Holy Spirit Water

Outside Linhe Fang, a city wall was being built to isolate the refugees, preventing the fleeing commoners from entering. At the same time, porridge stalls were set up outside the fang to provide relief to the disaster victims.

Xu Qing couldn't understand the profound methods of those officials. He might have had some guesses in his heart, but he was too lazy to delve deeper.

Whether it was to "divert the floodwaters" or to prevent refugees from disrupting the order within the fang, none of it had anything to do with his Corpse Driver's Shop.

The weather was uncooperative today, with snowflakes falling again as the end of the first lunar month approached.

The son of Wu Yaoxing next door was reciting poetry, "Zhihu zhe ye," likely preparing for the county examination in the spring.

To become a Xiucai scholar, one first had to pass the county examination to become a Tong Sheng, then participate in the prefectural examination in the prefectural city. Only after passing could one be called a Xiucai scholar.

It was not easy to become a Xiucai scholar in the Great Yong dynasty. However, once one succeeded, not only would various taxes be reduced, but one would also be exempt from corvée labor. Even when meeting officials, one could stand tall and proud, free from the humiliation of kneeling in court.

Speaking of pursuing fame and fortune, Xu Qing happened to have a copy of the "Book Scripture" in his mind. It contained various classics and essays of the Great Yong dynasty, which he had obtained when he helped a lovesick scholar pass on.

Although that scholar was just an insignificant little fish in Su Hongxiu's pond, he had actually participated in the county and prefectural examinations and was a genuine Xiucai scholar.

Xu Qing mused to himself that perhaps when spring arrived this year, he could take some time off and team up with the son of Wu Yaoxing next door to participate in the examination.

He didn't ask for much. He only needed to exert twenty to thirty percent of his strength and casually qualify as a Xiucai scholar. This way, he could enjoy some privileges without being too conspicuous.

As Xu Qing was pondering these matters, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of his shop.

He glanced over and saw the brokerage clerk he had met before, directing people to move corpses into his shop.

"What's going on?"

Xu Qing stepped forward to inquire.

The brokerage clerk's face was bitter, as if his wife had run off with someone else. He said resentfully, "Don't even mention it. It's all because of the Jinmen Gang from the prefectural city..."

Listening to the clerk's explanation, Xu Qing finally understood what had happened.

It turned out that a "dragon crossing the river" had recently arrived in Linhe Fang, named the Jinmen Gang. They were a vanguard force from Jinmen Prefecture City, aiming to seize a piece of the pie at the Linhe wharf and expand their influence.

Simply put, they had set their sights on the prosperity of the wharf and wanted a share of the profits.

Matters related to cargo transport and fishing profits at the wharf were originally handled by Fifth Master Chang, the most capable fighter in the brokerage.

Seeing the Jinmen Gang coming to challenge them, how could this local snake sit idly by?

So, at the fifth watch this morning, Fifth Master Chang led his most formidable gold-medal enforcers and a crowd of subordinates, intending to make a show of force and negotiate with the Jinmen Gang, making them retreat.

But what Fifth Master Chang didn't expect was that there was a traitor among his men. As soon as he arrived at the territory occupied by the Jinmen Gang, he was surrounded by a group of people wielding knives and clubs.

At first, Fifth Master Chang wasn't flustered. After all, he had brought his gold-medal enforcers with him. They were disciples of Zhang Longhu from the Dragon Tiger Fist Arena in Luojing. Although they had only studied for seven or eight years, their formidable external martial arts, combined with their fierce fist techniques like those of a dragon and tiger, meant that even three or two Inner Refinement Masters couldn't get close!

But what Fifth Master Chang never expected was that the Jinmen Gang had not only invited five or six masked Inner Refinement Masters but also had a martial arts expert at the Meridian Opening Realm overseeing things.

What the hell was there to fight against!

Fifth Master Chang immediately had thoughts of retreating. However, the Jinmen Gang's manager didn't think that way. They were just looking for a way to establish their authority in Linhe, and here you were, sticking your head out!

On the principle of "why not take it if it's free," the Jinmen Gang leader immediately dealt a fatal blow.

If Fifth Master Chang hadn't possessed Inner Refinement strength himself, and if his subordinates hadn't desperately covered his retreat, he might not have survived!

It was just a pity about his two Inner Refinement Masters and seven or eight brothers.

The brokerage clerk, while directing the movement of the corpses, vividly recounted the events that had transpired at the wharf that morning.

