Chapter 31

The siren's wail instantly extinguished Runsheng's hot-blooded bravado. He pulled out an incense stick, lit it with a match, and pursed his lips around the other end. His cheeks bulged as he took a deep drag, exuding a sense of loneliness.

Li Zhuiyuan watched curiously, wondering if he could actually blow smoke rings.

In the next moment, wisps of thin smoke drifted out from Runsheng's nostrils.

He was smoking it.

For a moment, Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but wonder if this was actually the correct way to use incense.

He finally understood why Runsheng felt so dejected. Runsheng practically lived in front of the family television, and the local county station loved to broadcast gangster movies on loop.

Whenever Li Zhuiyuan went out at night, it was convenient for him to hear the sounds of hacking and gunfire coming from the first floor.

Runsheng had taken in too much at once and had been influenced by it.

In truth, most people at this age experienced such fantasies and impulses; the difference was that Runsheng's physique and strength gave him an extremely high capacity for action.

Aside from calculating fates for his great-grandfather and himself when he first started learning physiognomy, Li Zhuiyuan had deliberately avoided calculating the fates of those close to him.

Fate was the ultimate privacy; peering into it indiscriminately was considered immoral and could disrupt the harmony of daily life.

However, even without using calculation methods, a single glance at Runsheng's face revealed quite a bit. His features were classic—the kind that could be used as a textbook example.

Runsheng possessed a standard "Seven Killings" fate, also known as the "Partial Officer" fate. He was driven, persevering, ambitious, and courageous—like a tiger in a cage, a highly aggressive and fierce destiny.

However, the Seven Killings fate could be transformed, turning misfortune into luck, depending primarily on who one followed and who influenced them.

"Brother Runsheng, those movies on TV... just watch them for fun. Don't take them seriously, and definitely don't try to imitate them."

"Huh?" Runsheng, who had been immersed in his melancholy, was so startled he nearly dropped the incense. "I can't watch TV anymore?"

"That's not what I mean. You can watch whatever you want, but don't fully immerse yourself in it. Brother Liang said that in the future, society will only become more orderly and stable. All that fighting and killing has no future."

In ancient times, many generals possessed fates like Runsheng's, but in this era of peace, people with such destinies often drifted toward the wrong path.

"Oh, okay. I'll listen to you."

Runsheng scratched his head. As long as he wasn't banned from watching TV, he was fine. Frightened, he quickly took another drag of the incense to steady his nerves.

***

Several police cars arrived at the Jiang family residence. Leading the group was Tan Yunlong. Before he could even present his credentials to explain their purpose, the Jiang family members proactively opened the door and welcomed the police inside.

This surprised Tan Yunlong. Real life wasn't like the movies, where everyone was a hidden tiger wearing a smiling mask. Especially in small towns, nouveau riche types often liked to act tough in front of the police—even if there was no profit to be made or if they had to act foolishly—just to show they had guts.

Once inside, Tan Yunlong heard the Jiang family members questioning each other about who had called the police. After explaining their purpose, Tan Yunlong was informed that three days ago, Jiang Dongping—the head of the family who had built this estate—had gone missing.

Initially, the family hadn't found it unusual. The Jiang family owned several entertainment businesses in town, and going out for social engagements was common. Even if he didn't return at night, it wasn't surprising; they assumed he had slept over at one of his mistresses' houses, a sentiment Jiang Dongping's wife seemed to understand.

But yesterday was the Jiang family's ancestral worship day, specifically honoring the grandfather who had raised Jiang Dongping, and yet Jiang Dongping had still not returned.

They had searched all day yesterday and were searching again today. Seeing the police arrive, they thought someone in the family had reported him missing.

Tan Yunlong frowned slightly. His first instinct was that Jiang Dongping had fled to escape a crime, but the family's reaction didn't suggest that. Furthermore, if he were fleeing, wouldn't he have settled his affairs first?

However, he kept his primary objective in mind. He ordered his men to cordon off the pond while sending others to a nearby construction site to borrow a water pump.

The Jiang family was confused by this. Some tried to step forward to stop them but were blocked by officers.

Tan Yunlong made a mental note of those who attempted to interfere.

The scenic pond had been excavated only the day before and wasn't very deep. After pumping for a while, only a shallow puddle remained, exposing large patches of silt.

In the very center sat a large water vat.

Tan Yunlong walked up to it. The vat was full of water, containing a large mass of yellowish-white flocculent material that looked somewhat like glue, or perhaps the jelly his own son liked to eat.

"Come, help me move this."

The vat was heavy, its base stuck to the silt. Tan Yunlong and several officers worked together to shift it aside. He then took a shovel and pointed downward

"Dig!"

