Jin Tao was sure he wasn't seeing things this time!

The *xi shen* (喜神, god of joy) that he and his master were escorting suddenly pulled out a two-meter-long broadsword and hacked it towards his master's head.

Immediately after, the *xi shen* snapped back to its original position, the broadsword vanishing as if it had never been there.

This was just unbelievable!

Gu Xiuxuan frowned and turned his head at the words.

He found that Qiao Yu was still standing blankly in place, his eyes vacant.

Losing his patience, Gu Xiuxuan reprimanded Jin Tao directly.

"What nonsense are you spouting in the middle of the night? How could a *xi shen* wield a knife?"

"If a corpse reanimates and turns into a baleful being, it will first grow fluff on its body, followed by elongated fingernails and immense strength. Did you learn everything I taught you and feed it to the dogs?"

Jin Tao rubbed his eyes and saw that Qiao Yu, transformed into a *xi shen*, was indeed standing in place, the broadsword gone.

"But Master, I really saw it just now..."

"Shut up! When a person dies, their light is extinguished. Even if it really turns into a baleful being, even the most terrifying Black Sha couldn't make the action of gripping a knife. The corpse's joints are stiff. Do I need to teach you such a simple concept?"

"Understood, Master," Jin Tao lowered his head.

Gu Xiuxuan shook his head inwardly. Perhaps he really should find another disciple; Jin Tao might not be suitable for *gan shi* (赶尸, corpse herding).

The master and disciple shook their Soul-Calling Bells and beat their bronze gongs as they continued forward.

In truth, Jin Tao hadn't been mistaken. Qiao Yu had indeed intended to make a move just now.

His original plan was to first deal with Gu Xiuxuan, then Jin Tao.

Next, he would smash the bronze gong and shatter the Soul-Calling Bells, so there would be nothing to restrain him.

However, Gu Xiuxuan's mention of Lingjiu Mountain instantly changed Qiao Yu's plan.

"It seems I can only trigger the main storyline by following these two NPCs..." Qiao Yu guessed inwardly.

That was why he had suddenly put away his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. After all, he himself didn't know where Lingjiu Mountain was.

The group of three – no, two people and a corpse – walked in a southeast direction for about two quarters of an hour before a mortuary with wide-open doors came into view.

All along the way, Jin Tao wore a worried look.

He was convinced that he hadn't been mistaken, but his master simply didn't believe him.

He himself was baffled as to why the *xi shen* would suddenly pull out a broadsword...

A sign hung on the door of the mortuary, with four large characters that read "Living People Keep Out."

A gloomy aura emanated from the mortuary, and several coffins could be vaguely seen inside.

This was a resting place specifically for *gan shi ren* (赶尸人, corpse herders). After all, the *xi shen* couldn't be exposed to sunlight and could only stay in the mortuary during the day.

The mortuary's doors were open 365 days a year because there was nothing here but corpses; it was a residence specifically for the dead.

Normal people wouldn't come to make trouble with corpses.

After stepping into the mortuary, Gu Xiuxuan chanted an incantation and took out a yellow talisman, sticking it on Qiao Yu's forehead. He turned around and said to Jin Tao,

"Before we set off tomorrow night, you'll stay with this *xi shen* and temper your courage!"

"Master, where are you going? This *xi shen* really will reanimate!" Jin Tao immediately became frightened at the thought of being alone with Qiao Yu.

Gu Xiuxuan glared at his disciple, who was shaking like a leaf, exasperated.

"What's it to you where I go? I've already used a body-fixation talisman on him; what trouble can he possibly make?"

"Guard the *xi shen* well until I return! I'll hold you responsible for any mishaps!"

Gu Xiuxuan flicked his sleeves and walked out. He was going to find a decent inn to rest.

After Gu Xiuxuan left, Jin Tao became even more frightened.

He closed his eyes, put his hands together, and knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing to Qiao Yu.

"Big Brother *Xi Shen*, Grandpa *Xi Shen*! Please don't cause trouble! I'm begging you!"

Qiao Yu: "..."

"We'll mind our own business. You stay put, and we'll get you to your destination after tomorrow night."

After praying for a while, Jin Tao stole a glance out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing that Qiao Yu was still standing motionlessly, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Having walked all night, Jin Tao was tired and sleepy.

He leaned against the wall and fell asleep without realizing it. A gust of cold wind swept in from outside, shaking Jin Tao awake.

He turned over, ready to continue sleeping, when a voice whispered in his ear.

"Don't sleep, someone's coming."

Jin Tao instantly sobered up, every hair on his body standing on end.

Besides him, where else could there be a living person in the mortuary?

"Were you the one who spoke just now?"

He sat up in shock, looking fearfully at Qiao Yu, who still had a yellow talisman stuck to his forehead.

Even the most vicious Black Sha wouldn't be able to speak, right? Just what kind of thing was this *xi shen*?

The silence of the mortuary allowed Jin Tao to clearly hear his own heartbeat. He felt like he was about to pee his pants in fright.

"Body-fixation talisman? That technique... what's your relationship with Gu Xiuxuan?"

A shrill, raspy voice rang out from outside the mortuary, pushing Jin Tao's heart, which had jumped to his throat, back down.

A skinny old man, nothing but skin and bones, walked in, puffing on a long-stemmed pipe.

His eyes kept scanning Jin Tao up and down. Behind the old man was a young man.

The young man was carrying a dark-red coffin carved with strange patterns on his shoulder.

Jin Tao: "Gu Xiuxuan is my master. Who are you? A coffin bearer?"

"Heh heh heh, Gu Xiuxuan's disciple has some eyesight."

The old man's laughter was shrill, sounding like there was a handful of sand stuck in his throat.

"Where's your master?"

Jin Tao: "My master has something to take care of and has gone out. He'll be back later!"

"Oh?"

A glint of light flashed in the old man's eyes. He walked forward and tapped Qiao Yu with his pipe.

"Undecomposed in death, still has residual warmth, and the flesh still retains its elasticity."

The old man then reached out and began to feel around on Qiao Yu's chest.

Qiao Yu: "..."

"This corpse shouldn't have been dead for long?" the old man asked Jin Tao.

"Senior! You can't be disrespectful to the *xi shen*. If you offend the *xi shen*, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Seeing the old man's offensive behavior, Jin Tao rushed up to stop him.

*Thud!*

The young man behind the old man slammed the coffin heavily onto the ground, then pulled out a black object, scaring Jin Tao into stopping.

"Humph! What *xi shen*? It's just a corpse! What consequences could there be for being disrespectful to him?"

"Only you *gan shi ren* call corpses *xi shen*. If he dares to cause trouble, this Mourning Stick of mine, Feng Li, isn't just for show!"

With that, Feng Li swung the Mourning Stick in his hand fiercely, creating a muffled thud.

Only then did Jin Tao see clearly that the black Mourning Stick in Feng Li's hand was actually made of cast iron.

If he were hit with that, let alone a corpse, even a living person would lose half their life.

"You... you're wrong to do this! You're being greatly disrespectful to the *xi shen*!"

Jin Tao protested weakly. On the first day his master led him through the door, he had warned him.

The first taboo of a *gan shi ren* was to never offend the *xi shen*.

But now that his master was gone, the weak Jin Tao could only watch helplessly as the old man acted wantonly towards the *xi shen*.

"This young man is quite handsome! If he were sold to a wealthy family to be paired with a young lady who died prematurely in a yin marriage, he would fetch a good price!"

Looking at Qiao Yu's chiseled face, a hint of greed appeared in the old man's eyes.

"Feng Li, take this corpse away!"