Ch. 1Record of Selling Corpses

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a transmigrated individual, wakes up in the Great Jing Dynasty, fifty-ninth year of Ganhuang's reign, amidst chaos and turmoil.
  • He is a corpse sewer, preparing the dead for burial, working in a shop near Caishikou execution grounds in the capital.
  • Lin Shou learns about the grim fate of corpse sewers and the unusual circumstances surrounding their disappearances.
  • He receives a notification of a vacant position at Shop Twenty, indicating another corpse sewer's demise.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Initially confused and uncomfortable with his new reality, he begins to accept his situation and considers finding another way to make a living.
  • The Corpse Sewers: Their grim fate is revealed, with no known cases of safe retirement.

Significant Themes

  • Chaos and turmoil: The Great Jing Dynasty is plagued by corruption, famine, plague, and natural disasters.
  • The dark gate: Businesses dealing with the dead, like corpse sewing, are considered ominous and dangerous.
  • Fate: The fate of the corpse sewers is harsh and grim, with no known escape from their grim endings.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the corpse, restoring it to its former state through sewing and preparation.
  • The notification of the vacant position at Shop Twenty serves as a grim reminder of the fate that awaits Lin Shou and other corpse sewers.

Ch. 2The Beast-Making Art

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The chapter introduces the Record of Selling Corpses, which records the life stories of the deceased.
  • Squire Gao, a charitable man known for his good deeds, secretly kills his dull-witted daughter and throws her body into a well.
  • The cook witnesses the murder and reports it to the authorities. Squire Gao is arrested, confessing to the crime, and is sentenced to death.
  • Squire Gao's corpse is sent to Lin Shou's corpse-stitching shop. After stitching the corpse, Lin Shou receives a reward: a Human-Faced Beast-Heart Fruit, which allows him to learn the Beast-Making Art.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: A humble corpse stitcher who discovers he can earn rewards for stitching corpses, leading him to learn the forbidden Beast-Making Art.
  • Squire Gao: Initially portrayed as a great benefactor, he is revealed to have a dark side, murdering his own daughter due to her disability.

Significant Themes

  • Appearance vs. Reality: Squire Gao's public image contrasts with his private actions, highlighting the theme of deception and the hidden truth behind facades.
  • The Price of Virtue: Squire Gao's good deeds cannot redeem his sin of killing his daughter, suggesting that even the most virtuous actions cannot atone for severe transgressions.
  • The Power of Knowledge: Lin Shou's acquisition of the Beast-Making Art through the Record of Selling Corpses emphasizes the value and potential danger of forbidden knowledge.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou's interaction with the corpse of Squire Gao is significant, as it leads him to learn the Beast-Making Art and gain a new perspective on the world.
  • The cook's witnessing of Squire Gao's crime and subsequent report to the authorities highlights the theme of accountability and the consequences of one's actions.

Ch. 3The Bureau of Corpse Management

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse stitcher, discovers that the corpse stitcher from No. 20 shop has died mysteriously.
  • The Bureau of Corpse Management sends officials to handle the aftermath and seal the shop.
  • Lin Shou witnesses the officials discussing the origin of the beheaded corpse in No. 20 shop, revealing it was a grave robber.
  • Lin Shou takes on a new corpse, a rogue named Wang, and sews him up while the Lantern of Life reveals Wang's evil deeds.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Maintains his disguise as a simple-minded corpse stitcher, shows concern for his predecessor's death, and continues his work diligently.
  • Rogue Wang: Revealed to be a despicable criminal with a trail of misdeeds, meets a fitting end.

Significant Themes

  • The cycle of cause and effect: Wang's death is a result of his wicked deeds, and his wound is a fitting retribution.
  • The value of life: Corpse stitchers' lives are not considered valuable, as no officials come to investigate the death of the No. 20 shop's corpse stitcher.
  • The shadowy arts: The taboos and industry standards followed by corpse stitchers, such as the burning of incense sticks before sewing a corpse.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the officials from the Bureau of Corpse Management, following their instructions to purify No. 20 shop.
  • Lin Shou's thoughts and actions are contrasted with those of Rogue Wang, highlighting the difference between a decent person and a criminal.

