The Coffin Is Lifted

Hearing Uncle Nine's words, Master Ren's expression shifted, and he immediately asked, "Then, Uncle Nine, what should be done?"

"It should have been 'snow covering the peak'; that is what is meant by a dragonfly skimming the water. Since the head of your coffin didn't even touch the water, how could it be called a dragonfly skimming the water?"

"It is fortunate that the feng shui master had a conscience, allowing you to exhume and rebury the coffin after twenty years. He only harmed you for half a lifetime, not a full one; he harmed you for one generation, not eighteen."

As these words left his lips, Master Ren was so terrified that his face drained of all color. It was only then that he realized one truly should not easily offend those who dabble in the unorthodox arts like feng shui masters.

Otherwise, if they were to harbor even the slightest bit of malice, one could be ruined and lose their entire family without ever knowing who the culprit was.

At the same time, he began to secretly calculate in his heart whether he should seek trouble with the descendants of that feng shui master once this current matter was settled.

Just as Master Ren's thoughts were in turmoil, one of the young men exhuming the coffin shouted aloud.

"The coffin has been found!"

Following this cry, everyone present began to crowd around the site of the original grave.

The young men who had been waiting on the sidelines, ready to lend a hand, brought out a scaffold.

Soon, as the others continued to dig, the entire head of the coffin was fully exposed.

Someone climbed down into the grave, looped thick hemp ropes around the coffin, and using the scaffold and the principle of leverage, hauled the entire thing out.

Once the coffin hit the ground, Uncle Nine immediately dispersed the crowd surrounding it.

He ordered the young men who had been digging the grave to step forward and carry the coffin of Old Master Ren to the spot where the original tombstone had stood.

"Alright, prepare to pull the nails and open the coffin."

Watching the coffin settle firmly on the ground, Uncle Nine turned to the onlookers and instructed, "Everyone, today is the day Ren Gong Ren Weiyong sees the light of day again. Anyone aged thirty-six, twenty-two, thirty-five, or forty-eight, or those born in the years of the Rooster or the Ox, must turn away."

Following Uncle Nine's words, the people present immediately turned their heads and backs, no longer daring to gawk recklessly.

After all, this was no laughing matter. Those invited by Uncle Nine to help were essentially professionals in this trade, so they naturally knew that in such a situation, it was best to follow the instructions of the master on-site.

As soon as Uncle Nine's voice faded, the four young men who had been standing before the coffin of Old Master Ren also turned away.

"Hmm, everyone has turned away. Adjust your attire, and open the coffin."

As Uncle Nine's words fell, the four young men began their work.

Opening a coffin naturally has its own set of rules. First, those opening it must never stare directly into the coffin.

Second, those opening it must be young, sturdy men, as these individuals share a common trait: their own yang energy is exceptionally strong.

Soon, with the four young men exerting force together, the coffin of Ren Weiyong was finally opened completely.

At that very instant, a change rippled through the heavens and earth.

Crows scattered in flight, the world grew dim, and Uncle Nine, Master Ren, and Ren Tingting stepped forward together.

Upon seeing that Old Master Ren in the coffin looked exactly as he had the day he was buried, Master Ren and Ren Tingting knelt in unison and began to wail loudly.

"Father! To have disturbed your rest, your child is truly unfilial!"

After his lament, Master Ren stood up and asked Uncle Nine, "Uncle Nine, can this grave still be used?"

"Sigh, a dragonfly skimming the water—it touches once, then again, but it will certainly never touch the same spot twice. This site is useless."

"Ah, then what should we do?" Master Ren asked, his face filled with panic upon hearing Uncle Nine's reply.

"I propose cremation on the spot."

"Cremation? No, that won't do. My father feared fire most of all when he was alive; I cannot treat him this way." Facing Uncle Nine's proposal, Master Ren refused outright.

"Master Ren, if we do not cremate him, there will be great trouble."

"Anything else is fine, but cremation is out of the question. Please, think of another way." Regarding the issue of cremation, Master Ren was very firm.

Uncle Nine shook his head and sighed softly.

"Sigh."

"Very well, then we shall temporarily store it at our Public Mortuary. Tomorrow, I will personally go and find a suitable grave so that the Old Master may rest in peace as soon as possible."

"Good. Put the lid back on the coffin and carry it to the Public Mortuary." Master Ren glanced at Ren Weiyong beside him, and the latter immediately understood and issued the orders.

Seeing this, Uncle Nine greeted Master Ren. "Master Ren, please head back first. Leave the rest to me and my two disciples."

Master Ren did not stand on ceremony with Uncle Nine; he climbed directly into his sedan chair and departed with his daughter and the large entourage.

Once everyone had left and even the incense table and ritual altar had been cleared away, Uncle Nine walked around the grave once. Just as he was about to say something, he saw his junior fellow apprentice approach and speak.

"Hey, Senior Brother, you knew full well that this tomb had been tampered with, yet you still had that guy moved to the Public Mortuary. Aren't you afraid he'll jump out in the middle of the night?"

"I'm warning you, once that guy jumps out, he's going to be a massive one, and he won't be easy to subdue."

Four Eyes walked up to Uncle Nine's side and spoke up to offer his warning.

When it came to matters like this, there was naturally no room for joking between fellow disciples; after all, if things went south with this sort of thing, people could really die.

And it wouldn't just be one person—it would be the kind of disaster that claimed many lives.

"I know, which is why, Junior Brother, let's head back first and leave this place to these two lads for the time being."

"Wencai, Qiusheng, the two of you are to set up a Plum Blossom Incense Formation around this tomb. Remember to report back to me on how the incense burns."

"Also, make sure to offer incense at all the nearby graves. Not a single one can be missed."

"Oh, got it, Master."

Upon hearing Wencai and Qiusheng's agreement, Uncle Nine nodded and left directly with Four Eyes.

"Wencai, you go set up the Plum Blossom Incense Formation. I'll go offer incense at these graves. Let's make it quick."

"Got it, Senior Brother."

Following Qiusheng's instructions, the two of them immediately sprang into action.

As Qiusheng lit incense at all the surrounding graves, he arrived at the final tombstone. He looked at the photograph on the stone and smiled.

"Found you. I hope you come looking for me soon."

Qiusheng stuck three incense sticks in front of the tombstone and muttered the words silently in his heart.

But just as he regained his focus, a soft whisper suddenly echoed in his ear.

"Thank you."

The sound of these words falling against his ear did not surprise Qiusheng in the slightest. He merely curled the corner of his lips, shook his head, and began walking in the direction of Wencai.

As it happened, Wencai, having finished setting up the Plum Blossom Incense Formation, was just then running toward him.