Chapter 40

"Slowly looking back, those nights that once belonged to us.

You were still the radiant sun you gave to my heart.

..."

As the singing began, Secretary Jin's Cantonese pronunciation was impeccable. She sang quite professionally, and her movements onstage were more natural as well.

Unlike Little Yellow Oriole. Li Zhuiyuan remembered that when she had held a microphone and spoken back then, her Mandarin had still been mixed with Nantong dialect.

Yet Li Zhuiyuan still thought Little Yellow Oriole sang better.

Back then, it had been this very song by Little Yellow Oriole that led him down a path he had never imagined before.

Of course, if he had to force a practical explanation, there was one.

For instance, Little Yellow Oriole had poured emotion into this song when she sang it, while Secretary Jin only wanted to finish the daytime program as soon as possible so she could go dig graves that night.

At first, the surface of the Fish Pond remained perfectly still.

But when Secretary Jin sang:

"Even if there are a thousand songs in days to come, drifting along my distant road; even if there are a thousand evening stars in days to come, shining brighter than tonight's moon..."

Li Zhuiyuan swayed. A wave of drowsiness came over him, and a familiar chill faintly crept into his shoulders, much like old arthritic knees predicting a change in the weather.

He knew Little Yellow Oriole was listening. She seemed unable to hold herself back.

Li Zhuiyuan took a deep breath and forced himself awake. He absolutely could not begin Yin Walking now.

"Beeeep!——"

A piercing burst of electrical feedback came from the speakers. Everyone present covered their ears, children began screaming, and the performers onstage hurried over to adjust the equipment. It was obvious that they were all familiar with it, yet strangely unpracticed.

They should all have known how to operate and use the equipment, but they clearly did not use it much in everyday life.

The equipment was old, and a troupe feared losing work most of all. Logically, this should not have been the case.

Li Zhuiyuan slowly pressed both hands downward, secretly signaling for quiet.

He did not know whether Little Yellow Oriole could see him, nor whether she could understand what he meant.

But losing control now would only make these Water Monkeys sense something strange ahead of time and prepare themselves.

Hold it in.

They could settle this properly tonight.

Very soon,

The feedback disappeared, and the equipment returned to normal.

This sort of thing was common enough at performances these days. The villagers had been covering their ears in discomfort just moments ago, but now they resumed chatting and laughing. No one left.

Secretary Jin repeatedly apologized into the microphone. Then the backing music began again, and she restarted "The Song of the Thousand Folds."

Irritation showed in her eyes. If she had still been held up by a little professional discipline before, she was now plainly just going through the motions. During the chorus, she simply stopped singing and passed the microphone toward the audience.

During the first chorus, a few outgoing adults and noisy children sang along in their own versions of Cantonese. But when she extended the microphone again during the second chorus, no one joined in. The whole place fell completely quiet.

"Sing! Go on, sing!"

"Hurry up and sing! Sing!"

Someone below urged her on.

Secretary Jin kept her professional smile and muddled through the song without caring in the slightest.

When the song ended, Secretary Jin tossed the microphone to someone beside her, then walked into a corner and began talking with several people.

A flamboyantly dressed person came onstage and performed a card trick.

Following a group of children, Li Zhuiyuan edged closer to the side of the stage and barely managed to hear Secretary Jin's group complaining about why it still was not over.

He had noticed earlier that all ten members of the troupe spoke Mandarin with the same accent.

For this banquet, the cooks and the people washing vegetables, washing dishes, and serving food had all been local villagers hired by the Village Chief.

That meant this group of Water Monkeys was concentrated entirely within the troupe.

Still, there was another point to watch for. Were there sentries positioned around the perimeter as well?

As the magic show ended, Li Zhuiyuan applauded with everyone else while backing away from the crowd.

By the roadside outside Big Beard's house, Run Sheng had long been waiting on the tricycle.

Li Zhuiyuan climbed aboard. "Brother Run Sheng, take this lane to Village Road and keep riding straight. Don't stop."

"Got it!"

Run Sheng began pedaling. Tan Wenbin's voice came from behind them. "Wait for me! You guys, wait for me!"

On Village Road, the tricycle rode ahead, followed by a big boy running behind it.

The scene felt wonderfully ordinary, and it also minimized the chance of drawing suspicion.

On an electrical tower amid the fields west of Big Beard's house, an electrician in gray-and-white coveralls sat high above.

It should have been an entirely normal sight, but Li Zhuiyuan was working backward from the conclusion to find evidence.

He quickly spotted what was wrong with the electrician. Two bags hung from the rack beside him, filled with food and water.

This place was neither deep in the mountains nor far from civilization. Whenever he wanted food or water, he could easily climb down to the ground. There was no need to bring it all the way up there.

"Brother Run Sheng, turn around. Go the other way."

"Okay!"

As the tricycle turned around, Tan Wenbin finally caught up and climbed aboard. Panting, he said, "You... you can't leave me behind."

"Brother Bin Bin, we need you now."

"Really?"

When the tricycle reached the east side of Big Beard's house, another electrical tower appeared in the distance.

"Brother Bin Bin, get down and chase the tricycle."

"Huh?"

"Brother, hurry."

Seeing that Li Zhuiyuan was not joking, Tan Wenbin immediately jumped down and resumed his earlier act, waving his arms dramatically as he chased the vehicle while shouting, "I haven't gotten on yet!"

As the tricycle neared the electrical tower, there was another electrician up there. But perhaps because the western tower stood near Village Road leading to the main road, while this one was deeper in the village, he seemed more relaxed. He leaned against a crossbeam with a cigarette between his fingers.

"Brother Run Sheng, head south. Go to Aunt Zhang's shop."

"Okay."

On the way south, they saw another person. This one had it a little worse: he had no electrical tower, only a utility pole, so he could only hang himself from it with his tools.

Out of caution, Li Zhuiyuan continued south after passing him and went to Aunt Zhang's shop to buy a few things.

Tan Wenbin asked for a pack of Little Su cigarettes.

Naturally, he paid for them himself.

He tore open the wrapper with practiced ease, flicked it away, then peeled back one corner of the cigarette pack. After turning it upside down into his palm and giving it a few taps, several cigarettes slid halfway out.

"Run Sheng, want one?"

Run Sheng glanced back, then continued focusing on pedaling. "I don't smoke."

"Little Yuan Ge, do you want one?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.

Tan Wenbin had no choice but to put one between his own lips. He took out a match, shielded it with his palm, and lit it.

