Funeral Attire Shop

The moment Xu Qing stepped into Jingxia Street, he smelled an aroma that made every pore on his body stretch open in delight.

As he passed the Incense and Candle Shop at the street entrance, the wax and candle grease carried the refreshing fragrance of Bayberry Fruit, along with the distinctive scent of animal fat.

Passing the Paper Craft Shop, he caught a smell like incense money freshly burned before a grave. It was impossible to resist.

A little farther on, the Coffin Shop had nothing that made his forefinger twitch with hunger, but the fresh fragrance of unpainted coffins gave him the comforting feeling of coming home after working late into the night and throwing himself onto a soft bed.

He really wanted to charge into the shop right then and sleep in a sturdy coffin for several days.

Walking along Funeral Street, Xu Qing felt as though cats were clawing and dogs were scratching at his heart. His mind overflowed with extravagant scenes of chewing candles in great mouthfuls, gulping down incense fumes like wine, then lying drunkenly in a coffin after eating and drinking his fill.

With the self-control of his Non-Self consciousness, he forcibly suppressed those chaotic thoughts. When he came back to his senses, he discovered that he had already reached the shop Liu Youdao had acquired.

The shop before him had been assembled from six plank doors, arranged in pairs of three. During normal business hours, any number of the panels could be removed as needed.

For example, in foul weather, when strong winds blew and heavy snow fell, only one panel could be removed. On bright, sunny days with gentle winds, all the panels could be taken down, opening the shop wide to welcome customers.

Xu Qing looked up at the shop sign, whose black characters stood out against a plain background. The lacquered inscription was extremely clear, making it obvious that the shop had only recently been renovated.

As for the characters on the signboard, Xu Qing, who was well versed in the Book Scripture, could recognize them at a glance. They read Corpse Driver's Shop in formal script.

A Corpse Driver was someone in ancient times who carried corpses, dressed the dead, bore coffins, dug graves, retrieved and washed bones, and handled funeral ceremonies.

"Finally, I'm here!"

Xu Qing removed the satchel he had obtained from Liu Youdao and rummaged through it. At last, he found the shop key in an inner compartment.

After unlocking the door and removing one panel, his zombie ability to see as clearly at night as in daylight let him easily make out the shop's layout.

There was a counter, two Darkwood coffins leaning against the western wall, and shelves facing east that held tools for cleaning corpses, along with all sorts of bottles and jars for applying embalming makeup.

In the southeast corner stood an offering table with spirit tablets upon it.

Xu Qing walked over for a closer look and discovered that it was the Attendant tablet of Master Liu's master.

After inspecting the front shop, Xu Qing sauntered to the small courtyard behind it.

At that moment, he was like a customer viewing a house before buying it, carefully examining the feng shui in every corner, inside and out, above and below. He even opened the screen of the simple outhouse in the rear courtyard and peered inside.

After examining the entire property, Xu Qing looked extremely satisfied.

A horse would not grow fat without night fodder, and a man would not become rich without a windfall.

Who could have imagined that in the space of one short night, he would obtain the wealth a Corpse Driver would need an entire lifetime to acquire?

However, if he wanted to inherit this foundation properly, he still needed to polish every detail.

He was now proficient not only in corpse-driving arts, but also in Spirit Relocation and Burial and locating burial sites through the yin routes. His abilities were no worse than those of ordinary Corpse Drivers.

With these professional skills, he could completely acknowledge Liu Youdao as his master and reasonably inherit the legacy of his school.

Returning to the front shop, Xu Qing, now with an idea in mind, searched east and west until he found two objects.

One was the brush and inkstone used for keeping accounts on the counter. The other was a blank spirit tablet for sale on the shelves.

As the saying went, details determined success or failure. Since he had decided to play the role of Liu Youdao's disciple, he had to carry the act through to the end.

Liu Youdao was now dead, so as his disciple, he naturally had to establish a Longevity Tablet for his departed 'benevolent master.' Otherwise, if someone asked about it one day and wanted to pay respects, only to discover that this supposed disciple had not even enshrined his master's tablet, wouldn't that arouse suspicion for no reason?

