Repaying Kindness

By the time they had finished talking, master and apprentice had eaten dinner, and darkness had fallen outside.

His master said, "All right. Now that you've eaten, it's time to work. Light every lantern here first.

"I'll count the bodies. What happens tonight is no small matter.

"There's something wrong with every one of them. Don't let your guard down and come to grief!"

Xu Feng said, "All right!"

Outside, Xu Feng saw quite a few bodies laid out in the courtyard.

There was no help for it. Far too many bodies had been delivered this time.

The West Room was large, but it couldn't hold them all, so some had to be left outside.

They couldn't be placed directly in front of the Earth God, so his curtain had been left down. They also had to avoid the Soul Bottles beneath the ground, leaving no other place to put the bodies.

Each one was covered with a straw mat.

The sight was rather eerie.

Using a bamboo pole, Xu Feng lit the lanterns one by one. Once the place glowed red, his master returned and said, "None have appeared or disappeared. There's no danger for now.

"But I'm uneasy. I'll find more protective objects. You go prepare the medicine.

"Brew three kinds of Righteousness Soup. The medicine pots are nearby; use whichever you find."

Xu Feng nodded and looked at his master. "What are you looking at me for?" his master asked.

Xu Feng held out an innocent hand, palm up. "The key, Master."

"You and I are the only living people in this Earth God Shrine. What do you need a key for? From now on, none of the rooms here will be locked. Take whatever you need.

"Just let me know afterward."

"All right, Master. I'll go,