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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 58: Spirit Invasion
It cannot be blamed on the gossiping busybodies; in certain regions, there are many customs surrounding the deceased. For instance, here, before a patient takes their last breath, family members must move them to the main room's spirit bed to guard them through their final moments, a practice known as "stopping mourning."
The deceased is dressed in a completely new white outfit, with a dark blue garment worn over it. The entire ensemble must be without buttons and secured tightly with ties, symbolizing that there will be successors.
A handkerchief or yellow paper is placed over the deceased's face, and they must have a coin in their mouth. Each palm holds a rice ball, used for warding off dogs, along with shoes. If the deceased is male, they wear black cloth shoes; if female, blue cloth shoes.
Of course, I followed these instructions meticulously.
Zhu Gui died from a curse related to Li Gui's evil arts, which were eliminated. The curse on him was also lifted, so his soul would not be trapped by evil energy. He should now be on his way to the Underworld, specifically along Yellow Springs Road.
Yellow Springs Road, Evil Dog Ridge, Wild Ghost Village, Bridge of Helplessness, the Other Shore Flower, Wishing Platform—these are all places where Zhu Gui has suffered. He committed grave sins in life and should face severe punishment in the Underworld. I do not expect him to be reincarnated as a human; it is possible he may even descend into the realm of beasts.
Zhu Gang and the Fire Basin.
This step is particularly crucial; if the fire basin does not shatter when thrown, it is considered unlucky. So I had previously warned Zhu Gang to exert all his strength and smash it with everything he had.
The fire basin shattered better than I had anticipated.
I shouted loudly, "Funeral procession, Eight Great Warriors rise!"
As the coffin was carried out, a group of elderly women hurriedly swept the hall to clear away any lingering sorrow and misfortune.
Zhu Gui's burial site was not far away; it was located in the village's collective cemetery. The eulogies were filled with superficial praises. Once Zhu Gui's funeral was concluded, our involvement ended. We packed up and left. Zhu Gang handed me a red envelope and casually asked, "Will my dad have another chance at life?"
"Having done no good deeds in life and committing many sins, don't hold your breath. Focus on your studies and show filial piety to your mother; that's what matters most."
Upon returning to Ma Wu Funeral Home, there was no time to rest; preparations were needed for the next order.
Occasionally, when I had some free time, I let Mi talk about Chi Xinrong and the situation regarding Peng Yan.
Mi quickly replied that Chi Xinrong knew nothing; it seemed that the matter concerning Peng Yan's internship had been suppressed by the dean.
What exactly happened to Peng Yan? Before the funeral, I asked Pang to handle the arrangements and brought Mi along, calling Qin Jian to join us for a trip to Xiangbatou.
That is, to Pang Family Courtyard.
There hadn't been any significant changes at Pang Family Courtyard; the only thing that had changed was the situation with Peng Yan's family.
We drove to Pang Family Courtyard, and by the time we arrived, I had forgotten the route. The first time I came to this place was late at night; The Woman Who Hanged Herself was Peng Yan's mother. Due to my special identity, I made sure to disguise myself before setting out.
My outfit was chosen by Mi; she ensured that I wouldn't draw any misunderstandings from others.
Thinking back on it, someone like me wouldn’t be welcomed anywhere unless the family had something going on.
Fortunately, it seemed that no one at Pang Family Courtyard remembered a half-grown boy who had come to handle the affairs of the deceased. That half-grown boy had now transformed into a mature and composed man; both my height and appearance had changed significantly.
Of course, it could only be for the better. I enjoyed being narcissistic; standing in front of a mirror, I could easily see myself as a handsome young man with charm and grace. When Qin Jian and I appeared together at Pang Family Courtyard, it caused quite a stir. Mi stood among the girls, making her easy to recognize. In Chi Xinrong's words: "Ma Qi, I really don’t understand you. With Han Mi being such a pure girl without curves, you treat her like treasure?"
Well, what if I did treat her like treasure!
A car pulled up in front of Peng Yan's house, and upon seeing it, people gathered instantly. Someone whispered, "Hey, guests have come to Peng Yan's house."
"Two handsome guys looking like actors; the girl isn’t bad either. Are these three relatives of Peng Yan?"
"Not sure; let's wait and see."
“Peng Yan seems to have been discharged from the hospital yesterday, and the family is just like that.”
“Peng Hai came back from labor education but doesn’t do anything right; he’s always up to no good. Just seeing him annoys me.”
We arrived at Peng Yan's doorstep, and no one came out to greet us. Instead, people were gossiping among themselves, raising their voices as if deliberately letting us know about Peng Yan's family.
Mi held a gift in her hand, thoughtful as always; bringing gifts when visiting someone in the countryside is a sign of respect. Qin Jian and I thought her actions were childish, but now it seemed otherwise as more and more people gathered, chattering away.
Mi knocked on the door several times, but there was no response from inside.
“Could they not be home?”
“Wait a moment, I’ll ask them.”
I noticed a boy with a runny nose, probably around eleven years old, eyeing the gift Mi was holding with envy. I handed it to him and asked, “Is anyone home at Peng Yan's?”
“Ha ha, you’re asking a fool; he wouldn’t know.”
“Wow!” I didn’t expect the child to be a fool, but his eyes didn’t reflect the vacant fear of someone truly simple-minded. There was emotion in his gaze like any ordinary person. He didn’t take the gift but retreated into the crowd and disappeared.
Suddenly, a loud noise from a motorcycle echoed from the road outside.
Someone whispered, “Let’s go; it won’t be good if Peng Hai sees us.”
The crowd dispersed quickly, each person heading their own way. They seemed to gather without intention, yet their presence stirred up anger in the man returning on the motorcycle. He parked it roughly and shouted, “Look at Hammer! Damn you all! I’ll make sure your whole family suffers!”
That was Peng Hai, who had become obsessed with gaming. After several years apart, he had changed significantly—his face was covered in acne, he was tall and muscular, and his voice had deepened into that of a man with a rough edge. The thick Adam's apple bobbed as he cursed. He wore ripped jeans that clung tightly to his well-defined muscles, making him look as strong as a bull.
Peng Hai looked at us, and I didn't want him to back down, so I deliberately let Qin Jian speak to him.
Qin Jian asked, "Is Peng Yan here?"
Peng Hai, already filled with vigilance and hostility, seemed to relax a bit upon hearing we were looking for Peng Yan. His expression remained neutral as he replied flatly, "Yes. What do you want with her?"
"We're her friends and just wanted to see how she’s doing."
"What do you want to see? Do you think she has money?" Peng Hai's face darkened, his fierce and ruthless eyes quickly scanning over Mi, who was too scared to look at him. They lingered slightly on her rising and falling chest, and I felt a surge of anger, clenching my fists, wishing I could punch him.
Fortunately, Qin Jian was the peacemaker. He took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to Peng Hai. "Brother, we may not have money, but we have a friendship that's more valuable than money. If your sister is here, let us meet her. If she isn't, we won't trouble you any further."
Peng Hai accepted the cigarette from Qin Jian and grinned shamelessly. "She's inside. You can go see her, but don't stay too long."
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