Corpse Driver's Shop

As soon as Xu Qing stepped onto Well Under Street, he smelled a scent that made the pores of his entire body relax.

Passing by the incense and candle shop at the street corner, the wax oil and fat brought the clear fragrance of laurel fruit and the unique aroma of animal fat.

Passing by the paper effigy shop, the smell, similar to the incense money just burned at a grave, made him unable to stop.

Not long after, although there was nothing in the coffin shop that made his appetite stir, the fresh scent of the unpainted coffin gave him a sense of belonging, like returning home after working overtime in the middle of the night and throwing himself onto a soft bed.

He really wanted to break into the shop right now and find a solid coffin to sleep in for a few days.

Walking on the street of the funeral procession, Xu Qing felt as if his heart was being scratched by a cat and bitten by a dog. His mind was filled with extravagant images of him chewing candles, drinking incense smoke, and lying drunk in a coffin after eating his fill.

Using the self-control of his ego consciousness, he forcefully suppressed those chaotic thoughts. When he came back to his senses, he found that he had already walked in front of the shop Liu Youdao had set up.

The shop in front of him was made of three-by-three plank doors. When open for business, any door panel could be removed as needed.

For example, in bad weather, with strong winds and heavy snow, only one door panel could be removed. If it was a sunny day with a gentle breeze, all the door panels could be removed to welcome customers with an open door.

Xu Qing looked up at the sign on the black plaque with black characters. The lacquered characters inscribed on it were very clear, indicating it was a newly renovated shop.

As for the characters on the plaque, he, who understood scriptures, could recognize them at a glance. They read "Corpse Driver's Shop" in official script.

The so-called仵工 (wu gong) were people in ancient times who carried corpses, dressed them, carried coffins, dug graves, collected and cleaned bones, and were responsible for funeral rituals.

"Finally here!"

Xu Qing took off the satchel he got from Liu Youdao and rummaged through it, finally finding the shop key in a hidden pocket.

He unlocked the door, removed a door panel, and his zombie's ability to see at night as if it were day allowed him to easily see the layout of the shop.

There was a counter, two dark wood coffins placed against the west wall, and on the shelves facing east were tools for cleaning corpses, as well as various bottles and jars for applying makeup.

In the southeast corner, there was an altar for offerings and memorial tablets.

Xu Qing walked in and found that it was the memorial tablet for Liu Youdao's master.

After looking at the front shop, Xu Qing paced to the small courtyard behind the shop to take a look.

At this moment, he was like a prospective buyer inspecting a house. He examined the feng shui of every corner, inside and out, even opening the lattice of the simple outhouse in the backyard to peek inside.

After inspecting the entire shop, Xu Qing was very satisfied.

A horse doesn't get fat without night grass, and a person doesn't get rich without ill-gotten gains.

Who would have thought that in just one night, he had obtained the wealth that a corpse driver would have to strive for a lifetime to possess.

However, to properly inherit this fortune, he still needed to polish all the details.

Now, he was not only proficient in the art of corpse driving, but his skills in moving spirits for burial and determining auspicious burial sites were no less than those of an ordinary corpse driver.

With these professional abilities, he could completely take Liu Youdao as his master and legitimately inherit his master's legacy.

Returning to the front shop, with an idea in mind, Xu Qing searched everywhere and found two items.

One was the brush and inkstone on the counter used for bookkeeping, and the other was the blank memorial tablets sold on the shelf.

As the saying goes, details determine success or failure. Since he had made up his mind to play the role of Liu Youdao's disciple, he had to go all out.

Now that Liu Youdao was dead, he, as his disciple, naturally had to set up a longevity tablet for his deceased 'master'. Otherwise, if someone asked about it someday and wanted to pay their respects, but found that you, the self-proclaimed disciple, didn't even offer a tablet for your master, wouldn't that just arouse suspicion for no reason?

With his meticulous mind, Xu Qing took the brush, ink, and memorial tablet to the altar in the southeast corner.

There was already a memorial tablet on the altar, with Liu Youdao's own handwriting from his lifetime. The center of the tablet read "Honorable Seat of Master Yang Taigong Qiying." The right side had a couplet written in smaller characters: "Immortal Lord guides the way, merits and virtues are perfected." The lower left corner read, "Unfilial disciple, Liu Youdao, tearfully respectfully erected."

Xu Qing followed suit, dipped his brush in ink, and erected a new tablet below the ancestor's spirit tablet.

The center of the tablet read, "Honorable Seat of Disciple Master Liu Youdao." The right side had a couplet: "Master's virtues and merits flow far, disciples and grandchildren's path is boundless."

Finally, the lower left corner read, "Rebellious disciple, Xu Clan son, heartbrokenly respectfully erected."

After doing all this, Xu Qing held three sticks of incense and couldn't help but take a few sips, tasting the saltiness, before offering them to Master Liu.

The newly lit candle beside him suddenly flickered and swayed, and the light and shadow in the room instantly shifted.

