Extortion

Xu Qing hadn't held out much hope when he arrived, but he never expected an official in his fifties to have had an Immortal Destiny!

Truly, you can't judge a person by their appearance, nor can you measure the sea with a bucket.

It was just a shame that this old official was greedy for worldly desires, pouring all his energy into studying external arts like the Arts of Civil and Martial Geomancy. He completely neglected the skills that could truly strengthen himself, otherwise, he wouldn't have died at Song Cai's hands.

After practicing the Qi Gazing Technique for a while, Xu Qing suddenly felt unwell, as if he had stood up too quickly after squatting for a long time, his vision blurring.

It lasted for about two breaths. When he came to his senses, the scenery before him returned to normal, as if the colorful mist in the hall had been an illusion.

Xu Qing seemed to understand. It appeared his Cultivation Level was still too shallow, preventing him from sustaining the use of the Qi Gazing Technique for long.

Great magic requires great effort. Insufficient power is like buying a fine horse but not being able to afford the best feed; ultimately, it's a child wielding a knife, unable to unleash its sharpness.

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, already having a plan.

The Corpse Nurturing Scripture he obtained from Liu Youdao could allow him to follow a growth-oriented path, nurturing and evolving himself.

But the prerequisite was that he had to find a way to collect materials for raising zombies, only then could he formally begin his cultivation.

As for how far he could go with the Corpse Nurturing Scripture, Xu Qing dared not hope too far. After all, fundamentally, he wasn't a zombie who cultivated by absorbing human blood and Qi. According to the Corpse Nurturing Scripture, feeding him with auxiliary materials or nurturing him with moonlight and Yin Qi could still allow him to cultivate the 'three types of Wandering Corpse'. As for which type he could cultivate to, it would depend on his fortune...

In the Liu family's mourning hall, Xu Qing, having reaped a good harvest, was in a good mood. Even his handling of the late official's remains was more meticulous.

Once the deceased was dressed to look lifelike, Xu Qing signaled for his relatives and family to come forward for one last look. After they had paid their respects, the coffin would be sealed with nails, marking the end of their time together.

The First Wife, Li Xiangyun, wept and wailed, speaking of how she couldn't bear to part with her husband. When her grief reached its peak, she reached for a white silk ribbon, intending to follow her husband to the afterlife, so they wouldn't be alone.

The steward, Song Cai, rushed to stop Li Xiangyun. She then buried her head in his shoulder, using her handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

Young Master Liu's legs trembled. He approached the coffin but recoiled in fear before he could even glance at it, falling onto the ground.

Seeing this, Song Cai and Li Xiangyun approached together, supporting Young Master Liu from either side. The three then embraced each other and wept.

The surrounding relatives were all moved, believing the steward to be loyal, the wife devoted, and the son deeply saddened...

They then stepped forward to offer their condolences.

Xu Qing watched this family put on such a dramatic performance, feeling a wave of disgust.

Enough already!

I'm waiting to finish this job quickly and get back to my cultivation...

Seeing that they had cried enough, Xu Qing closed the coffin lid and had the family members hammer the first nail.

Traditionally, the first and last nails of a coffin are hammered by relatives. If there were no family, it wouldn't matter; some rituals were ultimately just a way for the living to maintain a connection with their deceased loved ones...

As the seven red copper sealing nails were hammered in, Xu Qing paused when he was about to hammer the eighth. A knowledgeable guest inquired:

"Little master, aren't seven nails enough for sealing? Why are you adding more?"

Xu Qing paused his actions and said with a solemn expression, "The official held a position during his lifetime and was touched by purple Qi, thus he is different from ordinary people. Therefore, nine nails must be used, signifying passage through the nine levels of the underworld, to receive the care and assistance of the Nine Yama Kings, and even to be reborn into a wealthy family."

The guest's face showed a look of sudden realization.

See, that's professionalism!

Little did they know, Xu Qing's explanation was only a secondary reason. The main reason for not stopping at seven nails was this foolish official himself.

The nails used to seal a coffin are commonly known as "Descendant Nails." Usually, there are seven, representing the Big Dipper, symbolizing the prosperity of future generations.