"Hiss... phew... cough, cough, cough... blegh!"

First, he choked and coughed repeatedly. Then tears streamed from his eyes. Finally, he began dry-heaving.

It was obvious that his moves were flashy. He had probably practiced them many times in his head, but he did not know how to smoke.

Tan Wenbin said somewhat sheepishly, "I'm a little nervous. Wanted to ease it."

No one had told him exactly what they were doing, and even he himself did not know what was happening, but he could still find plenty of ways to immerse himself in it.

Going north was simpler, because Li Sanjiang's Home was already north of Big Beard's house.

They passed a utility pole along the way, and there was another person hanging from it.

Li Zhuiyuan could now confirm that these four electricians were Water Monkeys in disguise.

Even during maintenance of rural electrical facilities, they would not deploy so many workers all at once or place them so densely. Usually, a single electrician would inspect a large area by himself.

But unless someone was paying attention, most people truly would not notice anything strange. Everyone was used to occasionally seeing electricians on utility poles, and since they were generally not from the village or town, few people would go out of their way to greet them.

After returning home and entering the workshop, Li Zhuiyuan took out paper and pen. Using Big Beard's house as the center, he sketched the approximate layout of the fields, river, and utility poles.

Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin leaned in from either side, both studying the drawing very seriously.

In a rural plain, all four elevated points around them were manned. Those were only the visible, known ones. There might be more observation posts they had not discovered, or more might be added at night.

Li Zhuiyuan had originally planned to wait until nightfall, then have Run Sheng sneak over with the Corpse Retrieval Tools and infiltrate the edge of Big Beard's Fish Pond.

Now it seemed impossible. During the day, the crowds could provide cover, but village roads were mostly empty at night. And while they were digging the grave, the sentries outside would definitely be even more alert.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "There are ten people in the troupe and at least four on the perimeter. Counting Ding Dalin and the two currently lying in the hospital, this group of Water Monkeys is nearly twenty strong."

"That many people?" Run Sheng scratched his head. "I thought one or two people could handle this kind of work."

Li Zhuiyuan smiled. Graves for water burials were inherently harder to rob, and areas with waterways were generally not sparsely populated. That was why Water Monkeys tended to work in relatively large groups, digging fast and leaving fast.

"Brother Run Sheng, the problem now is how we get in tonight without being discovered."

Everything they had prepared was meant to assist Little Yellow Oriole. If they could not observe from nearby, they would have no way of knowing when to act. They could not have Run Sheng start fighting the Water Monkeys before Little Yellow Oriole even appeared.

If that happened, they might as well call the police now.

"Um, Little Yuan, can we go this way?"

Run Sheng stretched out his hand and traced along the river on the drawing.

This river was very close to Big Beard's house and the Fish Pond.

"Go through the river?"

"Yes, Little Yuan. We can travel underwater, then come ashore here and hide in the haystacks. For breathing, each of us can hold a straw in our mouth."

At first, Li Zhuiyuan thought the suggestion was extremely unreliable. But after thinking it over, it unexpectedly seemed workable.

Run Sheng was strong and a good swimmer. He had even fought a Death Collapse underwater before. The twelve Formation Flags and the Corpse Retrieval Tools could provide enough weight for him to walk underwater.

At the same time, the haystacks after coming ashore were already very close to the Fish Pond.

The only drawback was that if Li Zhuiyuan went with him, he would probably have to tie a rope around Run Sheng's body. The posture would be rather undignified.

"Brother Run Sheng, that's an excellent suggestion. Let's tentatively go with that."

Having received approval, Run Sheng smiled. He knew watching more movies was useful.

"Not bad. It really is a good idea." Tan Wenbin nodded. "So can you tell me what exactly we're doing tonight?"

"Brother Bin Bin, I'll tell you everything after the evening banquet."

"Little Yuan Ge, you won't lie to me?"

"I won't."

"Fine, I believe you."

The evening banquet began very early. At five o'clock, everyone was called to their seats, and the dishes came out quickly as well.

Li Zhuiyuan once again brought Tan Wenbin over to Li Sanjiang, and they sat down together for the banquet.

The flush left on Li Sanjiang's face after drinking at noon had not faded yet. Rubbing his belly, he did not feel particularly hungry, so he asked Ding Dalin, who sat beside him:

"Why are we starting the banquet so early?"

"Sanjiang Hou, you know how it is. I'm overseas, and there's a time difference."

"Oh, I see."

The excuse was clumsy, but with the dishes already being served, there was no need to say anything more.

Besides, the kitchen was serving food quickly that evening as well, with one hot dish after another.

Li Zhuiyuan knew it was all to end the banquet sooner and buy more time for digging the grave that night.

During the meal, Secretary Jin went to Ding Dalin's side and whispered a few words to him.

Ding Dalin then looked at Li Sanjiang. "Sanjiang Hou, do you have lanterns at home?"

"Lanterns? Yes."

Li Sanjiang's Home kept some basic items for weddings and funerals on hand for rental convenience.

These were not paper lanterns, but reusable ones.

"It's a special custom where I'm from. On the night of moving into a new home, two strings of red and white lanterns have to be hung from the roof. Unfortunately, the lanterns we ordered were delayed and won't arrive tonight."

"What's the big deal?" Li Sanjiang looked at Li Zhuiyuan. "Little Yuanhou, go home and have Run Sheng bring the lanterns over. Help them hang them up while you're at it."

"Okay, I'll go now."

"Go after you finish eating. There's no rush."

"I'm not hungry, Great Grandfather."

Li Zhuiyuan left the table. Tan Wenbin grabbed a chicken leg and hurried after him.

He had run around that afternoon, so he had digested his food rather quickly.

When Brother Liangliang had told him about his trip to Bai Family Town last time, he had mentioned the two strings of lanterns hanging from the archway at Bai Family Town's entrance.

They actually carried meaning. Red represented human affairs, white spoke for ghosts. With red and white lanterns hanging high, the Yin Yang Paths did not interfere with each other.

Bai Family Town displayed them because of its special nature. The Bai Family Empresses existed in a state that was neither fully human nor fully ghost.

The Water Monkeys doing this was also one of their traditions, meant to ensure everything went smoothly: peace in the Mortal Realm, no disturbance from the Netherworld.

But this gave Li Zhuiyuan a new idea.

When they returned home, Run Sheng had already wrapped the Formation Flags and Corpse Retrieval Tools in white plastic sheeting. A binding strap was slung diagonally across his upper body.

