Time to Hit the Road

Steward Li and Xiao Liu were talking about Qiusheng, that poor scholar, while over at the Rouge Shop, Tingting had finished catching up with her aunt. The two of them were now as close as mother and daughter.

"Auntie, Brother Sheng's parents—I don't know where they are now. I'd like to pay them a visit."

Suddenly, Ren Tingting, sitting inside the Rouge Shop, blushed and spoke to Qiusheng's aunt.

"Oh, didn't that boy Qiusheng tell you? His birth parents passed away in an accident years ago. After that, he moved into my home and lived with me."

"Oh, Brother Sheng's parents have both passed away?"

Hearing his aunt say this so unexpectedly, Tingting was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. The poor boy had a hard life. He was still very young when I took him in, and he helped attract customers at my Rouge Shop."

"It was only a few years ago, when business at the shop gradually picked up and he happened to meet his master, Uncle Nine, that I let him leave and study some skills under him."

Listening to her aunt, Tingting finally learned a little about Qiusheng's childhood.

"Brother Sheng had such a hard time as a child."

"Mm, yes. He suffered quite a bit when he was young."

Just as the two women were privately discussing Qiusheng, the curtain at the Rouge Shop was lifted, and Qiusheng strode straight inside.

"Auntie, what are you talking about? It's getting late, and I need to take Tingting home."

"Why are you poking your nose into women's private conversations?"

"All right, take Tingting home, you brat."

"And one more thing, you little rascal. I like Tingting very much, so if you dare bully her, I'll skin you alive."

Under his aunt's scolding, Qiusheng took Ren Tingting to Ren Mansion.

As soon as they entered Ren Mansion, Uncle Huang, an old man over fifty, came out to greet them. After exchanging a few words with Tingting, he handed her a stack of account books to review.

Tingting was no stranger to this. After having a simple lunch with Qiusheng, she began carefully going over the accounts.

As for Qiusheng, he simply stayed beside her and watched.

The whole afternoon passed. When Qiusheng opened his eyes, Tingting had finished checking the accounts and prepared a table full of delicious dishes.

"Brother Sheng, stay for dinner before you go. Once you leave, who knows when you'll be back."

Seeing the sorrow in Tingting's expression, Qiusheng gently stroked her back.

"All right, Tingting. If two hearts are bound together for a long time, what does it matter if they can't be together every day?"

"Don't worry. I'll get my martial uncle home as soon as I can, then hurry back to Ren Family Town to be with you."

"Mm, Brother Sheng, I know. I'll wait for you to come back."

As she spoke, Ren Tingting gently wiped the corner of her eye.

"Come on, Brother Sheng, let's eat. I made this especially for you."

Seeing the lavish meal before him, Qiusheng didn't hold back. After enjoying dinner with Ren Tingting, he headed back to the Public Mortuary alone.

By the time he reached the Public Mortuary, Wencai and his martial uncle were already prepared.

More than ten Walking Corpses had been fastened together with four long bamboo poles. The seven corpses Qiusheng had beaten until they were wrecked were sandwiched between the others at the front and back, which at least kept them standing.

Damn, that's a clever idea. If we just drive the corpses normally, even the seven I'd beaten up shouldn't cause any trouble.

Qiusheng looked at the scene before him and marveled inwardly.

"Hey, senior brother, what do you think? I came up with this idea. Am I clever or what?"

Seeing Qiusheng walk in, Wencai said with a grin.

"Mm, I have to admit, learning Golden Dragon Locking Jade Pillar has made you a lot smarter than before."

Qiusheng looked at Wencai's proud expression and deliberately brought up the one thing he shouldn't have.

"Qiusheng, you dare bring that up? I'll beat you to death!"

At his words, the smile on Wencai's face vanished, and he flew into a rage, chasing after Qiusheng.

Qiusheng ran all over the courtyard to escape. Just then, Uncle Nine came out of the main hall of the Public Mortuary with Four Eyes.

Wencai happened to bring his staff down in a mighty overhead strike, hitting Uncle Nine squarely on the head.

"Ow!"

"You little punk! You dare hit your master? Are you trying to start a rebellion?"

Seeing Wencai smack Uncle Nine on the head with a staff, Qiusheng immediately knew they were in trouble. Without hesitation, he called out,

"Master, take care! I'm taking your customers out now!"

"Shangqing Dongxuan, spirit lamp show the way, heavenly bell be our signal—by command of the law, arise!"

As soon as he finished the incantation, Qiusheng led his martial uncle's customers hopping out of the Public Mortuary. No time to explain—he'd better get out of there first.

As for Wencai, he reacted half a beat too slowly and was caught red-handed by Uncle Nine.

"All right, you little brat. I'll teach you to act up!"

Uncle Nine scolded him as he chased after Wencai.

Watching his senior brother and his disciple fool around, Taoist Four Eyes stood in his robe, holding a banner in one hand, and called out loudly,

"Time to hit the road!"

And so, the three of them, along with more than ten Walking Corpses, set off on their journey.

Because of the peculiar nature of corpse-driving, once they were officially on the road, they had to keep going until they reached the next Public Mortuary. Otherwise, they had to find a secluded place deep in the woods, far from people and untouched by sunlight.

Only veteran corpse drivers knew all the right places. They wouldn't let their customers be exposed to direct sunlight just because they were in a hurry.

So, although Qiusheng and Wencai were escorting their martial uncle home this time, it was also a form of training from Four Eyes.

The seemingly insignificant trade of corpse-driving had all sorts of intricacies. An inexperienced person could have profound mastery of the Dao and still be at a loss when it came to the practical work.

"Martial uncle, corpse-driving is this difficult?"

In the dark, enclosed forest, Wencai asked with a frown as he shook the bell in his hand.

It was already the third day of their journey. Starting on the second day, Wencai had been responsible for driving the corpses at the front.

As for why, Four Eyes had explained that corpse-driving was a fine trade. If Wencai wanted to make good money and find a wife, he should learn and observe carefully along the way.

Wencai, who had yet to experience just how hard life could be, had fallen hook, line, and sinker for his martial uncle's pitch.

He obediently walked at the front, holding a lamp in one hand and a bell in the other as he drove the corpses.

Qiusheng and Taoist Four Eyes, meanwhile, lounged on a bamboo chair, perched on the poles beside the Walking Corpses' arms, completely at ease.

The bamboo chair was Qiusheng's own bit of ingenious engineering. Lying in it was comfortable, and he wouldn't fall out even if he nodded off.

At that moment, Four Eyes was lying in the bamboo chair, drifting between wakefulness and sleep. Hearing Wencai's words, he replied calmly,

"What's difficult for one person is easy for another. Wencai, you still need more practice. Focus on driving the corpses and don't talk so much. Call me when we reach the next Public Mortuary."

"Oh, I understand, Martial Uncle."