With his meticulous mind, Xu Qing carried the brush, ink, and tablet to the offering table in the southeast corner.

There was already a tablet on the table. It bore Liu Youdao's handwritten inscription from when he was alive. In the center were the words, 'Sacred Seat of Esteemed Master Grand Ancestor Yang Qiying.' A couplet was written in the right-hand space: 'Immortal Lord Guides the Way, Merit and Virtue Perfected.' In the lower left corner were the words, 'Unfilial Disciple Liu Youdao, Weeping Blood as He Respectfully Establishes This.'

Xu Qing imitated the example, dipping the brush in ink and setting up another new tablet beneath the ancestral spirit tablet.

The center read, 'Sacred Seat of Learned Master Liu Gong Youdao.' In the right-hand space he wrote, 'The Master's Merit and Ancestral Virtue Flow Far and Wide; the Disciples and Descendants' Way Knows No Bounds.'

Finally, in the lower left corner, he wrote, 'Rebellious Disciple, Son of the Xu Clan, Painfully and Respectfully Establishes This.'

After finishing everything, Xu Qing held three sticks of incense in his hand. He could not help swallowing a few mouthfuls and tasting whether they were salty or bland before offering them to Master Liu.

The candle he had just lit beside him suddenly flickered and swayed, while the light and shadows in the room instantly began to tremble.

Xu Qing raised his brows and discovered that the inner gate leading to the rear courtyard was not closed, allowing wind to blow in from outside.

But he clearly remembered that the courtyard gate had been closed casually by him before he came over. How strong would the wind have to be to blow it open?

After mulling it over for a moment, Xu Qing seemed to sense something and suddenly began speaking to himself.

"Liu Youdao, Liu Youdao, you turned me into a zombie, but I don't blame you. After all, without you, I would probably have become a handful of barren soil long ago. Now that you've met an unnatural death, I'm not only refraining from laughing at you, I'm also inheriting your mantle so your school's legacy won't be cut off."

"Come to think of it, you should be thanking me. When the Tianxin Cult that harmed you is wiped out by the imperial court one day, I might even burn incense and bring you the good news. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Strangely enough, once Xu Qing finished speaking, not only did the wind vanish from the courtyard, but even the candle that had been about to flicker out brightened again.

Who knew whether it had been the night wind playing tricks, or whether some lonely soul's lingering thoughts had yet to fade?

By the time the fifth watch passed, Xu Qing was still full of energy. He held a kitchen knife sharpened to a keen edge and scraped the fine hairs on his cheeks while facing a bronze mirror.

These were all Corpse Hair. If he did not deal with them properly, no matter how well he concealed his aura, people would still notice that something was wrong.

After scraping the fine hairs clean, he took a pile of bottles and jars used for embalming makeup from the miscellaneous shelves. Xu Qing tried the colors one by one, like a sheltered young woman applying yellow powder before a mirror.

By dawn, the bronze mirror reflected a thin-faced 'Kidney-Deficient Young Master.'

Xu Qing examined himself carefully. Aside from a somewhat sickly pallor, there was no other abnormality.

At that moment, morning birds chirped outside the window, and the cries of street vendors grew increasingly frequent.

A new day had arrived in Linhe Fang.

Xu Qing wore a blue, thick-soled long robe. Before opening the shop, he first peered through the cracks between the door panels and watched the occasional pedestrians passing along the street.

He watched for roughly the time it took to drink half a cup of tea. Only then did he straighten, pat the nonexistent dust from his sleeves, and raise a hand to adjust his collar.

At last, he pinched his Adam's apple, coughed twice, and tested his voice.

After confirming that everything was in order, Xu Qing removed one door panel and stepped out of the shop openly for the first time.

It was still early. Pedestrians came in twos and threes. The neighboring Funeral Attire Shop had yet to open, while the graystone shop across the street had opened early. Laborers were loading and unloading large sacks of lime onto a donkey cart.

Xu Qing had already prepared his speech and was only waiting for someone to come inquire about his background. When that happened, he would certainly be able to respond calmly.