Li Zhuiyuan knew it was meant for tying him on when they set out and entered the water.

"Brother Run Sheng, the plan has changed. I found a better way in."

"Huh, Little Yuan? What are you planning?"

"The most dangerous place is the safest place. Since there are sentries on high ground all around, we might as well stop thinking about leaving first and then getting back in."

"I still don't understand." Run Sheng shook his head.

"I understood a little, but I want to hear more." Tan Wenbin propped his chin on his hand, his eyes thoughtful.

Li Zhuiyuan tilted his head toward him. Run Sheng understood the gesture. He directly lifted Tan Wenbin up and forcibly carried him to the workshop behind the house, then took a rope and tied his hands and feet.

"No, no, you can't do this! Little Yuan Ge, you promised you'd tell me everything."

"Mm. I'm telling you now."

Li Zhuiyuan crouched in front of Tan Wenbin and told him every detail about the Water Monkeys and the main burial chamber.

After listening, Tan Wenbin's face filled with incomparable excitement. "That's so thrilling!"

Then he shifted his bound hands and feet. "But what are you doing?"

"Bin Bin Ge, what does your grandfather do?"

"He's a police officer. My maternal grandfather is a police officer too."

"What do you plan to do in the future?"

"Anything is fine, as long as it's not being a police officer."

"Don't say things like that. Nothing people say during their rebellious phase counts. You'll definitely become a police officer too."

"I don't want to be—"

"Gag him."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph!"

Run Sheng efficiently stuffed Tan Wenbin's mouth shut.

"Brother Run Sheng, did you hear what Bin Bin said just now?"

"He said he didn't—"

"He said that in the future, he would definitely become a police officer."

"Oh, right. Yes, exactly."

"A family of police officers."

Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Tan Wenbin.

There was no time to go to the Police Station and hug the plaque. Hugging you works too. It's for good luck.

After Li Zhuiyuan got up, Run Sheng also came over and gave Tan Wenbin a hard hug, squeezing his eyes white.

"Bin Bin Ge, we're doing this for your safety. If we run into a friendlier Death Collapse next time, we'll take you to see it."

"Exactly, exactly." Run Sheng chimed in. "People are much more dangerous than Death Collapses."

Next, Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng put the items into the lantern covers, then carried them to Big Beard's house.

By then, the first seating had ended, while the second batch was still eating.

Li Sanjiang and Ding Dalin had not taken their seats and were still drinking. When he saw Run Sheng arrive, Li Sanjiang waved him over. "Hurry up and help them hang those."

"Got it, Uncle."

Run Sheng and Li Zhuiyuan went up to the second floor. There was an open hatch there, with a ladder beside it that led to the roof.

After setting up the ladder and carrying the items up, Run Sheng began opening up the lanterns, stringing them together one by one, then lighting them in sequence and lowering them down.

Red on the east side, white on the west.

After they finished, Li Zhuiyuan said, "Brother Run Sheng, I'll go down and move the ladder back. Stay up here and get ready to pull me up."

"Little Yuan, no need to make it so complicated."

Run Sheng jumped downward, hooking his feet over the edge just in time and swinging his whole body down.

Then he grabbed the ladder and swung it with a twist of his waist, returning it to its original place against the wall.

He exerted himself again, pulled his upper body back, grabbed the edge with both hands, and slowly hauled himself up. Finally, he put the hatch cover back in place, completing the whole sequence in one fluid motion.

Li Zhuiyuan could only marvel once more at Run Sheng's terrifying physical ability.

But that was something he had been born with. It was impossible to envy.

He just did not know whether someone like Uncle Qin, who could grow blood gills and go underwater, had been born that way or trained afterward.

Recently, after persistently practicing breathing exercises and horse stance, Li Zhuiyuan felt that he had improved greatly. Yet all his painstaking accumulation might only have been enough to catch up to someone else's starting line.

At that moment, the boy felt a trace of rejection and resentment toward geniuses. Why should it be that way?

"Little Yuan, what if they come up here to search later?"

"Brother Run Sheng, there's always a what-if in everything."

"That's true."

The roofs here were simply roofs, not places where people spent time. Other than when a house leaked, no one normally came up.

Most of the roof was covered in sloping red tiles, with low concrete walls around the edges. The walls were too low even for someone to crouch behind, so Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng could only lie flat.

Run Sheng was very close to the hatch, gripping the Yellow River Shovel in his hand.

His shovel had been modified by Li Zhuiyuan. It was larger, heavier, and had a longer sharpened edge.

If the Water Monkeys did not inspect the roof, all would be well. But if one dared push open the hatch and poke his head out, he would receive a shovel strike from Run Sheng.

Li Zhuiyuan lightly covered his chest with his right hand and felt his heart pounding. He was a little nervous, but more than that, he was excited.

Bin Bin Ge, I didn't lie to you. This really is fun.

The reason I didn't bring you was because I didn't want to increase the odds of an accident. I still wanted to keep playing in the future.

Occasionally, Li Zhuiyuan would lift his head slightly. He happened to face the Fish Pond, with the opera troupe's stage right beside it, giving him an excellent view.

Gradually, the second seating ended as well, and everyone began leaving.

Li Zhuiyuan heard Li Sanjiang's voice. He had drunk too much and kept muttering as he held Ding Dalin's hand. "Good brother, for life!"

It was obvious Ding Dalin had been humoring him. It took considerable effort before he finally persuaded Li Sanjiang to leave.

The cooks, kitchen helpers, and laborers were supposed to eat the final seating, but they had all received red envelopes and were allowed to take the leftovers home, so everyone left happily.

The noisy, festive banquet quickly fell quiet.

The loudspeakers and sound system on the opera stage had been turned up even louder, still beating and singing away.

Everyone from the opera troupe came down, but instead of helping clear away the bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs, they began inspecting the house, the yard, and the surrounding area.

Secretary Jin picked up a flashlight, turned it on, raised it, and swept it in a circle.

Soon, flashlights blinked back from six elevated positions around the perimeter.

One of them was on top of a haystack by the river.

Li Zhuiyuan silently thought how close that had been. In the original plan, he and Run Sheng would have come ashore underwater and hidden in that haystack. They would have been like mice jumping straight into a mousetrap.

Footsteps could also be heard from the second-floor balcony below, as someone checked the rooms one by one.

Li Zhuiyuan turned his head toward Run Sheng. Run Sheng had an ear pressed to the ground, the Yellow River Shovel in his hand ready at any moment.

