Sending the Black Wolf Gang Protector to His Grave

Old Zhang's words made a lot of sense, puncturing Bai Yu's fantasies about wandering the martial world as a chivalrous hero.

Fortunately, Bai Yu never really wanted to roam the martial world anyway.

Wasn't it better to just stay in the mortuary until the end of time?

But Mangzi was different. He liked to commit fully to one path, and that's where his "recklessness" came from.

The next day, he said goodbye to everyone at the mortuary and resolutely embarked on his journey.

Everyone was a little unaccustomed to Mangzi's departure at first, but eventually they got used to it.

The mortuary hired new people again, this time opening ten slots.

Same old rules: nine ghost employees, one actual worker.

The new guy who came this time was named Wang, a rather clever young man, earning the nickname "Little Wang, eh?"

Time flowed slowly, past the big tree in the yard, the green leaves on the branches gradually turning yellow.

Unhurried, peaceful and serene.

Performing funerals, practicing martial arts, and occasionally selling Essence Nourishing Powder on the black market.

Selling twenty packets a month, earning two or three taels of silver, never greedy for more.

This morning, he took a packet of Essence Nourishing Powder and began practicing his martial arts.

Azure Dragon Grasps!

Vermillion Bird Spreads Wings!

White Tiger Howls in the Forest!

Black Tortoise Returns to the Sea!

Bai Yu repeatedly practiced the four stances of the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist.

Suddenly, he had a feeling of natural completion, and a completely new understanding of this fist technique arose.

The Four Symbols Five Elements Fist finally took another step forward.

Four Symbols Five Elements Fist: Comprehensive Mastery (0/10000).

His aptitude also increased by 3 points, from 5 to 8.

Even because of the improvement in aptitude, he had new insights into other cultivation methods.

Bai Yu was delighted and, taking advantage of this feeling, constantly practiced his fist techniques.

After completing a set of fist forms, his Blood Essence surged throughout his body, and his pores dilated.

His arms, both up and down, were glowing with a shimmering luster.

Now, each time he practiced a set of fist forms, he could increase his Blood Essence by about 0.1 and his proficiency by 0.5.

Bai Yu exhaled a long breath of stale air.

"Third Rank Skin Tempering Realm, using Blood Essence to temper the skin, impervious to blades."

"Now that the skin on both arms has been tempered, it's time to switch to other parts."

Skin Tempering is a slow and steady process.

It requires a massive amount of Blood Essence, constantly washing and tempering, to greatly enhance the skin's defenses.

Usually, other martial artists either choose to take shortcuts, only focusing on tempering key areas while perfunctorily dealing with the rest.

Or they use their financial power, using medicinal solutions and pills as aids, along with special skin-tempering techniques.

Someone like Bai Yu, relying on ordinary techniques and purely tempering with surging Blood Essence, was simply unheard of.

Fortunately, Bai Yu had the Burial World Record and Essence Nourishing Powder, which could provide a constant stream of Blood Essence support.

"It would be great if there was a skin-tempering technique."

"But if there isn't, there's no need to worry. I'll be happy if I get it, and I'll accept my fate if I don't. We immortals have plenty of time."

Bai Yu tidied up and, as usual, went to the main hall to prepare for the funeral, only to find Daoist Lin Jiu already there.

"Uncle Jiu, you're here so early today."

Daoist Lin Jiu smiled:

"I was waiting for you on purpose. Give today's work to Little Wang. You come with me on a job."

Daoist Lin Jiu was a famous Yin-Yang master in Jiang City, often taking on odd jobs outside, usually tricky ones.

Like whose woman committed suicide wearing red clothes, whose child's resentment didn't dissipate after death, whose family's home was uneasy.

In this regard, Daoist Lin Jiu was a grandmaster-level figure.

It was said that someone had personally seen him deal with corpses that had turned into zombies.

In the past, when he needed an assistant, he would take Mangzi with him.

Now that Mangzi was gone, he turned to Bai Yu.

Bai Yu couldn't help but feel curious and asked:

"Uncle Jiu, what do I need to do when we get there?"

Daoist Lin Jiu smiled:

"It's nothing much, just helping to hand over some things, assisting with tasks, and sticking some talismans."

"Your Blood Essence is strong, and your Yang energy is vigorous, which has the effect of suppressing evil. Just stand there and cooperate."