Ch. 4Turning Stone to Gold, Turning Paper into Silver

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Rogue Wang, a notorious scoundrel, crashes the wedding banquet of the Chen Family Sauce Shop's young master.
  • He offers congratulations, then forces guests to eat his braised pork head meat and demands payment.
  • Master Chen pays him to leave, but Rogue Wang is later killed by the sauce shop's new manager when he tries to extort more money.
  • Lin Shou, a corpse seller, receives a reward of Greed-Abstinence Silver for Rogue Wang's corpse, which helps him awaken and gain the ability to turn stone into gold and paper into silver.

Character Developments

  • Rogue Wang: His greed and lack of shame lead to his downfall. He represents the consequences of unchecked greed and villainy.
  • Master Chen: He tries to maintain decorum at his son's wedding but is manipulated by Rogue Wang. He represents the struggle between maintaining dignity and dealing with scoundrels.
  • Lin Shou: He awakens and gains new abilities after receiving the Greed-Abstinence Silver, suggesting spiritual growth or enlightenment.

Significant Themes

  • Greed: The destructive power of unchecked greed is a central theme, illustrated through Rogue Wang's character and actions.
  • Decorum vs. Scoundrelism: The struggle between maintaining dignity and dealing with scoundrels who have no such qualms is explored through Master Chen's actions.
  • Awakening/Enlightenment: Lin Shou's spiritual growth or enlightenment is hinted at, suggesting a deeper understanding of the world and his place in it.

Character Interactions

  • Rogue Wang interacts with the wedding guests, manipulating them into eating his meat and paying him, highlighting his cunning and lack of shame.
  • Master Chen interacts with Rogue Wang, trying to maintain decorum while dealing with the scoundrel, illustrating the struggle between dignity and practicality.
  • Lin Shou interacts with the Greed-Abstinence Silver, which facilitates his awakening or enlightenment, suggesting a deeper connection with the world around him.

Ch. 5Chapter 5

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou discovers the Paper-to-Silver Art, which turns greed into silver coins but also burns them away with fire.
  • He encounters the cook from Wealthy Master Gao's house, now running a breakfast stall at the execution grounds.
  • A man dies from opium overdose in the market, and Lin Shou sees a fellow stitcher, a crippled old man, stealing the dead man's hat.
  • Later that night, the Obituary Bird announces the death of the old cripple from Shop Six.
  • Lin Shou helps the Bureau of Corpse Management with the old cripple's body and shares his witness account of the hat theft.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou learns a new technique, Paper-to-Silver Art, and understands its implications for self-cultivation and moral refinement.
  • He realizes the interconnectedness of people in the capital, reflecting on his encounters with those from the Lantern of Life stories.
  • Lin Shou's curiosity and observant nature are highlighted as he notices the old cripple's theft and later connects it to the man's death.

Significant Themes

  • Greed and Materialism: The Paper-to-Silver Art highlights the dangers of greed, and the old cripple's death may be connected to his thieving ways.
  • Death and Burial Rituals: The importance placed on funeral rites and the mystery surrounding the government's involvement in corpse handling are emphasized.
  • Interconnectedness: Lin Shou's encounters with people from the Lantern of Life stories and the old cripple's theft and subsequent death illustrate the interconnectedness of people in the capital.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the cook from Wealthy Master Gao's house, recognizing him and reflecting on the events of the Lantern of Life.
  • He witnesses the old cripple's theft and later shares this information with the Bureau of Corpse Management clerks, showing his observant and honest nature.
  • Lin Shou assists the Bureau clerks in handling the old cripple's body, demonstrating his willingness to help and his growing familiarity with the shop's procedures.

Ch. 6Wanted Poster for the Scalp-Cutter

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou witnesses a corpse's skullcap popping off and follows the Bureau of Corpse Management clerk to stitch the corpse.
  • The corpse is that of a crippled old man who died mysteriously after stealing a dead man's hat.
  • Lin Shou spends a terrified night stitching the corpse, expecting supernatural events.
  • The next day, a wanted poster for the 'Scalp-Cutter' serial killer is pasted on Lin Shou's shop door.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Becomes more determined and courageous after learning the truth about the crippled old man's death.
  • Bureau Clerk: Revealed to be incompetent and unhelpful, causing Lin Shou unnecessary fear.

Significant Themes

  • Fear of the unknown and supernatural.
  • The consequences of one's actions (the crippled old man's theft leading to his death).
  • The struggle between reality and imagination.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and the Bureau Clerk: Lin Shou is frustrated by the clerk's vague and unhelpful responses, leading to a night of unnecessary fear.
  • Lin Shou and the Scalp-Cutter (through the Lantern of Life): Lin Shou learns the truth about the crippled old man's death and sees the Scalp-Cutter's face.