Before long, the footsteps left. Through a drainage hole in the low concrete wall in front of him, Li Zhuiyuan saw them gathering in the yard.

It seemed they had finished their inspection and had overlooked the roof. Hiding in plain sight really worked.

Ding Dalin had changed into a bright yellow Taoist robe and held a Peachwood Sword.

An Offering Table had been placed before him, covered with candles and offerings.

Ding Dalin began performing the ritual. Unlike Li Sanjiang, Ding Dalin's movements were very quick.

After all, he was merely conducting the process before the Water Monkeys opened the tomb, while his own Great Grandfather sometimes had to cater to the host family's emotions and put on a longer show so they would feel their money had been well spent.

Still, Ding Dalin's movements and bearing were far more standard and professional than Great Grandfather's.

It was rather like the gap between Secretary Jin and Little Yellow Oriole when they had sung during the day.

Li Zhuiyuan froze for a moment and rubbed his brow. What nonsense was he comparing?

After the ritual ended, Ding Dalin did not take off his Taoist robe. Instead, he replaced the Peachwood Sword with a compass and stood in place, turning as he examined it.

The compass was entirely purple and very large, richly carved and inlaid. Like the clock in a foreign hotel, it had a ring of smaller circles outside the large one, each representing the time in a different region.

Li Zhuiyuan pressed his lips together. Compared to this Purple Compass, the customized one he had made was far inferior. Every time he used it, he even had to calculate corrections in his head.

At that moment, Secretary Jin led a total of ten Water Monkeys in kneeling on one knee before Ding Dalin.

Ding Dalin stared at the compass and slowly raised his hand.

"The auspicious hour has arrived. Begin work!"

Everyone raised one hand and silently recited something in unison. Once they finished, they rose and split up to work.

Compared with conventional earthen tombs, water tombs had the advantage of a lower chance of coming up empty-handed.

But water tombs were harder to rob and more dangerous than earthen tombs. Any trade like this naturally developed many complicated rituals and rules, not only to show respect to ghosts and gods, but also to strengthen one's own resolve.

A great many items were brought out from beneath the opera stage. The most visible were two water pumps and a diesel generator.

There were also objects resembling cable loops, while two people methodically assembled a frame.

Times were advancing, and naturally, the Water Monkeys' methods of tomb robbery had advanced as well.

The noise of the pumps was covered by the loudspeakers and sound system. The hoses ran into the nearby river, and before long, the water level in the Fish Pond began dropping at a visible rate.

Run Sheng shifted over as well. There was no longer any danger by the hatch anyway.

"Little Yuan, tell me when you need me to go down and plant the flags."

"Mm. It's still early."

The opportunity to plant the flags would come when Little Yellow Oriole clashed with the Water Monkeys. Only once they descended into chaos would he and Run Sheng have a chance to slip around the perimeter and make their arrangements.

The Fish Pond began to reveal its bottom, exposing rotten mud and many dead, decomposing fish and crabs.

The Water Monkeys laughed, believing they were closer to their target.

But Li Zhuiyuan knew that if a Death Collapse lived in even a small fish pond, nothing aquatic could be raised there.

So this scene was not caused by the main burial chamber at all.

Five Water Monkeys, dressed in waterproof suits, entered the Fish Pond. They held telescoping iron rods, stabbing them into the ground before pulling them out and taking mud samples from a layer at a particular depth.

Ding Dalin sat beside the Fish Pond. The compass had long been set aside, and he now held a Sea Bowl and a wooden spoon.

The deep soil samples were brought over one after another and poured into his bowl. He picked up the wooden spoon and tasted them.

"Holy shit, Little Yuan, look! He's actually eating mud."

"Mm, I saw it."

Li Zhuiyuan did not understand why Run Sheng was reacting so strongly. Eating mud was strange, but compared with someone who ate incense, it was still rather normal.

Although Records of Strange Tales from the Jianghu had no record of eating mud, Li Zhuiyuan could still understand its purpose. It was likely a method of determining location.

Ding Dalin tasted a spoonful and shook his head. He shook his head five times in a row.

The Water Monkeys continued selecting locations, stabbing their rods down, and bringing up fresh mud.

Finally, Ding Dalin nodded after tasting one sample and pointed at that spot.

Everyone grabbed shovels and began digging. Once they had dug out a pit, they took out steel plates one after another and hammered them into place. There were clasps between the plates, and after they entered the ground, all of them were connected.

Once that was done, they tied on ropes and connected them to a winch. The machine began turning.

A huge section of earth was excavated and dragged all the way out of the Fish Pond.

An excavator would have been too conspicuous, so this served the same purpose. Besides, once they reached the tomb, they could use it to forcibly pry open the lid.

Digging a robbery tunnel was far too time-consuming and exhausting, unless they planned to hold this housewarming banquet for an entire month.

Li Zhuiyuan knew they had not used detonators not because they were kind, but purely because conditions did not allow it.

Yet even if they continued excavating this way, the damage to the tomb would be immense.

They only wanted to open the tomb as quickly as possible, take the most valuable things inside, then flee and sell the loot abroad.

With the steel plates and manual labor working together, a deep pit soon took shape.

Fortunately, Li Zhuiyuan was on the roof. From any other position, he would never have been able to see these details of the excavation.

Run Sheng whispered, "Little Yuan, could Little Yellow Oriole not be home?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "She should be home."

He had still sensed Little Yellow Oriole listening to the opera that afternoon.

"Little Yuan, tell me, is there a chance she saw so many people coming to her home, got scared, and slipped away?"

"This..."

Li Zhuiyuan was no longer sure, because the fact was that the Water Monkeys had progressed this far without the slightest abnormal occurrence.

Records of Strange Tales from the Jianghu had described how Death Collapses usually acted on instinct, but high-level Death Collapses could develop intelligence.

There were many Water Monkeys, and they were highly professional. It was normal for her to avoid their edge.

But Li Zhuiyuan still did not believe Little Yellow Oriole would simply run away.

"We hit it! We hit it!"

"Found it! I can see it!"

The Water Monkeys beneath the pit wore safety helmets with lamps on them, and they shouted excitedly.

Li Zhuiyuan also saw that they had dug out an arched top inside the pit.

The silt on top had not been cleared away, so its original color could not be seen. But judging by its shape, it resembled the tip of a temple pagoda.

Li Zhuiyuan's heart jolted. It was not an ordinary water burial tomb.