Xu Qing raised his eyebrows and noticed that the second door leading to the backyard was not closed, so the wind blew in from the courtyard.

But he clearly remembered that the door in the courtyard had been closed by him before he even arrived. How strong could the wind be to blow it open?

After pondering for a moment, Xu Qing seemed to sense something and suddenly spoke to himself.

"Liu Youdao, Liu Youdao, I don't blame you for turning me into a zombie. After all, without you, I would have probably turned to dust long ago. Now that you've died an unnatural death, not only do I not mock you, but I'm also inheriting your mantle so that your sect's legacy doesn't end."

"Speaking of which, you should thank me. When the Tianxin Cult that harmed you is eventually wiped out by the imperial court, I might even burn incense to report the good news to you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

It was strange, but after Xu Qing finished speaking, not only did the wind in the courtyard stop, but the candle that was about to flicker out also brightened again.

It was unclear whether it was the mischievous night wind or some lingering remnant soul that had not yet dissipated.

By the time the fifth watch arrived, Xu Qing was still full of energy. He held a sharpened kitchen knife and was scraping the fine fuzz on his cheeks in front of the bronze mirror.

These were corpse hairs. If they were not properly dealt with, no matter how well he concealed his aura, people would still detect something unusual.

After scraping off the fuzz, he took a pile of bottles and jars for makeup and grooming from the miscellaneous goods shelf and tried out the colors one by one, like a young lady applying makeup in front of a mirror.

By the time dawn broke, a 'kidney-deficient young master' with a gaunt appearance appeared in the bronze mirror.

Xu Qing examined himself closely and found that apart from a sickly pale complexion, there was no other abnormality.

The morning birds were chirping outside the window, and the calls of street vendors grew louder.

A new day had arrived in Linhe Fang.

Xu Qing, dressed in a long, thick blue robe, peered through the cracks in the shop door, observing the occasional pedestrians on the street before opening up.

After about half a cup of tea's worth of time, he straightened up, brushed nonexistent dust off his sleeves, and adjusted his collar.

Finally, he cupped his throat, cleared his throat twice, and tested his voice.

Once satisfied, Xu Qing removed a door panel and, for the first time, openly stepped out of the shop.

It was still early, and only a few people were on the street. The neighboring funeral supply shop hadn't opened yet, but the lime shop across the way was already open, with laborers loading and unloading large sacks of lime onto a donkey cart.

Xu Qing had already prepared his speech, waiting for someone to inquire about his background so he could respond with composure.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

He loitered by the doorway for a long while, but no one showed up, let alone greeted him.

Even though things hadn't gone as he'd anticipated, he was happy to be at ease.

If no one paid him any mind, so be it!

Thinking this, Xu Qing's constantly taut nerves relaxed.

Walking on the bluestone-paved street, watching the merchants and pedestrians come and go, he savored this feeling of returning to the human world.

He walked through Jingxia Street and arrived at the livelier vegetable market. Watching the old folks and young wives who came out early to buy vegetables, squatting on the ground to pick and choose, Xu Qing inhaled the rich atmosphere of everyday life.

Linhe Fang was adjacent to the Baisha River, with its developed water transport and trade, making it a crucial water and land hub outside Jinmen Prefecture City.

So, even though Linhe Fang was just a market town, if you really compared it, even Jinmen Prefecture City wasn't much stronger!

Passing a stall selling eggs, Xu Qing's appetite was suddenly whetted. He took out a few copper coins, bought a few raw eggs, cracked one open, and slurped it as he continued to wander.

A butcher was working on washed bluestone slabs, preparing pig offal. Beside him, a whole basin of pig's blood still gave off heat!

"Hiss—" Xu Qing sucked in a sharp breath, and the egg in his hand immediately lost its appeal!

"What do you want, young man? Everything here is freshly slaughtered, very fresh!"

The butcher wiped his greasy rag on his hands and looked at the pale-faced youth lingering by his stall.

"How much for the pork?"

"Lean meat is eighteen wen per jin, fatty pork is twenty-two wen."

People were short on oil and fat during this era, so fatty meat was more expensive than lean. If someone bought fatty pork and you cut too much lean meat, you might even get scolded!

"What about pork knuckles?"

"The pork knuckles have been ordered by the manager of Chunfeng Tower; they'll be delivered shortly. If you want some, you can wait until tomorrow."

"Alright! Then give me a few jin of pig's blood. I saw others steam it, and it looked quite delicious."

The butcher didn't think much of it. Without a word, he took out a piece of oilcloth and packed four or five jin of salted pig's blood into it.

"This is just scraps, no need to weigh it. Just estimate it. I'll charge you eight wen!"

Xu Qing took out eight copper coins and left the vegetable market with the pig's blood.

He had never eaten steamed or stir-fried pig's blood before, but today he just wanted to try it.

As for raw blood, he was largely unwilling to touch it. Although raw blood was more tempting, the humanity within him still hoped to be more like a normal person.

Passing by a cosmetics shop, Xu Qing bought a lot of rouge and powder. These items were indispensable strategic goods for him now.

