bats present.
I was confused, or was it a detection error?
As I was reviewing the information, my phone automatically activated the video, not initiated by me. It started uncontrollably. Damn, this Underworld thing is quite advanced. I steadied myself and saw Qin Ye's figure appear on the screen. He was dressed in the uniform of an Underworld official, exuding a charm that was off the charts, yet there was also a hint of Evil Energy about him. He asked, "Did Ma Qi see me?"
At that moment, I received a message from him. Could it be that he was going to tell me about the mystery of the Vampire Bat? The thought piqued my interest immediately, and I nodded, "I saw you."
"Are you sure that no one else knows I contacted you?"
Qin Ye's reminder was valid. I hurriedly got out of bed and closed the small gap to block any sound from outside. Only when I could no longer hear anything did I feel at ease to return to bed. I replied to Qin Ye, "Absolutely."
The room appeared shabby, but its construction was quite solid and meticulous. I suspected that Zhu Gui had intended to build a second floor when constructing this house, but for some unknown reason, it was left unfinished. Therefore, the house had decent sound insulation.
Qin Jian said, "I will now transmit the Five Thunder Palm to you through body, heart, and spirit. First, you must focus your mind and breathe out. Repeat this three times to expel the turbid energy from your body. Assemble your troops; your thumb is the commander while the others are generals. Your index finger represents metal, middle finger represents wood, ring finger represents water, and pinky represents fire and earth. Flick and stretch your fingers; let them move freely as if commanding four hundred troops with a snap of your fingers."
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