After digging less than a meter deep, a hand appeared.

The surrounding officers grew excited. Without needing orders, they immediately began cordoning off the entire Jiang estate, temporarily preventing anyone from leaving.

Only Tan Yunlong's eyes showed doubt, because the hand looked too fresh; it didn't look like it had been buried for a long time.

Moreover, a gold watch was still on the wrist, glinting in the sunlight. Why hadn't the killer stripped it off?

Regardless, they had indeed dug up a person, and a dead one at that.

Though only a hand was visible, the misery of the death was evident. The hand was reaching straight upward, which meant the main torso was much deeper.

The fingertips were severely damaged, and the nails were badly torn away. Although the blood had long been diluted by the wet silt, the violence of the struggle for survival was still apparent.

It appeared the person had been buried alive while conscious.

But...

Tan Yunlong handed the shovel to a nearby officer and backed away, stopping at the edge of the pond. He began to carefully observe the surrounding environment and the moved water vat.

This pond clearly showed no signs of recent excavation. So, how had this fresh corpse been buried inside?

When they had moved the vat earlier, the moss and vegetation at its base were clearly integrated with the environment of the pond floor—something that would take many years to form. Had someone moved it and then specifically repaired the surroundings?

Tan Yunlong had heard of people restoring artifacts, but restoring *this*... to go through such trouble just to kill and hide a body seemed inefficient. It would have been easier to just dump the person into a nearby sand quarry to be crushed.

"Aside from those digging the body, no one else enters the pond. Protect the scene."

After giving the order, Tan Yunlong walked to a corner, crouched down, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

In his mind, the conversation he had earlier with the boy named Li Zhuiyuan surfaced.

The conversation had been brief; the boy had explained the report in almost a single sentence. What truly surprised Tan Yunlong was when he asked why the boy had specifically sought him out.

The boy had said: *Because I know you won't cause trouble for my life.*

"Heh."

Tan Yunlong exhaled a smoke ring. An ordinary suspect would deliberately avoid his gaze, but that boy had looked him in the eye with complete calm, even daring to take the initiative in the conversation.

"Captain Tan, there's a problem."

"What is it?"

"The body is hard to dig up. It's sinking."

Tan Yunlong immediately crushed his cigarette, tossed it outside the perimeter, and walked into the pond to observe the situation.

They dug another meter deeper, but the only part of the body exposed was still just that hand.

Tan Yunlong took the shovel again and joined the excavation personally.

As they dug, it was true—the body was sinking, as if there were a drain beneath it.

But that didn't make sense. This pond had been excavated only the day before. If the bottom were like this, how had it held water normally? There was no continuous water supply from a pump at the edge of the pond.

"Use a rope."

A loop was tied and thrown down, catching the corpse's wrist. As they pulled upward, the rope tightened instantly. Tan Yunlong called another officer to help him pull, but they couldn't budge it.

It was as if a force from below was pulling the body down, competing with them.

If they continued to increase the force, they would likely damage the corpse.

"Captain Tan, let's call for an excavator."

"Then the scene will be completely compromised," Tan Yunlong immediately shook his head in refusal. "And the body is so deep; a machine will inevitably damage it. Keep digging and see."

The officers dug for a while longer, but to no avail. Every time they dug a meter along the edge of the body, the corpse would sink another meter into the mud. Even though the surrounding mud was becoming quite dry, the body continued to recede.

At the same time, the officers digging below were in danger; they could be swallowed by the surrounding silt at any moment if the ground gave way.

At that moment, an older officer walked silently to Tan Yunlong's side and whispered, "Captain Tan, this is a bit eerie."

"Brother Sun, do you have any ideas?"

"How about finding a body retriever? They might have their own methods to bring the body up while ensuring it remains intact."

"Any recommendations?"

"In Sinan Siyuan Village, there's a famous one. His surname is Li."

"Call the station. Tell them not to wear uniforms when they come. Give him a heads-up and ask if he can keep the spectacle to a minimum."

"Ah, I understand."

"Forget it, I'll make the call."

"Alright, Captain Tan." The old officer felt relieved; this situation was bad for morale, and he had only offered a suggestion, not wanting to take responsibility for the outcome.

Tan Yunlong patted his shoulder, walked to the police car, took out his walkie-talkie, and relayed the request. After finishing, he leaned against the car door and lit another cigarette

"Sigh, all we can do is wait."

***

"Xiao Yuan, how much longer do we have to wait?"

"I don't know."

"Why is it so slow? They've been digging for a long time."