"Were you perhaps at the scene? Otherwise, how would you know so many details, even remembering Fifth Master's oath to avenge his brothers so clearly?"

The brokerage clerk vehemently denied it. "I'm just a runner. I'm not the kind of person who licks blood from the tip of a knife. Fifth Master told me all of this himself."

"Alright! I won't chat with you about this anymore. See these brothers? They all died covering Fifth Master's retreat and blocking knives for him. They are true heroes! You must prepare them properly so they don't look bad during the funeral."

Saying this, the clerk took out five taels of silver from his money pouch and continued, "This is the payment for you to preside over the funeral. Make it a grand affair, buy the best coffins, and hold the most elaborate rituals. Don't let our Fifth Master look bad."

Five taels of silver for seven or eight corpses, and Xu Qing had to buy the coffins himself. When it was all calculated, there wouldn't be much left for him.

However, it could boost business for the entire street and liven things up for the neighbors.

Thinking this, Xu Qing saw off the clerk, closed the shop door, and prepared to begin the embalming and soul-soothing rituals for his new guests.

"Tsk, they say you can't avoid getting hurt when you're out and about in the world, but this is too harsh."

Xu Qing looked at the corpse in the middle, which was broad-shouldered and burly, with a powerful build like a fierce beast, but was covered in wounds and bloodstains. He was still shocked.

That must have hurt terribly!

After stripping off the body's clothes and cleaning it thoroughly, Xu Qing took a closer look and discovered something astonishing.

Good heavens! There were two extra holes in his backside.

It seemed the Jinmen Gang not only struck ruthlessly but also quite maliciously!

Taking a breath of Spirit Incense to calm his mind, Xu Qing began to meticulously perform the embalming and soul-soothing rituals for the client.

Sewing up wounds, applying makeup and powder, applying plaster where needed, and filling gaps with dough.

When the body was mostly prepared, Xu Qing put on his donkey-hide gloves, took out cowhide straps, and wrapped the corpse with the most gruesome death appearance from head to toe in the coffin.

As the saying goes, learn from your mistakes. Ever since he was startled by a reanimated corpse from a Free Rider during a soul-summoning ritual last time, Xu Qing had learned his lesson.

For corpses with such violent deaths, it was a one-way ticket!

Nine times out of ten, after soul-summoning, they would reanimate and seek out people for revenge!

He didn't want to be a punching bag for these dead bodies.

After wrapping the corpses tightly layer by layer, Xu Qing shook the Soul Herding Bell and recited the Soul-Returning Curse.

As a familiar gust of cold wind surged in from outside the window, Xu Qing's brow suddenly furrowed.

Something's not right! He remembered it was clearly broad daylight outside the shop before, but now it was as if dark clouds had covered the moon inside, with not a sliver of light.

If not for his ability to see in the dark as if it were day, he probably wouldn't be able to tell north from south right now!

The shop's six wooden doors creaked and groaned, and the nearby window seemed to be constantly slammed open and shut by mischievous children, making a racket.

Xu Qing gently put down the Corpse Driving Whip, while his other hand had already drawn out the Corpse Driving Whip.

"Ugh... grrr..."

Just then, a muffled voice suddenly came from beside him. Xu Qing lowered his head to find the source and saw the corpse, tightly wrapped with cowhide straps, wriggling and struggling with all its might.

He listened carefully and finally made out what the other party was saying.

"I hate this so much..."

Of course, anyone would hate it if they suddenly had two holes in their backside! If this were the underworld, and the King of Hell had his ghost officers verify the identity, and upon checking, they opened the reincarnation registry and reclassified a tall, strong man of eight or nine feet as a beautiful maiden, who would they complain to?

"Big sir, keep a clear head. You're dead now, so stop hating. I've filled those two holes for you. Even if you're reborn, you'll still be a heroic man in the next life!"

Xu Qing felt that when transcending a corpse, you couldn't just do it physically. For those with heavy resentment or pre-death trauma, you might even have to counsel them a bit.

As soon as he finished speaking, the corpse's struggles on the coffin lid lessened considerably.

Seeing that the other party showed no signs of breaking free from its restraints, Xu Qing also breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance and used special cowhide straps soaked in Holy Spirit Water to control it.

The so-called Holy Spirit Water was actually a mixture of several foul substances that specialized in countering evil.

Such as Moon Gazing Sand, Five Spirit Fat, Human Middle Yellow, Left Coiling Dragon, Poria Cocos Water, Heavenly Amaranth Water, and so on. These were all good things that could be used to suppress evil.