But this Official Liu was different. Although he appeared to have a son, others didn't know that this son was not his biological child. In fact, before he died, this ungrateful wretch, who had been raised for over twenty years, stood by indifferently and then recognized Song Cai as his father.

A child like that, and you want to use seven iron nails?

Sorry, but I can't do such a wicked thing!

Since he took on this job, he would "serve" Official Liu well, ensuring he rested peacefully and properly.

Xu Qing might still be a novice when it came to transcending the deceased, but he would never be as unprofessional as Liu Youdao. In comparison, he believed he possessed a bit of professional ethics.

Not much, but definitely close to the passing mark!

After nailing the coffin, he bound it with leather straps, three horizontally and two vertically.

Then Xu Qing had the "filial son" use a broom to sweep away loose dirt from the coffin, which is called "Sweeping Wealth." Next, a copper coin was placed under one corner of the coffin, called "Lifting the Coffin," followed by "Farewell to the Spirit."

As the coffin was carried out of the hall, paper money was burned, and the mourning basin was smashed. Young Master Liu, holding a paper banner, led the way, while relatives and friends, clad in mourning attire, wailed in unison.

Xu Qing waved his hand, and the funeral parlor workers responsible for the music immediately understood. The suona blared, shattering the clouds, instantly overshadowing the other, quieter instruments.

About twenty pallbearers carried the coffin, swaying along. In the front and back, filial descendants holding mourning banners protected the procession. The paper flowers of the four seasons tied to the banners, in green, yellow, white, and blue, were quite beautiful.

As they passed by various houses, firecrackers were thrown, crackling noisily, making it livelier than New Year's!

Some curious old and young men, with their sleeves tucked up, stood at their doorways commenting and observing, as such a grand funeral ceremony was a rare sight, perhaps seen only once every few years.

Some wives, finding it inauspicious, grabbed their sons by the ear and dragged them back inside, not forgetting to close the door, which was tied with a red cloth strip.

Xu Qing, wearing the clothes Liu Youdao usually wore for rituals, followed the coffin throughout the funeral procession.

After Official Liu was laid to rest in the grave, it was past noon.

Logically, it was best to hold the funeral before the Chen hour (7-9 AM), but that Song Cai insisted on burying him at noon, when the Yang energy was strongest.

The back-and-forth hassle made Xu Qing want to bury him in the ground.

He couldn't guess Song Cai's intentions!

As the saying goes, a guilty conscience makes one fearful. He was clearly afraid that Official Liu would transform into a ghost and crawl out of his coffin in the middle of the night to settle the score with him, the murderer.

Xu Qing wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, his face slathered with a secret sunscreen concocted by corpse drivers, and he tried his best to walk in the shade.

Upon returning to the Liu residence, the butler, Song Cai, cocked his chin and pointed the way with its tip. "I've already spoken with the accountant. Go settle the remaining payment yourself. I have important matters to discuss with the madam, so I won't be accompanying you."

Important matters?

Could it be some multi-million dollar project?

Xu Qing shook his head and turned to the accounting room to find the accountant.

The accountant was over sixty years old and bore a striking resemblance to Song Cai. Seeing Xu Qing approach to collect his payment, the old man chuckled and picked up his abacus, rattling it.

"The initial deposit was five hundred, and the remaining balance is also five hundred. I'm a kind-hearted man, so why don't I round it up for you? How about five qian of silver?"

"Five qian?" Xu Qing's face darkened. In the Great Yong Dynasty, one liang of silver was equivalent to twelve hundred wen. By rounding it up, the other party was adding a hundred wen, which seemed generous but was actually a blatant rip-off!

He knew from the household servants that the remaining payment was not five hundred wen, but a solid five liang of silver, which was six thousand wen. The deposit was extra.

Now, five liang of silver had been directly reduced to six hundred wen. This wasn't just a rip-off; this was outright robbery!

"Half a liang of silver is already quite a lot. After all, a master craftsman commands a master's price. You're an apprentice, a junior master, so you naturally get a junior master's pay."

Hearing this, Xu Qing's already cold face grew even colder.