A tricycle was parked on a dirt slope, providing a slightly elevated view. Since the Jiang family's courtyard was enclosed by iron fences that didn't block the line of sight, the two could see the general situation despite the distance.

"They must have run into some trouble."

A "gurgle gurgle" sound came from nearby.

Li Zhuiyuan looked over. Runsheng lowered his head sheepishly; he was hungry.

Although he had been intermittently eating incense, the incense was merely like green onions to him—a side dish. No one could survive on green onions alone.

Li Zhuiyuan took out the money his great-grandfather had given him this morning and handed it to Runsheng. "Brother, there's a small shop by the road ahead. Let's go buy something to eat."

"Ah, that's such a waste," Runsheng shook his head. "Those things are just for tasting. You can't really eat them as meals."

"Just buy something for now to tide us over."

"Then should I ride the bike to the town market to buy some food?"

"That's too far. We have to stay here. We don't know when those two things might come... or go out."

"True. I'll go buy something and come back. Xiao Yuan, what do you want to eat?"

"Anything is fine. Just buy what you like."

"Then wait here. I'll be right back."

Runsheng took the money and, instead of riding the bike, started running.

Before long, Runsheng returned clutching several bags of instant noodles and biscuits.

"Here, Xiao Yuan. Here's your change."

"Why didn't you buy more?"

"I couldn't bear it. With this much, I could have bought a lot more rice and flour."

Li Zhuiyuan ate a few biscuits. He had eaten a late breakfast and wasn't very hungry yet, but Runsheng had worked in the fields this morning and needed to eat first.

After all, Runsheng was his greatest asset; he couldn't have the tools ready only to have the user unable to perform due to hunger.

Having finished his food, Runsheng gathered up the seasoning packets from the instant noodles.

Li Zhuiyuan had been wondering: even if they couldn't cook or soak them right now, wouldn't it be more flavorful to pour the seasoning in, crush the noodles, and shake it up to eat it dry?

But Runsheng didn't do that; he ate the instant noodles as whole blocks.

Now, Runsheng tore open a seasoning packet, poured the powder into his palm, and then stuck out his tongue to lick a small amount.

He continued to pour the seasoning while licking it, looking quite satisfied, clearly enjoying this method.

Seeing Li Zhuiyuan watching him, Runsheng smiled and asked, "Xiao Yuan, do you want some? It's delicious!"

"Oh, okay."

Li Zhuiyuan held out his hand, and Runsheng poured some into his palm. He then lightly licked it, carefully savoring the taste.

Sure enough...

It was a concentrated flavor of instant noodle seasoning.

"Hehe, it's great. Before, we had to share one packet among everyone, but now I get to eat it all by myself."

In this era, children had limited access to snacks, so the practice of eating seasoning packets had spread—it was flavorful and fun.

Li Zhuiyuan felt the change in his pocket. Although the old carpenter hadn't charged him a fee, this was consuming his great-grandfather's social capital and favors; he could only use it this way once.

Furthermore, the subsequent costs for materials and testing, including the inevitable wear and tear... pocket money would be far from enough to sustain it.

It seemed he needed to find a way to make some money.

"Brother Runsheng, do you know where people play cards?"

"Cards? My grandpa plays. He likes playing *Zha Jin Hua*. There are several fixed card games in the village; if you go, you can join a table."

"How good is Grandpa Shan at playing?"

Hearing this, Runsheng suddenly looked embarrassed and whispered

"Normally we'd have something solid to eat at night, but once he goes to play cards, the two of us can't even afford enough watery porridge to fill our stomachs."

Li Zhuiyuan remembered his great-grandfather mentioning that Grandpa Shan was a chronic loser at cards.

"Brother Runsheng, do you want to go visit Grandpa Shan?"

"I do."

"Then tomorrow, I'll go to Xiting with you to visit him."

"Alright!"

Runsheng stood up happily, stretching while looking around. Soon, his smile vanished. He pointed toward a motorcycle approaching in the distance

"Hey, Xiao Yuan, that person on the back of the motorcycle... doesn't he look like your great-grandfather?"

"It is him."

Li Sanjiang was sitting on the back of the motorcycle, a package squeezed between him and the driver. Another package was tied to the back of the bike, and he held one in each hand.

The wind whistled past, and his arms were trembling from exhaustion.

Since the authorities had sent someone to invite him, he had to go; otherwise, he wouldn't have the confidence to carry a plaque next time.

It was just unfortunate that his mule had gone out for a stroll today, and even more unfortunate that the mule had ridden off with the tricycle.

"Comrade, stop, stop!"

The motorcycle pulled over. Li Sanjiang looked at Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng standing by the road and asked in surprise

"What are you two doing here?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Just like you, Great-grandfather, we were summoned."