Unfortunately, things did not go as people wished.

He loitered at the entrance for quite a while, but not a single person came over, let alone greeted him.

Although things had not developed as he expected, he was happy enough to enjoy the peace.

So what if nobody paid him any attention?

With that thought in mind, Xu Qing's tightly strung nerves gradually relaxed.

Walking along the street paved with bluestone slabs, watching merchants and pedestrians come and go without end, he savored the feeling of returning to the human world.

After passing through Jingxia Street, he reached the livelier market entrance. Seeing the old men, old women, and Young Wives who had come out early to buy vegetables and were squatting on the ground, picking through the produce, Xu Qing was intoxicated by the rich bustle of mortal life and inhaled deeply.

Linhe Fang bordered the Baisha River channel. Its water transport and trade flourished, making it a vital hub connecting waterways and roads outside Jinmen Prefecture City.

Therefore, although Linhe Fang was only a market quarter, if it were truly compared with Jinmen Prefecture City, the city might not even be much stronger!

When he passed a stall selling eggs, Xu Qing suddenly felt ravenous. He took out several copper coins, bought several raw eggs, cracked small openings in them, and slurped them as he continued strolling.

A butcher who had slaughtered livestock was washing pork offal on clean bluestone slabs. An entire basin of pig's blood beside him was still steaming!

"Hiss—" Xu Qing sucked in a deep breath. The egg in his hand immediately lost its appeal!

"Young man, what would you like? Everything here was freshly killed and slaughtered—fresh as can be!"

The butcher took out a greasy rag, wiped both sides of his hands, and looked toward the fair-faced young man lingering before his stall.

"How much is the pork?"

"Eighteen wen a jin for lean meat, twenty-two for streaky meat."

People in this era all lacked fat and oil, so fatty meat was more expensive than lean meat. If someone came to buy streaky meat and you cut too much lean meat into it, you might even be cursed out!

"What about the pork knuckles?"

"The pork knuckles were ordered by the proprietor of Chunfeng Tower. They'll be delivered soon. If you want some, you can wait until tomorrow."

"All right! Then give me several jin of pig's blood. I saw someone steaming pig's blood, and it looked pretty tasty."

The butcher did not think much of it. Without a word, he pulled out a piece of oilcloth and packed four or five jin of pig's blood that had already been salted.

"It's all miscellaneous scraps, so there's no need to weigh it. Just give me an estimate. I'll charge you eight wen!"

Xu Qing took out eight copper coins, carried the pig's blood, and left the market entrance.

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

As for raw blood, he was generally unwilling to touch it. Although the temptation of raw blood was greater, the humanity buried in his bones still hoped that he could resemble a normal person a little more.

When he passed a rouge shop, Xu Qing bought a great deal of rouge and face powder. To him now, these things were indispensable strategic supplies.

Even after becoming a zombie, he still needed to maintain his skin daily. Only then could he blend into the ranks of the living more successfully.

As for the remaining rouge and face powder, he could place them on the shelves. If the shop ever received business involving the makeup and burial of the dead, they would come in handy.

After wandering and browsing in this way, Xu Qing's hands were full of large and small packages by the time he prepared to return.

Tsk. If he continued spending so lavishly, he would probably use up Liu Youdao's coffin savings before long!

After all, that old fellow had spent most of it acquiring houses and shops. He truly did not have much money left!

Back on Jingxia Street, Xu Qing headed toward the Corpse Driver's Shop. Halfway there, he spotted someone standing far away at the shop entrance, hunching his neck and stamping his feet while blowing into his hands.

"Could this person be trying to enter my shop?"

Carrying his doubts, Xu Qing approached.

"Hey, hey, who are you? Why don't I see Master Liu?"

When Xu Qing took out his key and opened the door, the man who had been stamping his feet from the cold immediately began questioning him.

Xu Qing smiled when he heard that. Hadn't he spent the entire night drafting his lines just for this moment?

He raised his dejected, down-and-out face and said in a hoarse, low voice, "You're here to find my master?"

"You're his disciple?"

