Uncle Four Eyes

Listening to his master brag shamelessly, Qiusheng frowned.

He could accept that his eldest martial uncle, Shi Jian, had a Thunder Spirit Body, but Uncle Nine saying that he himself had an Innate Spirit Body was rather hard for him to understand.

"Master, I more or less know what a Thunder Spirit Body means. It probably means that cultivating lightning-based techniques like the Lightning Crushing Thunder Fist yields twice the results with half the effort."

"But what exactly is this Innate Spirit Body of yours? Your disciple truly has no idea. Could you please explain it to me, Master?"

"Hmph. My Innate Spirit Body is a spirit body slightly superior to your eldest martial uncle's. When cultivating all kinds of Daoist arts, it is much faster than ordinary people, and it has some miraculous uses as well. I'll tell you about those later."

Just as Uncle Nine was telling Qiusheng these secrets, someone knocked on the main gate of the Public Mortuary.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Three soft knocks drew the attention of the three people in the courtyard.

"Wencai, go open the gate and see who's knocking."

"Okay, Master."

Hearing Uncle Nine's order, Wencai naturally did not refuse. He immediately stopped the Yu Steps beneath his feet and headed toward the gate, muttering under his breath as he walked.

"Who could it be? It's already dark, and they still dare come running to the Public Mortuary. Do they really think these are peaceful times?"

Still muttering, Wencai opened the gate of the Public Mortuary. The sight outside immediately scared him senseless, and he scrambled back toward Uncle Nine.

"Master, save me! So many zombies are coming to kill us!"

Wencai's shout startled both Qiusheng and Uncle Nine. Without another word, they rushed toward the gate.

But just as the two reached the entrance, a middle-aged Taoist in a bright yellow Daoist robe strode in with raised brows.

"Wencai, what are you yelling about? It's your martial uncle. I'm here transporting corpses."

The instant this man appeared, Qiusheng's pupils contracted.

"Taoist Four Eyes... has the story finally reached its first little climax?"

"Junior Brother Four Eyes."

Seeing the visitor, Uncle Nine revealed a faint smile and slowly stepped forward to greet him.

"Senior Brother, I'll have to trouble you again this time. I'll temporarily leave these customers of mine in your Public Mortuary."

Looking at Uncle Nine approaching him, Taoist Four Eyes formed a hand seal and bowed.

"What are you saying, Junior Brother? Just stay here as long as you like."

Seeing his junior brother bow, Uncle Nine returned the salute.

"Wencai, Qiusheng, why haven't you two come to greet your martial uncle?"

"Your disciple Qiusheng greets Martial Uncle."

"Your disciple Wencai greets Martial Uncle."

Wencai and Qiusheng respectfully stepped forward and bowed to Taoist Four Eyes.

Looking at the two boys before him, Four Eyes walked up to Wencai with a broad grin and vigorously pinched his cheeks.

"Wencai, Martial Uncle just loves you to death."

After pinching Wencai, Four Eyes immediately turned his gaze to Qiusheng. Just as he was about to give Qiusheng the same treatment, Qiusheng swiftly dodged away.

His feet naturally retreated, and with his legs crossing, he took three consecutive steps back. Only after putting a full zhang between them did he steady himself and say,

"Martial Uncle Four Eyes, I love you too."

Seeing Qiusheng's reaction, Four Eyes smiled and pointed at him.

"Good boy, those Yu Steps were beautifully executed."

"Enough, Junior Brother. Stop playing around with these two boys. You should hurry up and settle your customers first."

Seeing that his junior brother was about to praise his disciple again, Uncle Nine cut him off, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him aside.

"Wencai, Qiusheng, take your martial uncle's customers to the main hall in the back. Your martial uncle and I are going to have a chat."

After saying that, Uncle Nine pulled Taoist Four Eyes away.

Wencai and Qiusheng then began operating the Soul-Guiding Banner, Soul-Absorbing Bell, and Soul-Suppressing Lamp that Taoist Four Eyes had left behind.

Corpse driving was, after all, a foolproof operation, so it did not stump the two martial brothers.

After they finished everything, they prepared a table full of food, called over their master and martial uncle, and began drinking together.

"Junior Brother, stay here a few more days this time. We can properly exchange pointers on Daoist arts, and you can also give my two disciples some guidance on cultivation."

At the table, Uncle Nine raised his cup to Four Eyes as he spoke.

"Heh, Senior Brother, I was thinking the same thing."

"I've been keeping to the shadows and moving at night these past few days, and it's worn me out. I can take these two days to rest, and perhaps seek your advice on cultivation while I'm at it."

Four Eyes raised his cup and replied with a chuckle.

"Martial Uncle, I heard from my master that your God-Inviting Technique is unmatched among Maoshan practitioners of your generation. Could your nephew perhaps learn a trick or two from you?"

Qiusheng looked at his martial uncle and master as they talked, then cautiously spoke up.

"You brat, look how pleased you are with yourself. You should put all your attention into the arts your master has passed down to you."

"Your martial uncle hasn't even taught his own disciple the God-Inviting Technique, and you expect him to teach you? You've got some nerve."

The moment Qiusheng spoke, Uncle Nine reprimanded him.

Yet unexpectedly, Four Eyes suddenly spoke up.

"Ah, Senior Brother, it's a good thing for disciples to want to learn more. Why are you scolding Qiusheng?"

"Come, Qiusheng. This is the secret manual of the God-Inviting Technique. Take good care of this copy."

"I originally prepared it for your useless Junior Brother Jiale, but unfortunately, his cultivation has been unable to break through to the middle stage of the Occultist realm."

"This time, I heard from your master that you have already broken through. Then take this God-Inviting Technique as your martial uncle's congratulatory gift."

As he spoke, Four Eyes pulled out a yellowed book from his person.

Looking at the book his martial uncle had taken out, Qiusheng glanced at his master. Only after receiving a nod from the latter did he happily accept the book from his martial uncle and put it away with delight.

"You brat, all you know is how to accept things. Don't you even know how to say thank you?"

Seeing Qiusheng practically over the moon, Uncle Nine could not help but speak.

Hearing his master's words, Qiusheng immediately suppressed his joy and thanked his martial uncle.

"Martial Uncle Four Eyes, thank you for bestowing this technique!"

Seeing Qiusheng's earnest expression, Four Eyes smiled faintly and waved his hand.

"Haha, you're all disciples of Maoshan. These things were meant to be taught to you sooner or later, so why thank me?"

As he spoke, Four Eyes and Uncle Nine clinked their cups again.

After drinking a few more cups, Uncle Nine saw that Qiusheng and Wencai had nearly finished eating and gave them an order.

"Wencai, Qiusheng, go get some food for your martial uncle's customers and the ones we have at home too."