There were many categories of water burials. The most taboo and troublesome kind was this sort of Temple Tomb.

Its existence often meant ancient people had built it to suppress some evil haunting.

It could be said that other tombs did not have a high chance of causing trouble, while with this kind of tomb, the chance of nothing going wrong was not high.

It was like the Bai Family Empress statue dug up at the riverworks some time ago. Its original purpose had also been suppression, yet strange things happened that very night after the chain was smashed open.

And the tiny shrine containing that single statue of Bai Family Empress could not possibly compare to the arched top now exposed.

This seemed to truly be a pagoda. The topmost part of a pagoda was usually the smallest, so just how large was the entire structure?

Li Zhuiyuan was not the only one shocked. As the person chiefly responsible on site, Ding Dalin's expression immediately became extremely grim.

Ignoring his age, he entered the pit, took a flashlight, wiped away the silt, and began examining the details.

Then he seemed to discover something. His body trembled, and he swept his gaze over the other Water Monkeys before waving his hand.

Secretary Jin jumped down as well and asked, "What is it?"

"This is a Temple Tomb. We can't open it."

"Why not?"

"I've encountered Temple Tombs a few times. Not one of those times ended peacefully. Once this kind of tomb is opened, something evil will definitely happen afterward."

"Will there be good stuff inside this kind of tomb?"

"I said we can't open it."

"We've come this far, and now you say we can't open it? This operation has cost so much from beginning to end, and we even lost two brothers. Now the police have the others under watch in the hospital, and they can't get out."

"Listen to me. You all said you would listen to me. I'm the leader!"

Secretary Jin reached out, grabbed Ding Dalin by the neck, and said coldly,

"You old bastard, this tomb has to be opened today, no matter what. The police have already noticed us. We have to finish this job and go hide for a while. Without money, what the hell are we supposed to hide with?"

"You... for money... you don't want your life anymore...?"

"Without money, what's the use of keeping this life?"

Secretary Jin drew a dagger and rubbed it up and down Ding Dalin's aged face. "Old bastard, I'll give you one more chance."

"I'll open it... I'll open it..."

"Very well. What do we do next?"

Secretary Jin released her grip. Ding Dalin clutched his neck and answered between gasps:

"Small temple tombs emphasize trapping and locking, while large temple tombs emphasize sealing. Both are meant to nail whatever is suppressed inside permanently in place. There's no other way to open this kind of tomb. You can only use the stupid method: first pry a gap open from the lower corner, then use external force to pull it apart.

But I advise you to think it over again. Seriously."

"Heh. If you're scared, go up and find somewhere to hide. Don't get in the way."

"Good advice never persuades..." Ding Dalin gave the pit one last look, then climbed out. He climbed out of the Fish Pond as well and returned outside.

He picked up his compass again, held it against his chest, lowered his head, and kept muttering as though praying.

"Little Yuan, that old man wasn't the boss after all?"

"When he could lead everyone to make money, he was the boss. If he got in the way of everyone making money, then he wasn't."

Li Zhuiyuan could tell that Old Ding had recognized the Temple Tomb too, but it was obvious that his words no longer carried any weight.

Hook after hook was secured in place. After someone here gave a signal, the machinery over there started up.

The cables stretched taut, yet they still failed to pull the roof off. They merely shifted the position of its curved dome.

In other words, the tower had tilted.

"Get down there and pry it!" Secretary Jin had now taken over Ding Dalin's command.

A group of Water Monkeys began prying and smashing with their tools. They worked until they were drenched in sweat as time ticked away second by second.

"Little Yuan, why haven't they opened it yet?" Run Sheng yawned. He was getting sleepy.

Li Zhuiyuan was starting to feel a little bored as well. By rough estimate, the Water Monkeys had been working for nearly two hours.

Whenever someone collapsed from exhaustion and left, a newcomer came over to continue the work. They were probably rotating shifts with the lookouts.

"Crack..."

At that sound, Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng immediately perked up. It looked like there had finally been some progress.

Once a gap appeared, breaking through became much easier. Amid the creaking of the winch, the cables suddenly reeled back, and the curved dome was completely ripped away, exposing what lay inside.

For the moment, they could not tell whether it was the top of the tower or the passage leading into the tomb chamber.

The Water Monkeys were experienced and all backed away. No one was stupid enough to crawl inside at a time like this.

After a while, seeing that nothing had happened inside, Secretary Jin tossed several flares in. Yet the interior seemed very deep, and the lights quickly vanished.

One Water Monkey brought over a long pole with a rooster tied to its end and extended it into the opening. After a while, he pulled it back. The chicken was still alive.

"It's safe below."

The pole was tossed away, landing far off in the distance.

Secretary Jin nodded. "Go down and scout it out."

Two Water Monkeys tied ropes around themselves and officially entered the tomb.

"Little Yuan, what do we do? That Death Collapse still hasn't come out. Don't let them actually rob it successfully."

Li Zhuiyuan sighed and said, "Then we..."

Just then, Li Zhuiyuan saw Ding Dalin walk toward the rooster still tied to the pole. He crouched down and reached out a hand.

The rooster suddenly broke free and viciously pecked his palm.

Li Zhuiyuan saw that scene with absolute clarity from above, but even he could not make out how the chicken had done it.

Because the chicken's feathers and even its skin were still left on the pole. It had practically jumped out of its own shell to peck someone.

And after pecking him, it seemed even more excited, cackling madly in place.

The sight was deeply unsettling. Though Li Zhuiyuan often ate chicken, it was the first time he had ever seen a bloody chicken walking around.

Ignoring the bloody hole in his palm, Ding Dalin turned and shouted at Secretary Jin's group:

"It's out! It's out! It's out!"

"Old bastard, shut up!" Secretary Jin cursed.

At that moment, the Water Monkeys were all gathered around the opening in the Fish Pond, waiting for a response from inside. Because of their angle, they could not see the chicken.

Secretary Jin pointed at someone. "Go up and see what's wrong with that old man."

"Okay."

Before that person could go up, the two ropes began to tug. It was a signal from the two men who had gone in. They intended to come out.

Everyone outside let out a long breath of relief. It seemed the inside was safe. Once the two men came out and explained the situation, everyone could go in together and move the loot.

Secretary Jin ordered, "Reel in the ropes."

The people outside began collecting the ropes, not to pull the men out, but merely to slowly raise them. That meant the two men inside were steadily walking outward.

Before long, they emerged.

"There's good stuff inside, lots of good stuff!"