"What?" Li Sanjiang was stunned for a moment but didn't think much of it. He tossed the items in his hands to Runsheng. "Let's go."

Li Zhuiyuan hadn't expected he could enter the Jiang courtyard so soon.

As soon as he entered, he felt Tan Yunlong's gaze and deliberately avoided it.

To his surprise, Tan Yunlong actually approached him, leaned down, and pulled him into a hug, pretending to ruffle a child's hair. He whispered into the boy's ear

"Did you report this just to get work for yourself?"

"Then this is some hard-earned money."

"Hehehe." Tan Yunlong smiled and patted Li Zhuiyuan's head before looking at Li Sanjiang. "Old man, sorry for making you come all this way. Don't worry, I'll cover your labor fee."

"No, no, don't do that," Li Sanjiang waved his hands hurriedly. "That's too formal. This is what I should do. It's the bond between the police and the people."

"That won't do. We are already grateful enough for your cooperation."

"Is the person in the pond?"

"Yes. Please, take a look first." Tan Yunlong accompanied Li Sanjiang toward the pond and whispered, "Old man, when you start working, please try to keep the spectacle small."

"The comrade who brought me here already said so. Don't worry, I know."

"Please understand."

"I understand, I understand."

He knew exactly why. After all, it didn't look good for uniformed officers to be too close to feudal superstitions. The last time he had gone to retrieve the Hu father and son from the fish pond at Big Beard's place, the responding officers had all waited by their patrol cars on the road.

People cooperated when they should, and maintained decorum when necessary.

Li Sanjiang shouted to Runsheng, "Runsheng Hou, grab the gear!"

Runsheng hesitated, then turned to look at Li Zhuiyuan, who had already crept to the edge of the pit to peer down.

Seeing the hand below, Li Zhuiyuan's eyes filled with doubt. Why was this hand so fresh?

According to Brother Bao, he was the one who helped Jiang Dongping bury the body here. It had been quite some time—perhaps even years.

Since this was the bottom of a pond, it was naturally damp, and bones should have decomposed quickly. How could there still be clear flesh visible?

Either this corpse wasn't the murdered Old Zhou, or the current Old Zhou was problematic.

"Runsheng Hou, why are you just standing there? Grab the gear!"

Li Zhuiyuan snapped out of it and looked at Runsheng. "Brother Runsheng, get the gear ready."

To be safe, he should use his own.

"Right!"

Runsheng responded and immediately pulled the plastic sheet off the tricycle, bringing over a new set of tools.

Li Sanjiang looked at these new tools with some confusion—they looked similar to his own but weren't—but since the surrounding officers were watching, it wasn't convenient to ask. To him, new or old, it was all the same.

"Great-grandfather, let Brother Runsheng try first. If he can't get it up, it means Grandpa Shan hasn't taught his apprentice well enough. You can step in and teach him a lesson then."

"Mhm, sounds good."

Li Sanjiang thought Little Zhuiyuan Hou made sense.

Runsheng took the tools and laid them out by the pit, his face full of eagerness.

Li Sanjiang found a small wooden stool and set out simple offerings; he had even brought two white candles that were nearly burnt down.

He had indeed followed the officer's request to avoid a large spectacle, keeping everything small-scale.

As he lit the candles and burned the paper, Li Sanjiang muttered incantations while circling the pit.

The surrounding young officers watched with curiosity, while the older ones silently stepped back.

Tan Yunlong surveyed the area. The old Jiang estate was large and quite remote, with few nearby residences. Given the Jiang family's status as local bullies, few villagers dared to come and watch the commotion. Only a dozen or so people stood outside the perimeter, half of whom were passersby who had stopped to see why the police cars were parked there.

As for the Jiang family, Tan Yunlong had ordered them all into the house to give statements.

The area was relatively quiet, preventing too many people from gossiping.

After finishing the ritual, Li Sanjiang took two beer bottles plugged with cloth strips from a package; they contained a red liquid.

Seeing this, Tan Yunlong immediately stepped forward to stop him. "Old man, what are you doing?"

"Black dog blood. I need to ward off the evil first. This thing won't come out and keeps sinking; it has resentment."

"Can you not splash it?"

"Not splash it?"

"If you splash that, the corpse will be ruined."

"Then I'll try something else. Runsheng, you can start. Let's see if Shan Pao taught you any real skills."

With that, Li Sanjiang placed the two bottles of pig blood on the ground.

To assert his status as a master, he took a few steps away to pull out a cigarette, intending to light it to maintain his dignity.

A nearby officer reminded him, "Old man, you need to smoke further away. We'll be conducting a forensic search here shortly."

