Age of Dharma's End

Age of Dharma's End, Republican era, Ren Family Town.

The sky was gray and overcast. Rainwater from last night had pooled on the flagstone road, and the air carried a moldy smell mixed with the smoke and fire of the breakfast stalls.

The Public Mortuary sat at the western end of town, remote and quiet. The paint on the two characters above the lintel, "Public Mortuary," had almost completely peeled away.

Lin Yan squatted on the threshold, holding a coarse porcelain bowl and slurping down the porridge inside, thin enough to reflect a person's shadow.

Uncle Jiu had picked him up from outside last year, saying he had been found unconscious in a mass grave with only one breath left in him.

After he was saved and woke up, he was dazed. No matter what anyone asked, he only shook his head. He remembered only that his name was Lin Yan.

Uncle Jiu pitied him, and since they shared the same surname, he kept him at the Public Mortuary to do odd jobs. He counted as a nominal disciple.

Above him were two Senior Brothers, Qiusheng and Wencai.

"Ah Yan, what are you spacing out for? When you're done eating, sweep the courtyard. People from Lord Ren's family will be coming over soon." Wencai came swaying over with a toothpick in his mouth.

"Lord Ren?" Lin Yan raised his head, his gaze still a little unfocused.

"The richest man in town. I heard there's some problem with his ancestral grave, so he invited Master to take a look at the feng shui." Qiusheng leaned in and lowered his voice. "It's definitely big business! Maybe we'll get meat tonight!"

Lin Yan gave an "oh," lowered his head, and continued drinking his porridge.

Meat or no meat, he did not feel much