"There's too much stuff, but it's too heavy for the two of us to carry! There's even a black coffin wrapped in chains. It looks damn important. There must be treasure inside!"

Excitement appeared on everyone's faces. Someone stepped forward to help the two men untie the ropes around them.

But just then, the two men untied themselves.

Not with their hands. Their entire bodies crawled out of their clothes—no, out through the crowns of their own heads.

"There's good stuff inside, lots of good stuff!"

"Hurry and move it! Hurry and move it!"

The two bloody people danced excitedly in place, still urging their companions to hurry down into the tomb.

That bizarre and horrifying scene froze every Water Monkey present.

They were all veterans of the trade. They had entered countless tombs and encountered their share of trouble, but nothing had ever compared to what was before them now!

After the tomb was opened, there had been no mist, no poison, and no sign of a Death Collapse. They had been sharing their joy just moments ago, and then this horrific sight had appeared without warning.

"Tie them up!"

Secretary Jin gave the order, then immediately turned and left the edge of the pit. She jumped across the Fish Pond and went to find Ding Dalin.

"Something happened, boss!"

Secretary Jin saw Ding Dalin hunched over against a mound of earth, his voice already hoarse as he continued mumbling, "It's out... it's out..."

"Something happened, boss. Come take a look."

Ding Dalin ignored Secretary Jin and kept repeating himself.

"I'm telling you, something happened!"

Secretary Jin kicked Ding Dalin in the back.

"Riiip..."

With a crisp tear of flesh, Ding Dalin's Taoist robe and the Human Skin beneath it remained where they were, gray-white hair still attached to the scalp. Meanwhile, a bloody person was kicked out and rolled endlessly over the ground, getting dirt and small stones embedded in its flesh.

Even so, that bloody person continued crouching there and muttering:

"It's out... it's out..."

Secretary Jin took two steps back and stared at everything in disbelief. Ding Dalin had been outside the Fish Pond the entire time. If even he had become like this, then everyone else...

Secretary Jin turned her head and looked toward the pit in the Fish Pond. Bloody people were crawling out one after another, running in circles through the drained pond.

Her face was filled with terror. She raised a hand and touched her own face.

The instant she touched it, her skin split open.

As though taking off clothes, all the skin and clothing on her body fell to the ground.

The evening wind was like blades, slicing into her exposed blood vessels. She crouched down and began screaming.

All of this had happened in less than a minute.

Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng both stared wide-eyed. They turned their heads and slowly looked at each other.

Run Sheng had imagined things based on movie plots, while Li Zhuiyuan had worked things out in his mind. In short, they had both imagined all sorts of possible developments for tonight, but neither had expected things to reach this point.

Little Yellow Oriole had not appeared, but the scene below was countless times more terrifying than her appearance would have been.

Even if they were Water Monkeys, even if they deserved to die, they were still a group of living people. Yet they had cleanly come out of their skins like peeled shrimp?

Of all the Death Collapses they had experienced before, which one could have created a scene like this?

At that moment, the blood-red Secretary Jin stopped screaming. She staggered to her feet, took a flashlight from her clothes, switched it on, raised it over her head, and spun it in circles to the left and right.

She was sending a Light Signal.

Very quickly, lights answered from six elevated positions around the perimeter. As they responded, the lights were moving downward.

Li Zhuiyuan suddenly realized that she was deliberately using the Light Signal to summon their accomplices from outside.

And the result of summoning them would be...

Why was she doing this?

Li Zhuiyuan suddenly thought of a possibility: this thing wanted everyone who knew what had happened here to keep the secret forever.

Then was their current position still safe?

"Little Yuan, what happened to them? How come I didn't see who did it..."

Below, Secretary Jin, who had originally had her back to the house, lowered her arm and began turning around.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Run!"

Run Sheng froze for a moment, then immediately rushed to the hatch. He was about to lift it open when Li Zhuiyuan patted his back several times.

"Brother, there's no time. Jump straight down. There's a woodpile behind the house."

"Okay!"

Run Sheng did not hesitate. He got up, charged forward, and leaped down.

There was indeed a woodpile below, but it was not very high. The drop from the roof was still considerable. Run Sheng failed to land steadily and crashed down on his side, several parts of his body scraped raw by branches.

But he did not even grunt. He immediately forced himself back to his feet and faced upward just as Li Zhuiyuan jumped down too.

Run Sheng raised both arms and caught Li Zhuiyuan.

Even so, Li Zhuiyuan still felt a tightness in his chest and a sharp pain in his ribs. His nose had scraped against Run Sheng's arm, and warm liquid was now running down from it.

There was no way to force their way down from the roof like that without paying some price.

"Little Yuan, are you okay?"

"Run..."

Li Zhuiyuan pointed ahead. Run Sheng nodded, immediately slung the boy onto his back, jumped down from the woodpile, raced across the Village Road, and disappeared into the fields ahead.

At this point, they no longer needed to worry about being seen by the outer lookouts. First, the lookouts had already left their high positions. Second, they were running toward Big Beard's Fish Pond.

Run Sheng carried the boy through the rice paddies. The rice stalks whipped against his face painfully, leaving a slicing sensation.

That feeling was especially terrifying now, because he could not tell whether it came from the rice stalks or whether his own skin was beginning to split open too.

Li Zhuiyuan was bleeding. He wanted to raise his neck to stop the blood, but he could not because Run Sheng was running beneath him.

Run Sheng was bleeding too. He was terrified and did not dare stop at all.

Ever since he was old enough to remember, after accompanying his grandfather to retrieve corpses, he had never seen anything so horrifying.

At last, Run Sheng ran out of the fields and onto the road. Then he sprinted all the way along it to the yard outside their home.

Tan Wenbin had already fallen asleep in the workshop.

Suddenly, the door opened, and two people covered in blood came in. His face turned pale from fright.

Li Zhuiyuan lifted his head, found some paper, folded it into a ball, and stuffed it into his nostril.

After a great deal of effort, the nosebleed finally stopped. He rubbed his chest again. His ribs still hurt, but it was not too serious.

Run Sheng picked up a pair of tweezers and pulled out, one by one, the wooden splinters embedded in his flesh.

After tending to themselves, the two sat facing each other and panted without stopping.

Run Sheng's eyes were full of helplessness. He had been terrified out of his wits.

Li Zhuiyuan's eyes were full of confusion. This was beyond the scope of the question.

Even the commotion caused by the Bai Family Empresses last time had been nowhere near as horrifying or bizarre as tonight.