"Oh, okay." Li Sanjiang hesitated, but since he had set the stage himself, he could only take his cigarette to a corner. When he reached into his pocket, he realized he had left his matches behind in his haste and had to ask someone to borrow some.

Consequently, the only ones standing at the edge of the pit were Li Zhuiyuan, Runsheng, and Tan Yunlong.

"Officer Tan, is the corpse really sinking?"

"Yes. The deeper we dig, the more it sinks."

"Officer Tan, can you have someone move that vat containing the 'Tai Sui' away?"

"That is important evidence. It needs to be taken back to the station for examination."

"I'm not asking you to throw it away, just move it outside the gate. Keep it away from this house."

"Is there some taboo involved?"

"Yes."

"Alright then." Tan Yunlong immediately ordered the officers on the perimeter to move the vat outside the gate.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. This way, his karma with Brother Bao and Zhao Xing would be settled. Next would be the simple matter of settling accounts.

Tan Yunlong turned around and saw the boy take out a crude wooden compass. Tan Yunlong thought that even street vendors selling cheap toys wouldn't stock something like this; it was too ugly to sell.

The boy first adjusted his standing direction, then stared at the compass and spun in a circle. After stopping, he began muttering numbers.

Tan Yunlong listened intently, thinking he was reciting a spell, but all he heard were numbers.

After completing the mental calculations, Li Zhuiyuan looked down into the pit and pointed to the surrounding area for Runsheng. "Use the Yellow River Shovel. Here, here, and here... dig six small slanted holes at these positions first."

"Got it!"

Runsheng took the shovel into the pit. Without even looking at the position of the hand, he followed Li Zhuiyuan's instructions, digging six holes into the side walls.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. These six holes were meant to break the miasma and disrupt the corpse's "sense of direction," so that when it became startled and tried to flee, it would lose its footing.

The *Chronicles of Jianghu Wonders* described such corpses as having abilities similar to razor clams, capable of burrowing through soil and sand.

But strictly speaking, such a corpse was not a "Dead Fallen." Wei Zhengdao had specifically noted: *There must be something strange near such a corpse.*

Li Zhuiyuan took out an ink pad, pressed his index finger firmly onto it, and then traced the Seven Star Hook. For every segment of the hook he traced, he added a red print, continuing until all seven segments were complete, before dropping the Seven Star Hook into the pit.

"Brother Runsheng, place the hook between yourself and the corpse to block its path!"

"Understood!"

Runsheng caught the hook and, as instructed, inserted the Seven Star Hook between himself and the hand.

Soon, only the top end of the Seven Star Hook remained outside. Runsheng pressed his palm against it and began to rotate it. A series of "cracking and crunching" sounds immediately rose from underground.

So far, because they hadn't touched the hand, the corpse had not continued to sink.

Li Zhuiyuan pressed all five fingers into the ink pad, quickly brushed them against the Soul-Returning Basket and the Homecoming Net, and then threw them both into the pit.

"Place the basket in front, and the net behind."

"Okay!" Runsheng caught the items but was momentarily dazed. He asked, "Xiao Yuan, which way is the front of the corpse?"

"The palm facing up is the front."

"Got it!"

Runsheng placed the Soul-Returning Basket in front of the palm. At first glance, the basket's opening seemed narrow and shallow, but once the buckles were released, the opening and depth could expand and contract on their own, and it was extremely resilient.

As for the Homecoming Net, Runsheng draped it over the back of the hand. The net was large, covering almost the entire side wall of the pit.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up the Luosheng Umbrella and said to Runsheng, "Brother Runsheng, catch me."

With that, he leaped into the pit. Tan Yunlong, standing nearby, didn't even have time to stop him.

Runsheng caught him steadily. Once Li Zhuiyuan was stable, he leaned down to look closely at the hand. Then, he pulled a paper talisman he had drawn from his pocket.

The preparations were complete. He now wanted to conduct a private test, specifically with a talisman he had drawn himself.

The *Record of Subduing Demons of the Righteous Path* did not provide much detail on talismans; it only listed several conditions that needed to be met, much like how one must master certain prerequisites before learning a subject.

Li Zhuiyuan did not meet any of those hard requirements; he had simply drawn the talisman in its prescribed style by concentrating his Qi and spirit.

Though he knew it was unlikely to work... what if?

The distance was just right, positioned above the palm. Li Zhuiyuan released the talisman. It drifted down slowly, and just as it was about to touch the hand, the fingers suddenly splayed open and snatched the talisman!

The talisman instantly turned black.

"Xiao Yuan!" The sudden change caused Runsheng to immediately pull Li Zhuiyuan behind him for protection.