Ch. 7Corpse-Stitching Needle Manual

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou sells the corpse of the old cripple and receives a Golden Corpse-Stitching Needle and a Flesh and Skin Scroll as rewards.
  • He spends a night stitching the scroll and gains mastery over the Corpse-Stitching Needle Technique.
  • The Capital City is in an uproar over the Scalp-Cutter, with increased patrols and a higher bounty, but the wanted poster's portrait remains inaccurate.
  • Lin Shou takes on several corpse-stitching jobs at night, mostly from gang fights among Canal Gang porters, and learns a set of "Amateur Kung Fu" from the Record of Selling Corpses.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou improves his corpse-stitching skills and learns a set of self-defense moves.
  • The Ministry of Justice is under pressure to capture the Scalp-Cutter, but their efforts are futile due to the inaccurate wanted poster.

Significant Themes

  • The futility of official efforts in catching criminals, despite their best intentions and resources.
  • The value of skills and knowledge gained through the Record of Selling Corpses, even if they are unconventional or unorthodox.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the Heavenly Cripples and Earthly Maimed, fellow corpse-stitchers who take shelter from the rain outside his shop.
  • Lin Shou's interactions with the Ministry of Justice are limited to the wanted poster, highlighting their ineffectiveness in catching the Scalp-Cutter.

Ch. 8Let No Sinful Money Be Made in This World

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse stitcher, encounters a group of disabled men from his profession freeloading a story from a nearby tea house.
  • The tea house owner, Xia Ruzhen, allows the men inside to take shelter from the rain.
  • Lin Shou gives a two-tael silver ingot to the tea house waiter, Wang Er, asking him not to spend money earned through ill deeds.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: He shows compassion towards the disabled men and offers advice to Wang Er, hinting at Wang Er's past misdeed.
  • Wang Er: Revealed to have stolen money meant for his friend's family after his friend's death.

Significant Themes

  • Compassion and Kindness: Lin Shou's actions towards the disabled men and his attempt to guide Wang Er reflect these themes.
  • Greed and Its Consequences: Wang Er's actions and Lin Shou's warning highlight the dangers of greed and ill-gotten gains.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and the Disabled Men: Lin Shou shows kindness and concern for the disabled men, providing them with sunflower seeds and ensuring they have a place to rest.
  • Lin Shou and Wang Er: Lin Shou gives Wang Er a silver ingot and warns him not to spend money earned through ill deeds, hinting at Wang Er's past misdeed.
  • Xia Ruzhen and Wang Er: Shopkeeper Xia shows compassion towards the disabled men, while Wang Er is initially harsh but eventually complies with her wishes.

Ch. 9The Storyteller Talks About the Eight Sects of the Jianghu

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Wang Er, a dock porter, accepts Greed-Abstinence Silver from Lin Shou.
  • He steals Fan Ge's saved silver, causing Fan Ge's wife and daughter to suffer.
  • Wang Er becomes paranoid and obsessed with the silver, fearing theft.
  • Lin Shou intervenes, burning the silver and freeing Wang Er from his obsession.
  • Wang Er returns the silver to Fan Ge's family and regains his peace of mind.

Character Developments

  • Wang Er: Greed leads him to steal, causing him to suffer paranoia and near-madness. After losing the silver, he regains his sanity and returns the stolen money.
  • Lin Shou: He uses the Greed-Abstinence Silver to test and punish Wang Er, ultimately helping Fan Ge's family.

Significant Themes

  • Greed: Wang Er's greed for silver leads to his downfall and suffering.
  • Consequences: Wang Er's actions have severe consequences for both him and Fan Ge's family.
  • Redemption: Wang Er finds redemption by returning the stolen silver.

Character Interactions

  • Wang Er and Lin Shou: Lin Shou uses Wang Er as a test subject, ultimately helping him.
  • Wang Er and Fan Ge's family: Wang Er's actions cause Fan Ge's family to suffer, but he later redeems himself by returning the silver.