After all, the Bai Family Empress's methods could be understood, and there were ways to break them. But what had happened at Big Beard's Fish Pond just now offered no clue at all.

Even now, Li Zhuiyuan felt a deep sense of unreality. Why was something like this buried in Siyuan Village?

They had merely opened the tomb cover, and a whole group of people had met such an end. Just how terrifying was the thing inside?

Li Zhuiyuan could not help wondering whether Aunt Liu could still handle this.

Seeing the two of them like this, Tan Wenbin knew something major must have happened. He was curious and desperately wanted to know what it was, but the pair seemed to have forgotten that he was still tied up and gagged. He could only keep wriggling to attract their attention, squirming like a cheerful maggot.

At last, their eyes fell on him, and both looked startled.

Tan Wenbin paused, then wriggled even more violently. What kind of look was that? They had actually forgotten he existed!

Run Sheng untied Tan Wenbin. Tan Wenbin wanted to ask something, but immediately clamped his legs together and ran on tiptoe out of the workshop toward the toilet.

"Little Yuan, I feel a little itchy, but I don't dare scratch."

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and saw that Run Sheng's skin had turned a dark red.

He immediately looked down at himself. His skin seemed a little red too.

"Little Yuan, we're not going to turn out like that too, are we?"

"No. If we were going to, it would've happened already."

"I'm going to rinse off with well water." Run Sheng walked out of the workshop.

Tan Wenbin, now free, came back in. He was not angry. Instead, he leaned over again and asked curiously:

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Bin Bin Ge, wait for Brother Run Sheng to tell you."

"Still shaken up?"

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

"Was it that serious?" Tan Wenbin hesitated, then asked, "Should we call the police now?"

"No, absolutely not. No one can go near that place right now."

Run Sheng returned barefoot, dripping wet and wearing only a pair of underwear. "Little Yuan, the well water really works. My skin isn't red anymore. Come here, I'll rinse you off too."

Though he could not understand the principle behind it, Li Zhuiyuan still went. Several buckets of well water were poured over his head, making his body shiver instinctively.

But sure enough, the redness on his body faded.

"Little Yuan, looks like we're not in too much trouble."

"Yeah. Maybe it's because we were farther away."

"Also, we ran fast. Good thing you reminded me to jump straight from the roof. If we'd waited to go downstairs, we might've been done for too."

Hearing that, Li Zhuiyuan could not help imagining a huge bloody lump carrying a small bloody lump through the rice paddies.

"Ah!" Run Sheng's expression changed.

"What is it?"

"The Formation Flag is still on the roof, and my set of Corpse Retrieval Tools is still there too!"

Seeing the regret and pain on Run Sheng's face, Li Zhuiyuan could only comfort him. "It's fine, Brother Run Sheng. We can make another set of tools."

Then, to keep Run Sheng from doing anything stupid, Li Zhuiyuan reminded him, "Brother, without my permission, you are not allowed to sneak back there to get anything."

Run Sheng hurriedly waved his hands. "How would I dare? I wouldn't. I'm really scared this time."

"Go to sleep. Get some rest first."

Li Zhuiyuan went upstairs. When he reached the door to his room, he turned to look in the direction of Big Beard's house. After hesitating for a long time, he still pushed open the door and went in.

That night, Li Zhuiyuan had a dream. It was not Yin Walking, but a very ordinary nightmare.

In the dream, he was still lying on the rooftop, looking down at the two rows of kneeling Water Monkeys.

Again and again, they crawled out of their own skins and became blood monkeys;

then crawled back into their skins again, as though putting back on clothes they had just taken off.

Throughout the entire process, their shrill screams filled his ears.

And from beginning to end, their eyes remained fixed on him atop the roof.

He did not know whether it was a nightmare he had before waking, or whether he had relived it over and over. In any case, when Li Zhuiyuan could no longer bear it and turned to jump off the building, he woke the instant he fell.

He urgently turned his head. A Li was sitting in the chair by the door, holding a bowl in her hands.

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and lay back down.

Seeing that he was awake, A Li carried the bowl over. This time, there was an extra small spoon in it.

The girl did not want to accidentally pour the medicine over the boy's head again while feeding him.

Li Zhuiyuan sat up and accepted the medicine from her. The spoon was fairly large, and after mouthful after mouthful, he quickly finished it.

His nose had bled quite a bit again last night. He really did need to replenish himself.

The girl set down the bowl, then tilted her head as she looked at him. She seemed to sense the boy's absent-mindedness, and confusion appeared in her eyes.

"A Li, last night, I witnessed something very frightening."

The girl took the boy's hand of her own accord.

Li Zhuiyuan placed her hand against his chest. Feeling that softness and warmth, he closed his eyes again and dozed off for a while longer.

Li Sanjiang came downstairs while yawning. He had drunk too much last night, and even after waking up, his head still felt a little foggy.

But when he saw the two people sleeping together on a single table, wrapped in each other's arms, he could not help raising his voice and cursing, "You little bastards, what kind of sleeping position is this?!"

Tan Wenbin was awakened by the shout. He tried to break free from Run Sheng's arm, but he was powerless to do so and could only look helplessly at Li Sanjiang.

Unexpectedly, Li Sanjiang merely cursed to clear his throat, then went out to the yard and stretched on his own.

"Breakfast!"

Hearing Aunt Liu's voice, Run Sheng woke up. It was time to eat.

Little Yuanhou was scared, and so was he. It was just that Little Yuanhou had A Li, while he only had A Bin beside him.

Li Zhuiyuan came downstairs with A Li as well, and everyone took their seats.

Tan Wenbin changed seats this time and went to sit with Li Sanjiang.

Liu Yumei curiously examined Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng. The two children probably had not rested much last night.

"Little Yuan, come over here. Try some of Grandma's pastries."

Li Zhuiyuan stood up and walked over.

Liu Yumei handed him a piece of pastry. "Did you have fun last night?"

Li Zhuiyuan did not know how to answer.

Liu Yumei continued, "Did you see blood?"

"Mm, a lot of blood."

"Did you do it?"

"We didn't do anything."

Liu Yumei took a surprised bite of the crisp pastry. "Then Grandma really misjudged. I picked the best of a sorry bunch."

"No, you didn't misjudge. There really was a king in the mountains."

"How so?"

"It was skinned in one bite."

"Skinned?" Liu Yumei had trouble understanding that word. If he had said "swallowed in one bite," it would have been easier to understand.

