Since there were only these few people available, and we also wanted to return as soon as possible, Mo Ting, my master, and I all pitched in to help.
Although there were eleven bodies, which was a considerable number, it was only a matter of one or two trips back and forth for the eight of us. Less than forty minutes later, all the bodies were transported into the three hearses. We then hitched a ride and began heading back into the city.
Master and Bai Ye were in the first vehicle. Mo Ting, I, and another young man from the funeral home were in the second. The other young man looked about eighteen or nineteen, noticeably younger. While he was driving, he kept glancing at Mo Ting and me, seeming like he had something to say.
Mo Ting and I were both tired from fighting all night, so we leaned back and didn't speak. Finally, the young man couldn't hold back and asked, "You two brothers, the zombies you killed, did they move by jumping with their hands raised, or were they like regular zombies, chasing people and biting?"
Hearing this, Mo Ting and I were taken aback for a moment. Then, Mo Ting replied, "They jumped. They had skin like copper and bones of iron; even a big hammer couldn't damage them."
The young man's eyes lit up instantly. "Heavens! That's terrifying! You two brothers, I just became a disciple. Can you tell me what those evil spirits and monsters look like?"
I smiled as I listened to the young man's excited questions, not saying much. Mo Ting, however, became animated, spewing saliva as he enthusiastically recounted his encounters with spirits. He embellished his stories considerably, painting vivid pictures of his battles. The young man listened with rapt attention, his eyes wide with excitement and admiration. This inflated Mo Ting's ego, making him feel closer to becoming a renowned urban exorcist.
Besides expressing his admiration, the young man also shared his own journey to becoming a disciple. It turned out that, like Mo Ting, he also possessed a burning passion for the extraordinary. However, his ambition wasn't to vanquish demons and monsters, but rather to communicate with ghosts and become a spiritual medium, a master of the spirit world, relaying messages between the living and the dead. He accidentally found his master at Qing Shan Funeral Home and was now an apprentice undertaker. He had only encountered spirits a few times and had no other significant experiences. Tonight was his first time being taken out by his master for a body retrieval.
As we chatted, we arrived at our drop-off point. Before we got out, the young man asked for Mo Ting's and my WeChat information, saying it would be good to exchange contact details for future communication. Neither Mo Ting nor I thought much of it, so we accepted his friend request.
The rain in the city was heavier, so we had to find shelter temporarily. We then each called a car to head back. Mo Ting got a car first, so after a brief farewell, he left.
After Mo Ting left, Master took out the zombie dan he had collected. He then said to me, "Xiao Qin, you take this."
I was a little taken aback when Master handed me the zombie dan. "Master, why are you giving this to me? Are you telling me to go to Luoyang to sell it and repay my debts?"
Master chuckled. "We don't lack that little bit of money. You give this to that girl named Qing Dai."
Hearing this, my heart skipped a beat, and I felt confused. Master continued, "This item, for us, is mostly useful for crafting magical artifacts. I don't need those artifacts. However, if a ghost absorbs its core, it can increase its cultivation. Since that girl has a past-life connection with you, giving her this item can be considered a repayment for her protecting you for twenty years!"
Since Master had said so, I accepted the zombie dan. "Alright, Master. I'll give it to her when I see her next time. Thank you on her behalf, Master." I said this very earnestly.
Master waved his hand. "As master and disciple, there's no need for thanks. Besides, you killed the female zombie, and you discovered this pearl first. And it's the same between humans and ghosts as it is between people. If you help someone, they'll help you. If you harbor ill intentions, you won't get favorable treatment. That girl has a connection with you in both past and present lives, perhaps it's destined. Now that you've just entered the field, your cultivation isn't deep yet, and there will be many times when I can't protect you everywhere. But she can, and she has protected you for twenty years. For both emotional and rational reasons, you should give her some tangible benefits, shouldn't you?"
What Master said was the honest truth. Gratitude is often intangible. Giving Qing Dai a zombie dan that can increase her cultivation is a concrete benefit. I understood Master's intention and nodded. "Yes, I understand, Master."
Master smiled and said no more. Shortly after, the car Master had called arrived. Master beckoned me, and then got into the car and left. I stood on the roadside, looking at the zombie dan in my hand. After waiting a while longer, my car arrived. I put away the zombie dan and then got in and left.
By the time I got home, it was almost four in the morning. The night had passed by so quickly. Holding the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Pendant, I thought about calling Qing Dai. But seeing that it was almost dawn, I gave up. I secured the zombie dan and sealed it with talismans, as this item offered no benefit to the living and its influence could be catastrophic. After sealing it with the talismans, I took a shower and went to bed.
I slept until sometime in the afternoon the next day. I had a really deep sleep. Fortunately, I didn't have to work today, so it was fine. I ate something in my room and then went to practice. However, when I started to breathe in the energy today, I was surprised to discover that the third strand of true qi within me had inexplicably strengthened significantly after last night's battle, equivalent to more than ten days of normal cultivation. I was pleasantly surprised and reaffirmed a belief: practical experience, especially life-and-death combat, is always the fastest way to improve one's cultivation.