Ch. 10The Night Held the Scent of Roses, a Blade Hung over a Human Head

Summary

Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou learns about the Eight Sects of the Jianghu from storytelling in a teahouse.
  • He observes Shopkeeper Xia rushing to tend to his ill daughter, the Second Miss.
  • Lin Shou masters the "Subtle Perception" ability from the Record of Selling Corpses.
  • The Scalp-Cutter, a wanted criminal, disguises herself as a woman in distress and tries to enter Lin Shou's shop, but he refuses to open the door.
  • The night patrol officers arrive, scaring off the Scalp-Cutter.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou improves his observational and logical thinking skills with "Subtle Perception."
  • Shopkeeper Xia is revealed to have a sick daughter.

Significant Themes

  • The eight trades of the Jianghu and the distinction between mainstream and heretical paths.
  • The duality of appearance and reality, as seen in the Scalp-Cutter's disguise.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou observes Shopkeeper Xia's family affairs without his knowledge.
  • Lin Shou refuses to help the Scalp-Cutter, putting his safety above hers.
  • The Scalp-Cutter attempts to manipulate Lin Shou, showing her cunning and manipulative nature.

Ch. 11Tonight There Was No Corpse, So Lin Shou Stitched a Living Person

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou encounters Ning Luowei, the Scalp-Cutter, in his shop.
  • Ning Luowei is injured and seeks Lin Shou's help to stitch her wounds without leaving scars.
  • Lin Shou agrees to stitch her, but only after some negotiation and on the condition that she won't hold him responsible for any outcome.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Maintains his calm and composure despite facing a dangerous criminal. He uses his skills and experience to negotiate and establish leverage.
  • Ning Luowei: Shows vulnerability and desperation in preserving her beauty, revealing her human side despite being a notorious killer.

Significant Themes

  • The value of skill and expertise (Lin Shou's stitching technique is highly sought after).
  • The importance of negotiation and leveraging one's strengths (Lin Shou uses his unique skills to secure favorable terms).
  • The duality of human nature (Ning Luowei, a ruthless killer, shows concern for her appearance and fears being scarred).

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and Ning Luowei: Their interaction is tense yet cooperative, with Lin Shou maintaining control and Ning Luowei showing vulnerability and desperation. They establish an understanding, with Lin Shou agreeing to stitch her wounds under specific conditions.

Ch. 12You Stabbed Me 23,900 Times

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Ning Luowei, a martial artist with over a hundred wounds, seeks Lin Shou's help to stitch her wounds without leaving scars.
  • Lin Shou stitches Ning Luowei's wounds throughout the night using his Corpse-Stitching Needle Technique, preserving her appearance.
  • Ning Luowei counts the number of stitches (23,900) and teases Lin Shou, who is exhausted from the effort.

Character Developments

  • Ning Luowei: Reveals her disdain for the martial world and her desire for a simple, peaceful life. She shows her vulnerability and fear of pain despite her ruthless reputation.
  • Lin Shou: Demonstrates his skill and dedication in stitching Ning Luowei's wounds. He expresses his preference for stitching corpses over living people due to the lack of reward for the latter.

Significant Themes

  • The Cruelty of the Martial World: Ning Luowei's monologue highlights the harsh realities and constant danger of life in the martial world, contrasting with her desire for a simple, peaceful life.
  • The Value of Life vs. Corpse: Lin Shou's preference for stitching corpses over living people raises questions about the value and purpose of life versus death in his perspective.

Character Interactions

  • Ning Luowei and Lin Shou: Their interaction begins with Ning Luowei seeking help and ends with Lin Shou shooing her away, highlighting his exhaustion and frustration. Despite this, Ning Luowei finds Lin Shou pleasing to the eye, hinting at potential future interactions.

Ch. 13A Terrorist Turns into the Tofu Beauty

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou wakes up to find Ning Luowei (the Scalp-Cutter) in his shop.
  • Ning Luowei opens a tofu shop across from Lin Shou's Corpse-Stitching Shop, attracting large crowds daily.
  • Lin Shou is displeased with Ning Luowei's choice to run a tofu shop instead of engaging in criminal activities.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Maintains his calm and collected demeanor but is irritated by Ning Luowei's presence and new business.
  • Ning Luowei: Shows a more playful and carefree side, enjoying her new life running a tofu shop.