Even as a zombie, he still needed to maintain his daily skincare routine to better blend in with the living.

The remaining rouge and powder could be placed on the shelves. If his shop ever got a business dealing with the deceased's makeup, they could be used then.

After wandering around like this, by the time Xu Qing prepared to return, his hands were full of shopping bags.

Tsk, if he continued to be so extravagant, he'd probably spend all of Liu Youdao's savings in no time!

After all, that old man had spent the bulk of his money on real estate and shop fronts, leaving him with not much money left!

Returning to Jingxia Street, Xu Qing headed towards the Corpse Driver's Shop. Halfway there, he saw a person standing by the shop entrance from afar, shrinking their neck and stomping their feet, blowing warm air.

Is this person trying to enter my shop?

Xu Qing approached with this question in mind.

"Hey, hey, who are you? Where's Master Liu?"

Seeing Xu Qing take out his key to open the door, the person, who was stomping their feet from the cold, immediately began to question him.

Xu Qing chuckled at the sound of this. He had spent the whole night preparing his speech, just waiting for this moment!

He put on a dejected and disheveled expression and said in a hoarse, low voice, "Are you looking for my master?"

"You're his apprentice?"

Xu Qing nodded.

"That's great! Hurry and ask your master to come out. We were supposed to handle the matter for the Liu family the day before yesterday, and today is the day. We can't delay!"

Xu Qing fell silent for a long moment. Just as the other person couldn't help but ask again, he spoke, "My master unfortunately passed away yesterday. I'm afraid the matter for your family cannot be handled today."

The errand boy sent by the Liu residence clearly froze, instinctively asking, "Master Liu was lively and well just two days ago, how could he be gone today?"

"..."

Xu Qing glanced at the loose-lipped errand boy from the Liu residence and said, "Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. Yesterday, Master Liu and I went to the Yi Zhuang in Liu Village for business. Unfortunately, we ran into soldiers chasing cultists. If I hadn't been quick, you wouldn't even see me today."

What he said was seven parts true and three parts false; even if someone investigated, they wouldn't find anything.

The Liu family's errand boy didn't ask further upon hearing this. Instead, he anxiously said, "Master Liu is gone, so what about my master's funeral today? Didn't you master accept a deposit back then!"

Xu Qing replied without thinking, "Since Master is not here, I will make the decisions. I will return the deposit you paid."

"It's not about the money! My young master said that the funeral must proceed today, no matter what. If the auspicious day is missed, no amount of money will help!"

Xu Qing was puzzled, "What nonsense are you talking about? I just looked at the almanac this morning. Today is suitable for marriage and moving; unsuitable for breaking ground and demolishing houses. How is it an auspicious day for a funeral?"

"Whether it's an auspicious day or not, these matters were finalized by your master and my madam and young master. How could there be a mistake!" The errand boy stomped his feet anxiously, then suddenly said, "Right! You are the master's apprentice, you should know how to handle these things, right?"

"Naturally. What my master can do, I, his disciple, am not far behind."

A thought sparked in Xu Qing's mind. This matter was a good opportunity to solidify his identity as Master Liu's 'talented disciple'!

"Then, how about this: you don't need to return the deposit. You come with me, and we'll handle this important matter first. As for the remaining payment, as long as you do a good job, you'll definitely not be shortchanged!"

Taking over the order Liu Youdao had not completed, Xu Qing returned to the shop. Following the index in the Funeral and Memorial Book from memory, he gathered the necessary items for the funeral and burial, and then went to the Liu residence with the errand boy.

It so happened that a major event had recently occurred in the Liu family mansion.

A few days prior, Master Liu, along with his wife and son, and the butler, went to a newly opened bathhouse in Linhe Fang to cleanse themselves. However, Master Liu died mysteriously in the bath.

The Liu family's young master and the butler, who witnessed the entire event, adamantly claimed that a ghostly figure appeared in the pool, and Master Liu was dragged into the water by this spectral figure and drowned alive!

Afterward, the local yamen sent people to investigate. They discovered that it wasn't just the young master and butler of the Liu family who saw the ghostly figure; other guests who had visited the bathhouse that day also claimed to have seen something sinister.

However, their accounts varied wildly. Some described a green-faced, fanged Yaksha, while others suggested a water monkey from the river outside had swum into the bath through the underground pipes.

In any case, after that day, no one ever visited the bathhouse estate again!

Xu Qing was unaware of the cause of Master Liu's death and had not heard the strange tales of the bathhouse.

All he knew was that this was the first job he had taken since he took over the Corpse Driver's Shop, so he had to do it perfectly!

Upon arriving at the Liu residence, before Xu Qing even entered the mourning hall, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd!

In front of the heavy nanmu coffin, a beautiful young woman in mourning attire, with a delicate face, slender waist, and fair skin, was arguing with someone.

Wasn't that Su Hongxiu, the courtesan that the lovesick scholar had risked his life to fawn over!

Xu Qing, who had been feeling a bit reserved, suddenly felt cheerful.