Collecting Corpses

As he pondered, there was movement ahead.

Two black shadows rushed out from the village toward Lu Shaolin.

"Boss."

Ma San drew his saber and warned him.

Lu Shaolin came back to his senses. By then, the shadows had already reached the edge of the firelight.

Apparently repelled by the flames, the shadows stopped.

Lu Shaolin narrowed his eyes. They were two villagers in coarse cloth clothing, but their faces were now grayish-white, their fangs exposed as they stared at Lu Shaolin's group with bloodthirsty expressions.

Lu Shaolin grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the firelight.

"Ma San, lure them over."

Lu Shaolin smiled.

"Uh, yes, Boss!"

Ma San froze for a moment, then nodded. He drew his saber across a finger, and blood seeped out.

The scent of blood instantly made the two Walking Corpses lose control of their bloodlust. With a roar, they charged over.

"None of you move!"

Lu Shaolin said excitedly, shaking his spear as he strode forward to meet them.

Seeing a living person approach, the two Walking Corpses became even more frenzied. They raised their gray-white claws and pounced on Lu Shaolin.

Lu Shaolin raised his spear high and brought it down in a crushing blow.

With a shriek of Skybreak, followed by a bang, the lead Walking Corpse's head burst like a smashed watermelon, yellow and white matter splattering everywhere.

Before the Walking Corpse behind it could react, Lu Shaolin's second spear strike swept across.

With a dull thud, the second Walking Corpse's neck was severed by the spear. Black blood sprayed out, and its head hit the ground with a thud, rolling to Lu Shaolin's feet.

Lu Shaolin stepped on the head and casually kicked it over to Ma San.

He then walked to the two headless corpses and touched each body, gaining two Source Points.

Ma San's eyelid twitched as he looked at the head in front of him.

"Uh, clean this up."

Lu Shaolin looked at the others.

"Yes, Boss!"

The five men hurriedly cupped their fists, a trace of fear hidden in their gazes as they looked at Lu Shaolin.

"By the way, how are Walking Corpse bodies handled?"

Lu Shaolin asked Ma San.

"Boss, someone comes during the day to haul the bodies away and burn them together."

Ma San replied.

"They aren't hauled away until daytime? That's too dangerous. Go find a cart. We'll collect the bodies now."

Lu Shaolin stroked his chin.

"Th... that isn't a good idea, is it, Boss?"

Ma San was somewhat bewildered. What kind of move was this? Why were they stealing someone else's work?

"What's good or bad about it? Stop talking nonsense and go!"

Lu Shaolin waved impatiently.

"Yes, yes!"

Ma San hurried off to find a cart.

"You four stay here. If any Walking Corpses come over, call me if you can't handle them. I'll come back as soon as I hear you."

Lu Shaolin turned to the other four.

"Yes!"

The four replied.

Before long, Ma San returned, pushing a handcart that he had no idea where he had found.

"Let's go!"

Lu Shaolin swung onto his horse and rode ahead while Ma San huffed and puffed behind him, pushing the cart.

When they reached the first bonfire, the gang members guarding it were startled. Once they learned the two had come to collect corpses, they finally relaxed and said no Walking Corpses had attacked their side yet.

Lu Shaolin cupped his fists, then led Ma San to the next bonfire.

The two made a complete circuit around the village and collected six Walking Corpse bodies.

Lu Shaolin looked at the Source Points on his panel with a broad smile.

Ma San, meanwhile, panted heavily as he pushed the cart with all his strength.

Back at their own bonfire, Lu Shaolin dismounted and continued watching the village ahead, waiting for Source Points to come knocking.

Ma San plopped down on the ground and rested while catching his breath.

After that, Lu Shaolin simply could not be bothered to go himself. He had Ma San and the other five push the cart around once every two hours.

He himself remained stationed by the bonfire.

Over the course of the night, Lu Shaolin collected ten corpses. Together with the two he had killed himself, he gained a total of twelve Source Points.

Since there was not enough food here, Lu Shaolin chose not to upgrade his cultivation techniques or martial skills.

The sun rose, daylight brightened the sky, and Lu Shaolin yawned as he waited for breakfast.

Ma San and the others looked at Lu Shaolin strangely, suspecting their boss had some peculiar fetish. He had to touch every corpse!

Lu Shaolin could not be bothered with their looks. As long as he got the Source Points, everything else was meaningless.

"Ma San, after breakfast, you five should get a full set of tables and chairs. Bring a lounge chair too, preferably. And bring some snacks and fruit."

Lu Shaolin said calmly. This lousy tent had nothing in it, and standing watch all night was exhausting!

Hearing Lu Shaolin's words, Ma San and the others exchanged looks.

So their boss had come here for a vacation!

"What? Don't you have any money?"

When Lu Shaolin saw that none of them answered, he assumed they had no silver and asked again.

"No, Boss. We have silver. That River Demon you killed last time was exchanged for twenty taels, and I still have it."

The scarred man said.

"Then go buy it later. Split the remaining silver among the five of you."

Lu Shaolin said indifferently.

"Yes, Boss."

The men cupped their fists in acknowledgment.

Before long, the cart delivering food arrived. Breakfast was porridge and meat buns.

Lu Shaolin did not stand on ceremony. He drank a large bowl of porridge and took ten meat buns.

After Ma San and the other five finished eating, they rode to the county town to buy supplies, leaving Lu Shaolin alone at the tent.

Not long after the five left, two gang members arrived outside the tent.

Looking at the pile of corpses on the cart, they cupped their fists and said, "Thanks, brother, for hauling the bodies for us. I was wondering this morning why the cart was gone. I only found out after asking that you were the one who helped out last night."

"It's nothing. I had nothing to do at night anyway. You two can take the bodies away. If you trust me, leave the cart here after you're done. You can come get it tomorrow morning."

Lu Shaolin waved with a smile.

"How could we accept that? Helping once is enough. How could we keep troubling you, brother?"

The leading man shook his head.

"We're all family. If you don't leave it here, you're disrespecting me."

Lu Shaolin's face darkened as he snapped.

"Th... fine... fine!"

The man froze, then nodded as he looked at Lu Shaolin's powerful build.

Besides, he was happy to have it easy.

The two immediately pushed the cart away. As they left, they gave Lu Shaolin a look as though he were an idiot, making him so angry he nearly gave each of them a spear strike!

It was not until noon that Ma San and the other five returned.

Each of their horses was tied with quite a few things: tables, chairs, benches, snacks, and fruit.

"Boss!"

The five cupped their fists and called out.

"Mm, you're back. Unload everything!"

Lu Shaolin said with a smile.

The five dismounted and began unloading the items from their horses.

Ma San unloaded a lounge chair and carried it in front of Lu Shaolin. "Boss, please sit!"

Lu Shaolin nodded, stretched out his legs, and reclined in the lounge chair.

Ma San had improved lately. He knew how to get things done.

Lu Shaolin lay in the lounge chair, basking in the sun, while Ma San and the other five carried the tables and chairs into the tent.

Lu Shaolin rubbed his stomach from the lounge chair. Why had lunch not been delivered yet?