Significant Themes

  • The contrast between expectations and reality, as Ning Luowei, a wanted criminal, chooses to run a peaceful business instead of engaging in terrorist activities.
  • The allure of a simple, peaceful life versus the chaos of the martial world.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and Ning Luowei: Their interactions are filled with banter and mild irritation, with Lin Shou disapproving of Ning Luowei's new lifestyle, while she enjoys teasing him.
  • Lin Shou and the customers: He is curious about the commotion caused by Ning Luowei's tofu shop but keeps to himself.

Ch. 14A Cold Little Hand Asked to Cuddle

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou receives a corpse from Shop No. 20, who died mysteriously half a month ago.
  • Lin Shou stitches the corpse and uses the Record of Selling Corpses to see the deceased's life.
  • The deceased's life reveals he was drunk and didn't wait for the incense to burn out before stitching the corpse, leading to his death.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou's stitching skill improves, and he gains insights into the Dao while working.
  • The No. 20 corpse stitcher is revealed to be careless and reckless, leading to his demise.

Significant Themes

  • The importance of patience and diligence in one's work.
  • The consequences of one's actions and the role of coincidences in life.
  • The interconnectedness of lives, as seen through the Record of Selling Corpses.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the Bureau of Corpse Management clerk, who delivers the corpse.
  • The No. 20 corpse stitcher interacts with the corpse he's stitching, leading to his death.

Ch. 15The Book of Lu Ban: Art of Prosthetic Substitution

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou witnesses a corpse moving on its own and killing a man.
  • He receives a fragment of the Book of Lu Ban, containing the 'Human Replacement' technique.
  • Lin Shou successfully creates a wooden prosthetic hand using the new technique.
  • He stitches a corpse from the Skin Sect and gains a Strength Pill, significantly improving his physical fitness.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou becomes more confident in his skills and seeks to expand his business.
  • He shows initiative in promoting his corpse-stitching shop and pursuing personal growth.

Significant Themes

  • The ingenuity and strangeness of the craftsmanship in the Book of Lu Ban.
  • The importance of physical fitness and strength in Lin Shou's new life.
  • The commercial aspects and regulations surrounding the corpse-stitching trade.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with Ning Luowei, who delivers tofu to him daily.
  • He encounters resistance from other corpse-stitchers while promoting his business.

Ch. 16Strength Pills and Dog Skin Plaster

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou's Corpse-Stitching Shop gains some attention, but not much business.
  • Lin Shou creates several items using the Record of Selling Corpses: Dog Skin Plaster, Strength Pill, Cloud-Probing Hand, and Lock-Picking Technique.
  • He uses the Dog Skin Plaster and Strength Pill, experiencing significant physical improvements.
  • The Obituary Bird announces multiple corpse-stitcher deaths, prompting Lin Shou to investigate.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou continues to develop his skills and physical abilities, becoming stronger and more capable.
  • He shows curiosity and initiative in investigating the recent deaths of corpse-stitchers.

Significant Themes

  • The value of skills and abilities, both practical and esoteric.
  • The consequences of death and the importance of corpse management in society.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the common folk in Caishikou, overhearing their conversations about his shop and the items he creates.
  • He has no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter, but his actions are influenced by the Obituary Bird's announcements.

Ch. 17The Bureau of Corpse Management Summoned a Stitcher to Sew Up a Tomb Raider's Corpse

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse-stitcher, learns that three of his colleagues died after being summoned to the Bureau of Corpse Management.
  • Lin Shou is also summoned to the bureau.
  • Lin Shou investigates and discovers that the deceased were called to stitch the corpse of a grave robber who bit people's wrists.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou demonstrates his intelligence and bravery by investigating the mysterious deaths and deciding to face the danger instead of fleeing.

Significant Themes

  • Death and Corpses: The story revolves around corpse-stitchers and the Bureau of Corpse Management, highlighting the theme of death and the handling of corpses.
  • Trust and Betrayal: The corpse-stitchers initially trust the Bureau of Corpse Management but become suspicious and fearful when their colleagues start dying.
  • Greed: The beggar's excessive greed is emphasized, leading to his eventual misfortune.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and the Corpse-Stitchers: Lin Shou interacts with his colleagues, gathering information about the recent deaths. They warn him about the danger but also express their own fears.
  • Lin Shou and the Beggar: Lin Shou bribes the beggar to gain information about the Bureau of Corpse Management. The beggar's greed leads him to reveal more than he should, ultimately causing him harm.
  • Lin Shou and the Bureau of Corpse Management: Lin Shou's interaction with the bureau is limited to a clerk delivering a summons. However, his investigation reveals the bureau's involvement in the mysterious deaths.