Li Zhuiyuan really wanted to tell Grandma Liu everything that had happened last night, but in this house, they had no choice but to speak in riddles.

"Alright, I'm done eating." Li Sanjiang set down his bowl of porridge and stood up.

Aunt Liu said, "There's still more in the pot."

"I ate and drank too much yesterday, so I have no appetite now.

Tomorrow, there's a Zhai Shi being held in West Village. Runsheng Hou, come with me to Big Beard's... ah, no, to Old Ding's house and collect the tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks. We'll deliver them to that household in West Village this afternoon. Oh, and we sent over a pair of lanterns yesterday too. Don't forget to bring those back."

Runsheng Hou hugged a huge basin of porridge in the corner and pretended not to hear.

"Hey, Runsheng Hou, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"

"Grandpa, I'm not feeling well today."

"Fine, you're not feeling well? Then I'll go by myself. I'm not so old that I can't walk."

After saying that, Li Sanjiang went to push out the handcart.

Li Zhuiyuan and Run Sheng immediately stopped eating breakfast and rushed over.

"Great Grandfather, Brother Run Sheng and I will collect them this afternoon. You don't need to go."

Run Sheng echoed, "Mm, I'll go this afternoon."

Li Sanjiang looked at Run Sheng and reached out to touch his forehead. "You don't have a fever. Where are you feeling unwell?"

"Just a little. It's nothing serious."

"Heh." Li Sanjiang sneered, took money from his pocket, and handed it to Run Sheng. "After breakfast, go to Zheng Datong's place and get yourself checked properly. Get an injection if you need one, take medicine if you need medicine."

Run Sheng was too embarrassed to take the money. He was only pretending to be sick.

Li Zhuiyuan took the money and slipped it into Run Sheng's pocket.

"Great Grandfather, I'll accompany Brother Run Sheng later. After we go to Zheng Datong's, we'll collect the bowls, chopsticks, and lanterns."

"Only go collect them if there's no problem. If there is a problem, call your Great Grandfather over."

Li Sanjiang released the cart handles, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. By habit, he was about to take a walk after breakfast.

"Great Grandfather, I'll go for a walk with you."

"You haven't even finished breakfast."

"I'm the same as you. I ate too well and too much yesterday, so I can't digest it today. I can't eat anymore."

"You didn't eat that much yesterday. That Zhuang Zhuang, on the other hand, ate a whole lot."

Tan Wenbin, who was shoveling down porridge, raised his head in confusion. "Grandpa, my name is Bin Bin."

"Come on, Great Grandfather. I'll walk with you."

"Mm."

Li Sanjiang still liked taking walks with Little Yuanhou.

Li Zhuiyuan, however, was worried that Li Sanjiang might wander over to Big Beard's house while walking. To be safe, he had to keep an eye on him.

Sure enough, the moment they stepped onto Village Road, Li Sanjiang headed toward Big Beard's house.

"Great Grandfather, let's go to the convenience store."

"Why go to the convenience store so early? It isn't even open yet. Your Great Grandfather will take you there to buy things later."

"Then shall we visit Liu Nainai's house?"

"Blind Liu and I usually have nothing to talk about."

"Then let's walk over there. The scenery over there is nice."

"When did the scenery in this village start being divided into good and bad? Come on, Little Yuanhou. Let's go take a look at your future home."

"My future home..."

"Once Old Ding kicks the bucket, won't it be your home? Come on, let's go see whether he's kicked the bucket yet. Heh heh."

"Great Grandfather, they just moved in. Isn't it inappropriate to disturb them so early?"

"What's inappropriate about it? Moving in isn't the same as getting married."

After taking a few more steps, Li Sanjiang stopped on his own and pondered aloud.

"Seems like you're right. That secretary by his side, who knows what she's for? They're probably still asleep in the same bed."

"Exactly."

A smile appeared on Li Sanjiang's face, and he quickened his pace. "Ha, then I want to go take a look even more!"

Seeing that he could not talk his Great Grandfather out of it, Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to grab Li Sanjiang's arm and tell him the truth. "Great Grandfather, something happened at Big Beard's house last night. The entire troupe, including Grandpa Ding, was skinned alive. They died horribly."

"Little Yuanhou, what nonsense are you making up so early in the morning?"

"Great Grandfather, I'm telling the truth."

"It couldn't sound more fake. Heh heh."

Li Zhuiyuan felt rather helpless. It was always like this. At critical moments, his Great Grandfather never believed him.

"Little Yuanhou, look. Those skinned people are coming."

Li Zhuiyuan raised his head in confusion. A truck fully loaded with sound equipment was driving toward them. Four people sat in the cab, while quite a few more stood in the rear cargo bed.

They were all people from yesterday's troupe, all perfectly fine.

When the driver saw Li Sanjiang, he honked the horn.

The people in the back of the truck waved and called out greetings.

"Grandpa Li, you're up so early."

"Yeah, I'm taking a walk. You performed all night yesterday, and you're up this early today too?"

"We have to rush to the next job. We can only make do with sleeping in the truck."

"That's really hard work."

"See you around, Grandpa Li."

"See you around."

Li Sanjiang waved to the members of the troupe in the truck. Before long, the truck disappeared into the distance.

"Little Yuanhou, next time you make up a story, make it sound more believable. That way your essays will be better too."

Li Zhuiyuan stared at the truck as it gradually blurred into the distance, his hands and feet beginning to turn cold.

That was impossible. He was certain that last night had not been a dream, not an illusion, and certainly not Yin Walking. He had truly seen those Water Monkeys being skinned with his own eyes!

But what, exactly, was going on with that group of living people in the truck just now?

"Sanjiang Hou, morning!"

"Morning, Lin Hou. You're out for a walk too?"

"Yeah. When you get old, you sleep less. Oh, right, I had people pack up your tables, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, and lanterns. When are you coming to haul them back?"

"This afternoon. The mule at home isn't feeling well, so I'll let him see a doctor first."

"Oh, I see. Hey, isn't this Little Yuanhou? What a good child. He came out so early to take a walk with his Great Grandfather?"

"Yeah, my Little Yuanhou is the most well-behaved and filial. Come, Little Yuanhou. Say hello to your Grandpa Ding."

In truth, Li Zhuiyuan's body had already stiffened slightly when he heard that voice earlier.

Now, he turned around with some difficulty, his eyes full of disbelief.

Because,

Secretary Jin was supporting Ding Dalin, and they were standing right in front of him.