The Corpse Rises

The night was black as ink, and all was silent.

Two grave robbers appeared furtively, quietly climbing the rugged mountain path.

Faint moonlight spilled through gaps in the leaves, barely illuminating the road ahead.

They hunched their backs, their steps light and cautious, as though afraid of waking the wild beasts slumbering in the mountains.

At last, when they reached the mountaintop, a brand-new grave stood starkly before them.

The two stopped and exchanged a glance.

By that hazy sliver of moonlight, greed and viciousness flashed in both their eyes.

No words were needed. With a single look, they understood each other and nodded, then slowly approached the burial mound in perfect tacit agreement.

"It's here. This is Old Man Mo's grave!"

The man in front lowered his voice, unable to hide the smugness in his tone.

Behind him stood a fierce-looking middle-aged man. When he saw the grave, he gave a cold sneer, making his already savage face seem even more sinister and terrifying.

"Back then, that Mo bastard claimed my character was flawed and publicly refused to take me as his disciple. He made me the laughingstock of the entire capital! Today, I'll wash away that shame. I'll dig him out of his coffin and tear his corpse into ten thousand pieces!"

The young man beside him clenched his fists tightly as well, gritting his teeth. "That's right, me too! Half a year ago, that old bastard threw me out of Heaven-and-Earth Ironworks over some trivial matter. I nearly starved to death. Today, I'm settling that debt once and for all!"

With that, the two grabbed their shovels and began digging up the grave like madmen.

For a time, dirt flew everywhere, scattering across the ground.

In the silent mountain forest, only the dull thuds of shovels striking