Ch. 18One Corpse, Two Lives; Heaven-Grade Price

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse-stitcher, is summoned to the Bureau of Corpse Management at night to stitch a corpse.
  • The Bureau's building has a spirit wall at the entrance, suppressing through-hall sha and reflecting ghosts.
  • Lin Shou is led to a side room with a heavily talisman-decorated interior, containing the corpse of a grave robber.
  • The grave robber's corpse has been decapitated and requires five stitches to close the wound.
  • Lin Shou attempts to stitch the corpse using remote-controlled wooden Medical Mechanical Hands but fails when one hand is grabbed and corrupted by the corpse.
  • Lin Shou successfully stitches the corpse using a second wooden hand and receives two valuations from the Record of Selling Corpses: Yellow Grade, First Rank, and Heaven Grade, Third Rank.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou demonstrates resourcefulness and caution by preparing remote-controlled tools to stitch the corpse safely.
  • Lin Shou shows determination to complete the task despite the risks, indicating his acceptance of his role as a corpse-stitcher.

Significant Themes

  • The theme of fate and destiny is hinted at with the grave robber's corpse being valued at Heaven Grade, suggesting a higher purpose or connection to the prince's tomb.
  • The theme of the power of the unknown is present in the mysterious behavior of the grave robber's corpse and its ability to corrupt objects and cause death.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts briefly with the Bureau's clerk and officials, showing his low status and lack of power in the hierarchy.
  • Lin Shou's interaction with the grave robber's corpse highlights his resourcefulness and determination to complete his task, despite the risks involved.

Ch. 19Classic of Burial

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse stitcher, survives stitching a haunted corpse at the Bureau of Corpse Management, defying expectations.
  • He returns to his shop with two rewards: the Burial Shovel (a growth-type divine weapon) and the Classic of Burial (a Heaven-grade cultivation method).
  • Lin Shou discovers the Classic of Burial's unique cultivation properties and its variable speed based on feng shui.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou demonstrates resilience and luck in surviving the haunted corpse, showing he's not just a simple-minded fool.
  • He shows curiosity and appreciation for his rewards, indicating he's not content with his current life and seeks improvement.

Significant Themes

  • Luck and Fate: Lin Shou's survival challenges the expected fate of those who stitch haunted corpses.
  • Cultivation and Growth: The Burial Shovel and the Classic of Burial represent potential growth and improvement, both in power and cultivation speed.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou interacts with the Bureau clerk, showing his cheerful and straightforward nature despite the clerk's initial fear and disbelief.
  • He also interacts with fellow corpse stitchers, who are surprised and relieved to see him alive.

Ch. 20Master Ning, Let Me Scrape Your Scalp

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lin Shou, a corpse stitcher, survives stitching a corpse with an evil spirit, impressing the Bureau of Corpse Management. His shop's corpse quota is increased.
  • The Bureau's Corpse-Salvaging Team clashes with the Canal Gang, leading to two salvagers' deaths. Lord Sun, the bureau's head, orders replacements for the team.
  • Lin Shou successfully stitches the grave robber's corpse and receives two rewards from the Record of Selling Corpses, priced as Heaven-grade.

Character Developments

  • Lin Shou: Proves his skill and survival against a powerful corpse, gains confidence and decides to let go of the mysterious aspects of the case, focusing on his cultivation and business.
  • Sun Xianfu (Lord Sun): Shows indifference towards Lin Shou's survival, prioritizing the bureau's benefits over individual lives. He also reveals knowledge of the Canal Gang's political affiliations.

Significant Themes

  • Power and Indifference: Officials like Lord Sun wield power without concern for the lives of commoners like Lin Shou.
  • Fate and Luck: Lin Shou's survival is attributed to his 'lone-star fate' and luck, highlighting the randomness and unpredictability of life.
  • Cultivation and Growth: Lin Shou focuses on his cultivation, finding happiness and purpose in personal growth.

Character Interactions

  • Lin Shou and Ning Luowei: Their interactions remain awkward and one-sided, with Ning Luowei persistently pursuing Lin Shou, who finds her annoying but tolerates her presence.
  • Lin Shou and the Night Market Crowd: The night market crowd envies Lin Shou's interactions with Ning Luowei, viewing him as a fool and her as a kind, charitable figure.
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