As he spoke, he sighed again:

"It's a pity, when it comes to vigorous Blood Essence, it has to be Mangzi. He should have been the one to do this, what a pity."

Daoist Lin Jiu had originally intended to take Mangzi as a disciple and was still in the observation stage, but Mangzi had already set out to make a living in the world.

Bai Yu smiled:

"Brother Mang might have great prospects traveling the world."

Lin Jiu said:

"Let's not talk about that. This time, we're going to appease the evil aura of the Black Wolf Gang's Iron Wolf Protector. It's said that something strange happened after his death, so the reward should be quite high."

"Pack up a bit and set off with me."

Bai Yu was overjoyed.

The Black Wolf Gang has the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron Protectors, each with a strength of Fifth Rank or above.

Being able to bury a Fifth Rank martial artist was naturally something Bai Yu couldn't ask for.

He quickly nodded:

"Okay, I can leave anytime."

And so, the two of them, one in front of the other, headed towards Jiang City.

Every time he arrived in Jiang City, Bai Yu couldn't help but marvel at its prosperity.

Carriages and horses flowed like water, and people rubbed shoulders.

The wine shop signs on both sides fluttered in the wind, and the hawking voices never ceased.

Passing by the brothel district, the laughter of women echoed, and the fragrance of cosmetics wafted in the air.

If he weren't short on money, Bai Yu would have liked to go in and critique it.

The two of them continued forward and arrived at a spacious courtyard.

Seeing Daoist Lin Jiu arrive, a charming and beautiful woman wearing mourning clothes tearfully stepped forward to greet him.

"Daoist Lin, you've finally arrived."

"That heartless man of mine just abandoned us, a widow and orphan."

"He's already gone, but he's still not at peace. At night, there are sounds of rummaging through boxes in the mourning hall, and there's always a gust of cold wind for no reason."

Daoist Lin's expression remained unchanged as he said:

"This may be a return of the evil aura. Has the madam invited anyone else to take a look?"

The beautiful woman wiped away her tears:

"Of course, I did. Yesterday, I invited a group of monks from White Dragon Temple to chant scriptures."

"While they were chanting, one of the monks fell to the ground. The other monks panicked and carried him back."

Daoist Lin finally became somewhat solemn:

"It seems the evil aura is very heavy. Madam, please take me inside to take a look."

The beautiful woman hurriedly agreed and led the two into the mourning hall.

As soon as Bai Yu entered the mourning hall, he felt a bone-chilling cold.

Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, the mourning hall was so cold that it gave him goosebumps all over.

Looking at the deceased, his face was pale, and his eyes were wide open.

Above the deceased's face, a pool of water had gathered on the floorboard.

"Evil aura turning into water!"

Daoist Lin Jiu's expression changed slightly, and he took out a yellow talisman.

With a flick of his fingers, the yellow talisman spontaneously ignited without wind.

The Daoist threw the yellow talisman out, but it went out halfway through burning.

"Madam, the Iron Wolf Protector's evil aura is too heavy, I'm afraid it will be difficult to resolve."

The beautiful woman tearfully begged again:

"Daoist Lin, you must help us, a widow and orphan."

"That heartless dead man, how are we going to live our lives in the future?"

Daoist Lin didn't waste any words and immediately gave instructions, asking people to prepare rooster blood, cinnabar, yellow paper, and other items.

Then he wrote symbols and chanted incantations, burning a stack of yellow talismans.

Immediately afterward, he took out a peach wood sword and performed the Taoist steps in the mourning hall, practicing like he was doing martial arts.

I have to say, after his performance of singing, chanting, acting, and fighting, the mourning hall wasn't so chilling anymore.

Bai Yu assisted him from the side, secretly sighing that this Daoist Lin Jiu really had some skill.

He took a moment to glance at the Burial World Record.

[Funeral Target: Qi Yong.]

[Identity: Iron Wolf Protector of the Black Wolf Gang.]

[Age: 39.]

[Cultivation: Fifth Rank Martial Artist.]

[Funeral Participation: 8%.]

[Standard Rewards: Blood Essence +188, Life Experience +888.]

[Optional Rewards: Saber Technique Experience, Iron Shirt Skill, Mad Demon Saber Technique, Crushing Monument Leg, Black Wolf Heart Sutra...]