Li Zhuiyuan felt somewhat helpless. Not only had the entity ignored the threat of his talisman, but it had also actively provoked him.

"Brother Runsheng, pry it out."

"Okay!"

Runsheng gripped one end of the Seven Star Hook with both hands, crouched, and began to press down with all his might.

The hand began to move. The soil beneath it cracked rapidly, but this time it didn't sink further; instead, it shifted directions erratically, like a headless fly bumping into things.

Runsheng continued to apply pressure, gritting his teeth, his arm veins bulging, and his feet sinking into the mud up to his ankles.

Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but think to himself: retrieving a corpse truly is a physical job.

Looking at Uncle Qin that night and then at Runsheng now, it was clear that without a powerful physique, even the best tools were useless.

Fortunately, he was still young and could train slowly.

Under the intense pressure, the corpse clearly could no longer hold out. Suddenly, a large amount of soil, accompanied by a burst of black mist, erupted from underground.

Li Zhuiyuan immediately opened the Luosheng Umbrella, shielding himself and Runsheng. The umbrella vibrated, and Li Zhuiyuan felt a numbness in his hands, but he continued to hold it steady.

Noticing the faint black mist appearing around them, Li Zhuiyuan pulled out the Sanqing Fan, pressed the latch, and began to fan. White incense ash drifted from the fan.

In an instant, the air seemed to carry a faint scent of burnt coal.

"It's coming out!" Runsheng let out a low growl. "Xiao Yuan, get back!"

Li Zhuiyuan immediately closed the umbrella and retreated. The ground in front cracked open, and a corpse wearing pajamas was pried out. Beneath the corpse were the segments of the Seven Star Hook, each segment acting like a ring to secure the body.

The corpse didn't seem to move, but for a moment, it appeared to be moving forward rapidly. After entering the Soul-Returning Basket, the basket expanded and stretched, causing the corpse to fall backward into the Homecoming Net, which curled up to wrap it.

Immediately after, the corpse went still.

Li Zhuiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Brother Runsheng, did the corpse move on its own, or were you pulling it with the Seven Star Hook?"

"The corpse didn't seem to move, but its weight kept fluctuating between being extremely heavy and extremely light. I almost lost my balance."

"Then it wasn't the corpse moving. This isn't a Dead Fallen."

Once the corpse was out, a pit about a meter deep remained. Li Zhuiyuan walked to the edge and looked down, seeing two sets of skeletal hands protruding from the pit wall.

Beneath this, there were two more corpses that had turned to bone!

It seemed the Old Zhou that Brother Bao had helped bury was not the first person Jiang Dongping had killed and buried here to nourish the Tai Sui.

Looking closely at the position and the spread of those two skeletal hands, Li Zhuiyuan used his own hands to gauge the distance.

"Xiao Yuan, why are there more bones down there?"

"Brother Runsheng, the reason this corpse kept sinking was because those two hands were pulling it, preventing it from leaving."

"What about now? Can it still move?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "It's not a Dead Fallen, just a lingering spirit. It will dissipate once it sees the light."

Such spirits only move and cause trouble when they are in places where sunlight cannot reach.

For example, many people hear rustling sounds from the ceiling, the floor, or other rooms at night.

Sometimes, it isn't a neighbor or a mouse, but a spirit in the house.

But when you muster the courage to turn on the light and check, you find nothing. Spirits won't let you see them; if you see them, they are gone.

Most spirits only make small noises and cause no harm, but a few powerful ones might enter your bedroom and press down on you while you sleep, occasionally causing sleep paralysis.

Runsheng remarked, "These three were buried here and even developed feelings for each other? They can't bear to let the other one go?"

Li Zhuiyuan glanced at the corpse wrapped in the Homecoming Net and said

"I suspect this corpse isn't a victim's."

"Huh? Then whose is it?"

"What is the antonym of 'victim'?"

"What is it?"

"Brother Runsheng, lift me up. I don't want to climb up and get my clothes dirty."

"Alright."

Li Zhuiyuan was lifted up, and Tan Yunlong reached out to take him.

"What happened down there just now?" Tan Yunlong couldn't help but ask.

He had been standing above when the mud suddenly splashed, blurring his vision. He thought he saw a large rat scurrying out, but once his vision cleared, he saw a corpse wrapped in a net.

"Heave-ho!"

At that moment, Runsheng climbed up easily, holding the net with one hand and gripping the slope with the other.

Tan Yunlong's eyes widened. The strength required to lift a "living person" like a small chicken was quite terrifying.

