Corpse Handling

Outside the Yamen.

The young man in the ink robe slowly came to a stop.

He was naturally Li Qiming.

In the end, at the Contribution Hall, he had chosen an exceptionally easy and simple task: filth worker.

Put simply, he was a corpse collector.

A considerable number of people died each day. Aside from those who died of natural causes, most of the bodies ended up at the Yamen.

Some among them might have exceptional Root Bones.

Li Qiming's thinking was simple, too.

They didn't need to be especially powerful. If he collected enough Root Bone entries, they would merge into an even stronger Root Bone aptitude!

Even if there were no Root Bones, getting some gold would be nice.

He had used up all his pills breaking through to the middle stage of Bone Refining, and his pockets were nearly empty. He was so strapped for cash that buying pills or even enjoying a good meal was a struggle.

After Li Qiming explained why he had come and showed his task credentials and disciple's waist token, the Yamen steward arranged for him to enter the Corpse Inspection Room.

"Old Yuan, show this kid the ropes. He's a disciple of the Martial Hall."

The constable steward said.

"Mm." Old Yuan wore a constable's uniform, his gray-white, flat, round official hat perched crookedly on his head. He shot Li Qiming a faintly disdainful glance.

"Heh. So young, and he couldn't find anything better to do than come work as a lowly filth worker..."

Old Yuan muttered in discontent. This job meant dealing with corpses every day, and its status was exceedingly low. Anyone with even a shred of skill wouldn't stoop to doing it.

In other words, everyone who came here was a bunch of good-for-nothings, useless deadbeats.

"Come on, carry Squire Li's young master's body over to the Corpse Bed!"

Old Yuan said sourly.

Li Qiming didn't know how he had offended the old man, but thinking of how useless new hires got bullied by veteran employees at his company in his previous life, he understood immediately.

Well, well. He thinks I'm an easy mark?

But he didn't care about this little detail.

Since he was here, he might as well get on with it. Looting corpses was the main event.

Could Squire Li's young master drop a good Entry?

With some anticipation, Li Qiming looked over and couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth. A figure like a mound of flesh lay on the ground.

This was the young master? That was an insult to the words "young master"!

By his estimate, the boy had to weigh at least four hundred pounds!

"Heh." Seeing Li Qiming's expression change, Old Yuan folded his arms across his chest and gave a knowing look. The few filth workers around them silently took a step back.

Clearly, they meant to give Li Qiming a rough welcome and make him move the enormous corpse alone!

"What? You don't want to carry it? Then get lost..." Old Yuan hadn't finished speaking when—

The gigantic body was already up off the ground.

The young man in the ink robe held the four- or five-hundred-pound corpse aloft with one hand, without even turning red or breathing hard.

In his hands, the massive body weighed no more than a feather!

Everyone felt their hearts shudder.

"What did you say?" Li Qiming turned his eyes toward Old Yuan.

"I... I said roll it over. If you can't lift it, roll the body over..." Sweat broke out on Old Yuan's forehead, and his heart and liver trembled.

Could this kid kill him with one punch?

This wasn't an easy mark. This was a diamond-hard one!

He absolutely couldn't afford to offend him!

Thinking back to how he'd treated Li Qiming just moments ago, Old Yuan was instantly seized by fear.

Li Qiming gave Old Yuan a cold look. The moment Old Yuan felt his gaze, he immediately bent into a deferential bow.

Li Qiming stopped paying attention to such a nobody and laid the corpse on the Corpse Bed.

He looked at the Entries that appeared before him:

[Corpse Looting Entry Trigger]

[1. One Year of Blood Qi: Blood Qi experience/rare]

[2. One Hundred Taels of Silver: money/common]

[3. Tiger Back Bear Waist (Intermediate): Root Bone aptitude/precious]

Well, well. Was he really this lucky?

Li Qiming was astonished. He'd just arrived, and there were Entries for money, Blood Qi, and Root Bone aptitude all at once.

But he could choose only one Entry.

Without the slightest hesitation,

he chose Entry 3.

[3. Tiger Back Bear Waist (Intermediate): Root Bone aptitude/precious]

[Tiger Back Bear Waist (Intermediate): Intermediate Root Bone aptitude. Naturally activates one-tenth of one's Root Bone essence, enhances constitution, and gives one a huge appetite. Grants some talent for palm techniques and body-tempering martial arts.]

After choosing the Entry, Li Qiming felt a wave of comfort spread through his body.

It was as if ten thousand pairs of soft, tender hands were kneading him.

One-tenth more of the essence in his bones had been activated!

The fifty years of Blood Qi power poured into him when he broke through to Bone Refining had also settled into him far more readily.

His unstable cultivation gradually stabilized, too.

Old Yuan and the other filth workers stood rooted to the spot, watching the terrifying Blood Qi suddenly erupt from Li Qiming. The pressure, almost tangible, made their legs tremble uncontrollably!

What kind of monster had just shown up?

"Old Yuan, come here." Li Qiming beckoned.

"Yes!" Old Yuan rubbed his trembling legs and hurried over.

"Boss, what are your orders?" Old Yuan said, his face ingratiating.

His way of addressing Li Qiming had changed from "kid" to "boss."

Li Qiming couldn't be bothered with that. Pointing at the corpse like a mound of flesh, he asked, "How did he die?"

He had noticed that the "young master" looked terrified.

It seemed that before he died, he had seen something utterly horrifying!

"Word is, his stepmother killed him. Her head turned into a rat's, and she bit the young master to death. At the critical moment, one of Squire Li's guard warriors stepped in and hacked her down!"

"Look, that's his stepmother."

As he spoke, Old Yuan pointed at a decapitated corpse lying nearby on the ground.

It had a human body, but its head... was covered in white fur!

Li Qiming's eyelid twitched. He recognized it: this was a Soul-Devouring Rat!

That made sense. The Soul-Devouring Rat in Wu Tianlong's head had to come from somewhere; it couldn't have appeared out of thin air.

Clearly, the Soul-Devouring Rats had laid eggs in the city... Which meant an adult Soul-Devouring Rat was behind this?

Recalling the expression on Pavilion Master Long Wuhui's face when he had hurried off, it was clear that Long Wuhui had guessed the same thing and was probably already taking precautions.

"That's a demon. Aren't you afraid?" Li Qiming asked Old Yuan and the others, puzzled.

"Afraid! Of course we're afraid! But we have no choice. This is our job... Most importantly, though, the demon is dead, isn't it? We're afraid of living demons, not dead beasts."

Old Yuan explained helplessly.

Li Qiming nodded. That did make some sense.

He stepped forward and felt the corpse of the stepmother with the rat's head.

He didn't get any useful Entries.

"Boss, take a rest. Leave this dirty, tiring work to us."

Old Yuan jumped in fright and hurried to say.

"Get on with your own work. I'm just having a look." As he spoke, Li Qiming lightly tapped the corpses scattered across the ground with his scabbard.

Old Yuan and the others looked at each other, dumbfounded.

What was their boss's deal? Did he like studying corpses?

But they didn't dare say anything. They all lowered their heads and got to work.

Li Qiming went along, touching corpse after corpse. One Entry after another appeared before his eyes.

[Golden Pupil: gifted eye/rare]

[Black and White Eye: gifted eye/rare]

[Yin Yang Eye: gifted eye/rare]

Li Qiming had found three rare Entries in a row and couldn't help feeling surprised.

"Old Yuan, who are these three?"

He noticed they were all young-looking and dressed in white robes.

"Reporting to you, boss, these three are Arcanist Apprentices from the Demon Suppression Division."

Old Yuan glanced at them and replied with his head lowered.