Dead for a Year?

Dead for a Year?

"So-called spirit... the ancient books say: spirit is that which governs the whole body. It is born alongside innate essence, divided and stored within the Five Viscera, and governed by the Heavenly Heart..."

"From a medical perspective, the spirit can be discerned through the dimness of one's eyes; if the eyes are clouded, the spirit is diseased."

"The eyes are the spirit's aperture. When the spirit is tranquil, the heart is at peace; when the spirit is restless, the heart is stirred. When the heart is stirred, the body is harmed. To preserve the body whole, one must first calm the spirit—nurture it with serenity and harmony within, quiet the heart and rest the mind, without being lured by outward things."

"In other words, spirit probably refers to a person's mind and consciousness."

"And as for Qi..."

At this point, Old Li looked at Chu Mu again. "You came here to study Meridians and Acupoints, presumably because you wish to practice Martial Arts."

"The first step in Martial Arts lies in calming the mind and cultivating one's nature. Its purpose is to perceive Qi-Blood."

"As for Qi, medicine has many explanations for it. In medical terms, the Five Viscera and Six Entrails all possess Qi, commonly known as the Five Qis. Medicine and treatment likewise focus on regulating the Qi mechanism of the Five Viscera and Six Entrails..."

"But in Martial Arts, it refers to Qi-Blood."

"One perceives the hidden Qi within the human body, then influences it, even controls it, until all the Qi in one's body is brought under one's command."

"Qi can generate and gather essence; essence and Qi give rise to spirit; spirit commands essence and Qi."

"When a person's essence is whole, his Qi is abundant. When essence and Qi are abundant, his spirit flourishes. There is a proper way to preserve life: when essence is depleted, Qi is exhausted; when Qi is exhausted, the spirit departs, and swift death is the result."

"The so-called three treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit—this, in my view, is roughly what they mean."

"Of course, these are merely this old man's personal thoughts..."

As Old Li spoke, a rough outline gradually took shape in Chu Mu's mind.

When Qi was abundant, essence grew strong; when essence and Qi were strong, the spirit brimmed full.

Martial Arts cultivated Qi-Blood, strengthened essence, and nourished spirit.

It was plain enough: so-called Martial Arts were a method of filling and even strengthening one's Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

As he silently pondered, Chu Mu asked no further questions. Now that he had a general framework, the rest was for him to experience and comprehend himself.

"There is also a Meridians and Acupoints sculpture here. I'll have someone send it to the side room shortly. Study it alongside the books and contemplate it carefully."

Chu Mu looked where Old Li pointed and saw that, at some point, a clay sculpture had appeared in the hall. It was shaped like a human, coated in white paint, with dense markings all over its body denoting the corresponding Meridians and Acupoints of the human form.

Chu Mu had seen his share of things. A mere human model was not enough to surprise him greatly. He nodded, took the books, and returned to the side room.

Just as when he had read at night in the Private School, Chu Mu studied until nearly curfew before taking the several books and heading home.

Nanshan Town at night was undoubtedly even more eerie.

White lanterns flickered and swayed in the wind. The cold gale howled, carrying paper money that had drifted from who knew where, while faint waves of sobbing seemed to float through the wind.

Damn... creepy! Chu Mu pulled his clothes tighter around himself. Just as he was thinking of hurrying home, sudden, rapid footsteps sounded behind him, making his heart tighten. He instinctively reached for his waist—only to grasp empty air.

He turned his head. When the Patrol Inspector uniforms and armor gradually emerged from the darkness, the heart he had been holding finally eased somewhat.

A squad of Patrol Inspectors was coming down the street. Behind them was a flatbed cart drawn by an ox, with more Patrol Inspectors walking beside it. They were clearly escorting something.

After one glance, Chu Mu withdrew his gaze. Just as he was about to step aside at the roadside to let them pass, a sudden voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Mu Xiaozi."

"Squad Leader."

Only then did Chu Mu see Wu Shuo hurrying over from the rear of the group, and he immediately went to meet him.

"Why are you out on the streets in the middle of the night instead of lying at home and resting?"

Wu Shuo glanced at the bandaged wound on Chu Mu's abdomen and casually asked, "How's the injury?"

"I just came back from Old Li's place. As for the wound, Old Li said it'll be fine after some time recovering."

After speaking, Chu Mu instinctively looked toward the cart being escorted by the Patrol Inspectors and could not help asking, "Squad Leader, what are you transporting?"

"A corpse!"

Wu Shuo cast it a glance, his expression clearly somewhat unnatural.

"A corpse?"

Chu Mu looked at Wu Shuo. His complicated expression entered Chu Mu's sight, and when he swept his gaze over the surrounding Patrol Inspectors, each of them also wore distinctly unnatural expressions.

Shock? Fear? Chu Mu raised a brow. He did not believe that a mere corpse could leave Wu Shuo and so many Patrol Inspectors shocked and frightened.

"You'll know if you go take a look yourself."

Wu Shuo walked to the cart and yanked aside the straw mat covering it. An old man dressed in a Funeral Garment immediately appeared before Chu Mu.

Even Chu Mu's heart skipped at the sight, but an even greater doubt swiftly rose within him.

In the middle of the night, a corpse wearing a Funeral Garment was indeed unsettling, but it should not be enough to frighten more than a dozen Patrol Inspectors, should it? As though sensing Chu Mu's confusion, Wu Shuo's explanation came before Chu Mu could speak.

"He's been dead for a year!"

Those few simple words carried an indescribable terror, instantly turning Chu Mu's hands and feet ice-cold. He even staggered back several steps.

"How is that possible?"

Chu Mu was filled with inexpressible shock.

Wu Shuo looked at the old man lying on the cart. Shock still lingered on his face, yet his voice was unusually certain. "But it's the truth!"

Chu Mu swallowed, forcing his gaze to shift back toward the old man lying on the cart.

He wore a Funeral Garment and a funeral cap, yet it was not difficult to see his glossy black hair. Though his face was aged, it carried the rosy complexion of a living man. Though his arms were withered, the veins beneath them were clearly visible.

If not for the Funeral Garment worn by the dead, no one would doubt that he was merely asleep.

Even if he had died, he did not look like someone whose breath had only just left him!

Let alone... that he had been dead for a year?

"We didn't believe it either, but this is how he looked when we dug him up!"

Wu Shuo wore a bitter expression, and the shock on his face deepened several degrees.

"Dug him up?"

Chu Mu was puzzled.

Wu Shuo's mood was complicated. "Kid, do you remember that courtyard in Qili Village where they practiced Martial Arts?"

Chu Mu was somewhat uncertain. "You mean?"

"That's right!"

Wu Shuo nodded firmly.

"This old dog... cough, cough, cough... this old gentleman was the mastermind behind teaching Martial Arts to those people in Qili Village!"

"But according to the captives we caught, this old man died a year ago!"

"Thousand Household took us into the mountains and dug up this old gentleman's grave. The moment we opened the coffin lid, he looked exactly like this!"

"We thought we had dug up the wrong grave, but those Qili Village captives identified him too. There's no mistake—it was this old gentleman."

At this point, Wu Shuo glanced at the corpse again with lingering fear and cursed, "It's fucking wicked! Dead for a year, yet he still looks like a living person!"

"The whole way here, we were scared out of our wits. It's fucking wicked!"