Once the corpse was placed on the ground, Runsheng quickly unwrapped the net, packed away the basket, and then jumped back into the pit to retrieve the Yellow River Shovel and the Seven Star Hook, repacking them.

This set of tools was incredibly useful. He decided he would work hard for Grandpa Sanjiang so that once he saved enough money, he could have a set made for Xiao Yuan, and eventually, he would make it a family heirloom.

Tan Yunlong pulled on gloves, crouched down, and gently brushed the mud away from the corpse's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His expression turned solemn.

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Is it Jiang Dongping?"

Tan Yunlong looked up at the boy in surprise. "You knew already?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "No, I just found out. There are two more sets of bones down there. Uncle Tan, have your men keep digging; it should be easy."

The only thing that could be held so tightly by two victims, forcing it to sink into the mud with them, was the perpetrator.

"I understand. Thank you, Xiao Yuan."

"Can you give me a piece of Tai Sui meat as a thank you?"

"What would you do with that?"

"You know, Uncle Tan, children are very curious."

Tan Yunlong pulled a small plastic bag from his pocket containing something resembling jelly. He leaned in to shield the view from the outside and slipped the bag into Li Zhuiyuan's pocket.

"Promise me you won't eat it. It might be toxic."

"I won't. But you're very generous, Uncle Tan."

"There's a huge chunk still in the vat. Giving you one piece won't hurt."

"What, it's already been retrieved?" Li Sanjiang had only just finished a cigarette when he saw the job was done. He could only say grumpily, "It seems Shan Pao's teaching actually has some merit."

"Great-grandfather, Runsheng and I are taking the tricycle back now."

"Since the matter is settled, I'll go with you. That motorcycle made my backside ache."

"Great-grandfather, you can't go. Officer Tan wants you to stay and help examine the corpse. You have experience with bodies soaked in mud."

Tan Yunlong looked at Li Zhuiyuan with some confusion; forensic examinations were for professionals.

However, he took off his gloves and grabbed Li Sanjiang's hand. "Yes, old man. Please stay and help us analyze it. Once we're done, I'll drive you home."

"Alright then."

"Great-grandfather, we're leaving."

"Be careful on the road. You two—Runsheng Hou, ride slowly. Don't let my Xiao Yuan Hou get hurt."

Runsheng carried the gear out of the gate and laid it flat on the tricycle. After setting it down, he couldn't help but reach out and touch it.

"Xiao Yuan, once I save enough money..."

"Brother Runsheng, don't make such big movements. Quietly glance at the slope where we were standing earlier."

Runsheng pretended to continue organizing the gear, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw two people standing there who looked familiar.

"Have I seen them somewhere before?"

"In the video parlor. Those four thugs with the loud voices."

Their boss, the man in the suit, had been arrested to work off his sentence. Fortunately, the man in the suit was still in the stage of developing distributors and hadn't even received the goods yet, so he hadn't had time to assign tasks to his three subordinates.

Thus, the three thugs had been released after a single day of detention and "education."

"Do they live nearby and came to watch the commotion?"

"Shigang isn't as lively or fun as Shinan. Would someone from Shigang travel to Shinan just to watch videos? Brother Runsheng, look at their feet again."

Runsheng pretended to glance casually and then looked down again. "Xiao Yuan, they're walking on their tiptoes!"

"It's them. They've finally appeared—our true target this time."

Runsheng silently gripped the Yellow River Shovel. "I'll charge at them right now and smash their heads in!"

"Brother Runsheng..."

"Don't worry, Xiao Yuan. They definitely won't run faster than me, especially since they have to run on their tiptoes."

"Brother Runsheng, there are so many police officers right here."

"Ah..."

"Even the gangsters in Hong Kong movies aren't as brazen as you."

"I was wrong, Xiao Yuan."

"Let's get on the bike and ride in the opposite direction."

"I'll listen to you."

Li Zhuiyuan got on the tricycle, and Runsheng rode in the other direction. After traveling a distance, they turned behind another residential building.

"Brother Runsheng, here, wrap this Homecoming Net around us. That way they won't see us."

Runsheng's eyes lit up. "This thing has that use too?"

"Yes. Otherwise, how would you bind a Dead Fallen? They have so much strength that a normal net would break easily. Only a net they cannot see can they not escape from."

"Really, Xiao Yuan. The gear in my grandpa's house is practically junk compared to what you have."

"Don't worry, I'll make you a set in the future."

"Uh... it'll be expensive, right?"

"It's fine. After we visit Grandpa Shan tomorrow, we should have the money."

"My grandpa has no money. If it weren't for the fact that rice and flour are hard to sell in the village, I'm afraid we wouldn't even have food to eat tomorrow."

