Corpse Salvaging

Before long we walked back toward the small wooden shack, where martial uncle sat smoking his dry tobacco while that old pipe flared bright and dim in the dark.

The glowing fire on the ground cast its light across his face, making his whole features look flushed red.

He just sat there staring blankly into the fire, no one knew what he was thinking.

From time to time he raised his head to glance at us, and especially when looking at Nangong Yiyi, martial uncle's eyes held hesitation.

I walked over and sat down beside martial uncle. "Martial uncle, what are our plans next?

When are we going to fetch Qianqian's corpse back?"

"Ask her where her corpse is, and tomorrow you go get it back."

I felt a bit at a loss and asked martial uncle if he meant for me to go alone.

Martial uncle said, what's wrong? Weren't you the one fighting to go earlier, are you scared now?

I said no, it's just that with martial uncle not by my side, I feel a bit lacking in confidence.

After hearing what I said martial uncle sighed. "Sigh! You must learn to rely on yourself in the future.

No one will protect you for a lifetime, protecting yourself is the most reliable thing.

How about this, tomorrow you and Qianqian go find her corpse and bring it back for burial.

I still have things to do, so I won't go with you, this time you must depend on yourself."

I asked martial uncle what things he had to do.

Martial uncle said he wanted to find a place to settle these things outside, otherwise sooner or later they would stir up trouble.

Then he added that being away for a few days was fine, but if he left for a long time.

Within a hundred-kilometer radius around here everything would suffer disaster, so he could not rest easy.

This time he needed to find a friend and see if those things could be settled over at their place.

Only after settling them could martial uncle be at ease to do his own business, which was why he couldn't go with me.

At this moment Nangong Yiyi spoke up. "Little brother, I'll go with you.

If there's any trouble I can look after you." Before she even finished speaking martial uncle refused.

Martial uncle said to Nangong Yiyi, "You can't go with him either, this time he has to handle it himself.

Otherwise he will never grow up." Nangong Yiyi thought for a moment then nodded.

Then she comforted me, telling me to be careful in everything I did and not act rashly, and I nodded in agreement.

I thought of the items in my bag again, and then said to Nangong Yiyi:

"Sis, since you happen to be at home, help me take the things out of my bag and let them catch some sun.

These things have been in the bag ever since I came out, and I don't even know if they've grown moldy.

Though I don't know what the vast majority of them are used for, I'd still feel sad if they were lost or ruined."

Nangong Yiyi smiled at me and said, "Alright, go ahead and rest easy, leave this little chore to me."

I nodded to show my gratitude.

Then I asked Qianqian if she could still remember where her corpse was located.

Qianqian said she could remember, it was near the town's university, not too far away.

Hearing this I breathed a sigh of relief; if Qianqian couldn't remember, or if the distance was too great, that would have been a troublesome affair.

Then I said to Qianqian, "Alright, then get a good rest tonight, and we set off as soon as tomorrow breaks."

Qianqian looked at me gratefully and then said "Thank you", and I said between the two of us there's no need for that.

At this time martial uncle asked Qianqian, "How long can you remain active under the sun now?"

Qianqian said if directly under the sun, about five to six minutes.

If it was in a shaded place during the daytime, around ten-odd minutes.

Martial uncle furrowed his brow without a word, then stood up and began rummaging through the sundries in the back.

After a moment he seemed to have found something, and then handed that object over to me.

I took a look; it was a small wooden token carved from wood, polished to a glossy sheen.

I held the small wooden token, examining it as I asked martial uncle what it was.

Martial uncle said this was a Ghost Token; as long as a ghost stayed inside it they would not be scorched by sunlight.

It was much better to use than ordinary porcelain jars, and told me to wear it on my body.

I nodded, seeing that this small wooden token had a hole, and then I rummaged through my bag to find a piece of string.

I threaded the string through the hole, tied a knot, and hung it around my neck.

After finishing all this I said to Qianqian, "Qianqian, come in and take a look."

Qianqian gave a smile and then turned into a wisp of white smoke, entering the wooden token.

After a short while Qianqian came out again, and I asked Qianqian how it felt.