Xu Qing nodded.

"Well, that's perfect. Hurry and bring your master out. The matter he agreed to with the Liu Household the day before yesterday has to be handled today. It can't be delayed!"

Xu Qing fell silent for a long while. Only when the other man could not help wanting to ask again did he say, "My master unfortunately passed away yesterday. I'm afraid your household's matter cannot be handled today."

The servant sent by the Liu Household clearly froze and instinctively said, "Master Liu was still full of life a few days ago. How did he suddenly die today?"

"..."

Xu Qing glanced at the Liu Household servant's unrestrained mouth and said, "People never knew whether misfortune or fortune would strike them by morning or night. Yesterday, Master Liu and I went to the Yi Zhuang in Liu Village to handle a matter. Unfortunately, we encountered soldiers pursuing heretical cultists. If I hadn't run fast, you probably wouldn't be seeing me today either."

Seven parts of what he said were true and three parts false. Even if someone truly investigated, they would find nothing.

The Liu Household servant did not ask further. Instead, he said anxiously, "Master Liu is gone, so what will happen to our master's funeral procession today? Your master accepted the deposit back then!"

Without hesitation, Xu Qing replied, "My master is not here, so I'll make the decisions here. Whatever the original deposit was, I'll return it to you."

"This isn't about money! My Young Master said that the funeral procession must take place today, no matter what. If the auspicious day is delayed, even more money won't help!"

Xu Qing asked in puzzlement, "What nonsense are you talking about? I checked the almanac this morning. Today is suitable for weddings and moving house, but unsuitable for groundbreaking and demolishing buildings. How could it be an auspicious day for a funeral procession?"

"Whether it's auspicious or not is none of your concern. These matters were settled by your master with my madam and Young Master. How could they be wrong?" The servant stamped his feet anxiously. Then he suddenly said, "Right! You're the old master's disciple. You should know how to handle these matters too, shouldn't you?"

"Of course. Whatever my master knew, I, his disciple, naturally know as well."

Xu Qing's heart stirred. This matter was an excellent opportunity to solidify his identity as Master Liu's 'brilliant disciple'!

"Then how about this? You don't have to return the deposit. Come with me and handle this important matter first. As for the remaining payment, if you do a good job, you certainly won't be shortchanged!"

After accepting the unfinished commission from Liu Youdao, Xu Qing returned to the shop. Following the index of the Funeral and Memorial Book in his memory, he gathered all the tools needed for the funeral procession and burial, then went with the servant to the Liu Household.

As it happened, something major had recently occurred at the Liu residence.

A few days earlier, Master Liu, along with his wife, Young Master, and steward, had gone to a newly opened hot-spring bathhouse in Linhe Fang. Yet Master Liu had met a strange death in the bathing pool.

The Liu Household's Young Master and steward, who had witnessed the entire event, spoke with absolute certainty. They said a Ghostly Shadow had appeared in the pool, dragged Master Liu beneath the water, and drowned him alive!

Afterward, the local office sent people to investigate. They discovered that not only had the two Young Masters of the Liu Household seen the Ghostly Shadow, but the other guests who had visited the bathing pool that day also claimed to have seen something filthy.

However, their accounts were wildly varied. Some said it had been a blue-faced, fanged yaksha. Others said it had been a Water Monkey from the river outside the market, which had swum through the underground waterways into the bathing pool.

In any case, after that day, no one went to the hot-spring estate anymore!

Xu Qing had not known the cause of Master Liu's death, nor had he heard the strange rumors surrounding the bathing pool.

He only knew that this was the first commission he had handled since taking over the Corpse Driver's Shop, so he absolutely had to make it beautiful!

When they arrived at the Liu residence, Xu Qing had not even entered the Mourning Hall before he spotted a familiar face in the crowd!

Before the heavy nanmu coffin, a young woman in mourning clothes, with a charming face, slender waist, and snowy skin, was arguing with someone.

Wasn't she that brothel girl for whom the lovesick scholar had risked his life licking boots—Su Hongxiu?

The previously reserved Xu Qing immediately brightened up.