"We'll worry about that tomorrow. Let's chase those two first."

"Okay."

With that, Runsheng began pedaling the tricycle vigorously. As they passed cars and pedestrians, people stared in shock at the tricycle wrapped in a net with two people inside.

After riding to the original spot, Runsheng said in confusion, "Oh no, they're gone."

"They're ahead. They went toward the river."

Sure enough, the two figures appeared by the river, walking downstream.

"Should I ride down there?"

"Stay on the road. Follow them from a distance. Find a quiet, deserted place before we act."

Next, the two people walked along the river while Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng followed from the road.

They gradually moved toward a remote area and turned into a small path.

"Should we move, Xiao Yuan?"

"Wait a bit longer. Let's see where they are actually going. Those two are just *changzhi*—servants. There is someone behind them controlling them."

"Isn't the one controlling them that man named Jiang?"

"The man named Jiang was buried in the pond himself. Who do you think buried him?"

"Xiao Yuan, do you mean..."

"I suspect that among the three people Jiang Dongping buried, one has already become a Dead Fallen."

Li Zhuiyuan pulled out the bag of Tai Sui meat given by Officer Tan and continued, "This Tai Sui... there must be something wrong with it."

It wasn't easy to become a Dead Fallen, especially one capable of controlling *changzhi*. That was a very rare level.

Even through the plastic bag, the Tai Sui meat smelled fishy and foul; he didn't know how anyone dared to eat it as a supplement.

The sky grew dim as dusk approached.

The two people walked into a patch of graves.

Runsheng picked up the gear and continued to hide under the net with Li Zhuiyuan, following them stealthily.

Finally, the two people stopped before a tombstone. With a "thud," they knelt before it.

Wrapped in the Homecoming Net, Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng hid behind a tombstone in front of the two. One peeked from the left and the other from the right, observing them with extreme caution.

However, the two remained kneeling there, motionless, for a long time as the sky turned dark.

Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan with a confused expression: *What are they doing?*

Li Zhuiyuan shrugged: *I don't know either.*

Runsheng pointed to the surroundings and then to the Yellow River Shovel: *It's very quiet here, no one around. We can take them out.*

Li Zuiyuan waved his hand in refusal, then pointed to Runsheng's arm. Runsheng didn't quite understand, but when Li Zhuiyuan leaned his head closer, he braced his arm to let him rest more comfortably.

Regardless, Li Zhuiyuan must have had his reasons.

After a while, the two kneeling people remained motionless, and Li Zhuiyuan, leaning against his arm, was the same.

Runsheng finally couldn't help but turn to look at Li Zhuiyuan, only to find that the boy had his eyes closed and was breathing steadily. Runsheng was stunned

*Xiao Yuan actually fell asleep?*

Li Zhuiyuan hadn't actually fallen asleep; he was merely trying to take a nap. In this half-dreaming state, he heard piercing wails and desperate pleas for mercy. They were the voices of Brother Bao and Zhao Xing.

He knew he had entered the state.

Opening his eyes, Li Zhuiyuan found that Runsheng, who had been leaning against him, was gone. This was normal; Runsheng had not entered his dream.

The wailing and pleas continued; they seemed to be undergoing horrific torture.

This wasn't surprising. When Brother Bao and Zhao Xing had come to visit his great-grandfather at the banquet, their requests suggested they didn't actually know Jiang Dongping had been buried alive, nor did they know that the one truly controlling them was a former victim—and likely the very man, Old Zhou, whom Brother Bao had personally buried.

Li Zhuiyuan slowly and cautiously peeked from behind the tombstone in front of him. The place where the two had been kneeling was now empty; like Runsheng, they did not exist in this dream.

Moving his gaze further back, past where the two had originally knelt, Li Zhuiyuan saw Brother Bao and Zhao Xing prostrate on the ground, their bodies constantly cracking and peeling away.

In an instant, Li Zhuiyuan froze, his entire body turning cold.

Because he couldn't see "dirty things" before, he and Runsheng had assumed the two were performing a ritual toward the tombstone in front of them.

But in reality, those two were merely the vessels being possessed. They were the "shoes" that had been discarded after being used to walk to this spot.

When a shoe is not being worn on a foot, the direction the toe points no longer represents the direction the person is facing.

Now, the direction in which Brother Bao and Zhao Xing were kneeling and wailing was toward the tombstone in front of him!

And he and Runsheng had been hiding behind this tombstone for a long time.

Li Zhuiyuan slowly lowered his head. He saw a very, very long shadow extending from beneath his feet. Clearly, he wasn't that tall, so the shadow could not be his.

Therefore,

It,

Had been standing behind him and Runsheng all along.