Qianqian said this token was made very well, and inside she didn't have to fear the sunlight.

Hearing this my heart finally settled.

Martial uncle and Nangong Yiyi chatted back and forth casually.

It held no interest to my ears, sounding like it was about ghost cultivation and the like.

I couldn't understand it either, and then fell into a drowsy sleep.

When the second day arrived, the sky was just barely brightening and I woke up.

Then I whipped up a simple breakfast and called martial uncle to come eat. While eating, martial uncle kept exhorting me to be careful in all things.

I gave martial uncle a "Got it" in reply, and then went to make my preparations.

I grabbed some talismans, water, and dried rations, and then set off on my way.

Before stepping out the door Nangong Yiyi told me to be careful, and I nodded and went out the door.

Because the entire village had vanished here, there were very few people and very few vehicles around now.

Having no other choice, I planned to walk to the town step by step, and midway I encountered a tractor hauling fertilizer.

I went up to the driver and asked if he could give me a ride, and the driver agreed, so I climbed aboard.

The driver was a man in his thirties, quite talkative.

As soon as I got on he smiled and asked me, "Young fellow, are you heading into town?"

I told a white lie to the uncle, saying, "That's right, going to buy a few things."

The uncle nodded, then put on a frightened expression and said to me:

"Aiya! There's a village nearby and nobody knows what happened, but I hear all the villagers disappeared.

In the past when I drove past there in the dead of night I would hear some crying, and it scared the wits out of me.

Ever since then, I've never passed through there at night.

Even if I have to take a longer detour I wouldn't dare pass by that village entrance, it's too damned ominous.

Just thinking about it now makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up."

Because I was afraid of stirring up trouble, I said I didn't know what had happened either.

I was from the neighboring town and was just passing through today, wanting to buy some things on the street.

The driver said that's good, come to this place less often in the future, especially at night, better not to come if you can help it.

I gave the driver an acknowledging grunt, and then looked out the side window without another word.

I don't know what the deal was, but ever since I got on the vehicle I sensed a yin aura wandering around the driver's seat; although invisible, it could be felt.

Before I got off the vehicle upon reaching town, taking advantage of the driver's inattention, I shoved an Exorcism Talisman beneath the seat where I had sat.

Then I offered the driver ten yuan for the fare, but the driver waved his hands and said forget it, then floored the accelerator and drove away.

When I arrived in town I asked Qianqian where to walk next, and Qianqian replied from inside the wooden token to keep heading north.

The strange thing was that I could hear what Qianqian said, but the people around me could not.

With the direction confirmed I set off, and all the way Qianqian pointed the way for me.

Until we reached a place seven or eight kilometers away from the town, and then Qianqian said the little hill ahead was it.

I walked toward that small hill; the road wasn't particularly wide, just a narrow path. After walking for roughly half an hour, I arrived.

The scenery here was truly pleasant, and looking down there was even a small lake.

The lakeside was overgrown with clusters of small white flowers whose names I did not know.

Qianqian said to keep walking toward the lake, and on the opposite side of the lake stood an old locust tree.

That well was right beside the roots of the old locust tree, and at a single glance I spotted the old locust tree.

Then I walked over there, and upon reaching the tree I saw that there indeed was a well.

It was a very old well, surrounded by weeds, and I pushed those weeds aside.

Having cleared away the weeds, I saw a wooden board beneath them.

Judging by its dimensions it was neither too big nor too small, just able to cover the well opening.

I flipped the wooden board over and saw some talismans pasted on its underside.

I had never laid eyes on this kind of talisman before, and furthermore the talisman paper used was pitch-black.

Then I crouched by the wellhead and craned my neck to peer down into the well.

It seemed there truly was the shadow of a human silhouette soaking in the water, only the well was too deep.

Having no alternative, I returned to the town to buy a bundle of rope and gloves.

They were those earthy-yellow waterproof gloves, along with several disposable masks.

Then I came back and tied the rope to the trunk of the old locust tree; fearing it wouldn't be sturdy, I used two ropes.

I fastened the other end around my waist and slowly slid down following the rope.