Chapter 10: The Puppet Master and Yi Chen's Choice (Part 2)

"Taoist, my name is Shi Shoufu, and I am the owner of this coffin shop,"

"The undead you injured is my fiancée, her name is Xiao Cui,"

"Xiao Cui and I grew up together like two peas in a pod. After my father died and my brother traveled far, I inherited this Fortune and Longevity Shop,"

"I thought we would live happily ever after, together forever, but unfortunately, as Xiao Cui grew older, she became more and more attractive, catching the eye of Town Chief Wu Changshou,"

"He bribed the officials and suppressed Xiao Cui's family's tofu business with heavy gold, while on the other hand, he tempted Xiao Cui's parents with a large dowry. Under such immense pressure, they could no longer hold out and had to agree to marry their daughter to that old man over sixty,"

"Had my Shi family not been established in Qingyuan Town for hundreds of years with a large and influential clan, I suppose I too would have suffered his malice, huh,"

"Later, on the night before Xiao Cui was to be married off, she brought her wedding gown to me, refused my proposal to elope, and snuck into the Qing River to drown herself,"

"Caught between filial piety and love, it was impossible to have both. Fearing her parents would suffer Wu Changshou's retribution if we eloped, she chose death to prove her resolve,"

"A person's death settles all. That was Xiao Cui's way of satisfying both,"

"How foolish she was. On the day she died, I died as well; only a shell is left alive. I went mad, searching for a way to bring her back to life,"

"My elder brother, a tomb raider obsessed with antiquities, had left home to go far away. While I was sorting through the family's possessions, I actually found an odd book — 'Corpse Sutra',"

"I never had any interest in such things. I only enjoyed my carpentry and reading medical texts. I used to scorn these matters, but after finding the book, I treasured it like nothing else,"

"According to the scriptures, if I could master the 'Corpse Sutra,' there would be a chance to bring the dead back to life with their memories intact, so I could indirectly revive Xiao Cui,"

"But practicing the 'Corpse Sutra' is difficult. I chanted it for three days before I felt a faint response, waking the spiritual nature of the corpse as described in the book was truly too hard,"

Yi Chen: "..." It is indeed hard. Some people chant for ten years without any reaction at all.

Hearing this, Yi Chen couldn't hold back any longer. A faint response after three days? Have I lived on a god's body for the past ten years...

Damn, a born genius.

Man to man, enough to infuriate a Taoist.

In the courtyard, the young man's deep voice continued to echo.

"Xiao Cui's body couldn't be left out for long, I couldn't wait, so I used forbidden methods from the 'Corpse Sutra' to nourish and refine her using my own blood essence. If Xiao Cui had completely rotted away, what use would perfecting the 'Corpse Sutra' be to me?"

"The 'Corpse Sutra' doesn't have the power to revive flesh and bone. A rotten body couldn't even become a refined corpse,"

"So I settled for the next best thing. I wanted to make Xiao Cui an ironclad undead, to kill Town Chief Wu Changshou and his family, so that Xiao Cui could take her revenge and ease my heart,"

"Unfortunately, forbidden practices are ultimately unsuited for elegant society. I sought quick results; these practices could only issue simple commands. Several times I even lost control of Xiao Cui's ferocity, causing the subsequent accidents,"

"Taoist, I didn't want to kill anyone. From the beginning to the end, the only one I ever wanted to kill was Wu Changshou alone. I didn't harm a single Qingyuan Town resident. Those dozen or so constables had been abusive before and then came to investigate me. I had no choice but to kill them all, haha,"

The young man's somewhat hysterical laughter filled the whole yard, while the undead woman in the bridal gown held in his arms tightly closed her mouth, her eyes anxious, not wanting to suck the fresh blood flowing from his wrist.

"Taoist, did I do anything wrong? What did Xiao Cui do wrong?"

"Why do Xiao Cui and I, who were charitable and kind, suffer such fates, while Wu Changshou, a man steeped in debauchery and corruption, enjoys prosperity and longevity?"

"Why can those in power trample on our dignity like this, playing with us?"

Shi Shoufu's voice grew increasingly intense.

Yi Chen, looking at the young man in front of him who seemed to be going mad, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes.

He spoke deliberately and seriously to Shi Shoufu, "You're not wrong, it's the world that's wrong, it's because you are too weak."

"Kindness is a great virtue,"

"and it is also a costly one,"

"But kindness without power is worthless,"

"You are the greatest genius I have ever seen, but you are dying now,"

"Taoist, if you were me, what would you do?" After venting, the young man's expression calmed somewhat and he asked.

Yi Chen: "..."

Yi Chen: "Naturally, I would kill his entire family,"

The young man: "..." Are you really a Taoist? That doesn't seem right.

The young man: "I thought you would persuade me to be magnanimous, to see the bigger picture, to accept that life and death are predestined, that wealth and status are determined by fate,"

Yi Chen: "Let me tell you, you should stay away from those who persuade you to be magnanimous; they will get you struck by lightning. I've thought about it again. Not only would I kill his entire family, but I would leave no living creature behind. If even one hen or a dog survived, it would be my failure,"

The young man: "..."

The young man: "Taoist, who did you learn from?"

"Hidden Dragon Temple, Taoist Bai Yunzi is my master," Yi Chen said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"Young chap, you don't understand me. I was personally raised by my master, who knows me all too well, which is why he often thinks about hitting me,"

"No, correcting me,"

"But I still think some things he says are not right. However, he can't convince me, and I can't beat him, nor he me,"

"Today's restraint, next time he will dare again,"

"However, before he died, he admonished me to follow the path of benevolence and righteousness and not to commit crimes. So I've always been conscientious and not done bad things... exactly,"

"Strictly speaking, I think I am a good Taoist,"

The young man: "..."

The young man: "Taoist, you are magnificent!"

As the blood drained from him, the young man's complexion grew paler. Holding the undead woman in the bridal gown, he said with difficulty:

"Unfortunately, my efforts have come to naught today. Xiao Cui was too weak before. Only after killing those dozen or so constables and draining their blood was I barely able to turn Xiao Cui into an ironclad undead,"

"Which then brought you Taoists here,"

"Today, I originally intended to send Xiao Cui to take the life of Wu Changshou's dog. Truly... truly, it's an injustice of the Heavenly Dao."

"I regularly dispense porridge and medicines to the poor, accumulating yin virtue, yet I end up in such a state, while Wu Changshou, vile with every sin, enjoys good fortune and longevity."

"How can this world discern purity from filth?"

Yi Chen's eyes held an inscrutable expression at this moment. He sighed upon hearing these words, "You have encountered the humble Daoist—this shows that the yin virtue you've accrued indeed has its uses."

"If you truly have done good deeds regularly, I will inquire about it with others."

"The world is sick, some things need to be corrected."

"Dao... Daoist, what... what do you mean by your words...?" The young man's eyes flashed with surprise and astonishment upon hearing this.

"Blessings be as boundless as the heavenly honour, the humble Daoist has said nothing," Yi Taoist said, his eyes and brows lowered, radiating kindness and benevolence.

"The Daoist is truly a remarkable person, unlike anyone else. It's a pity that I'm about to die; otherwise, I would definitely love to have a hearty drink with the Daoist.

I wish to ask the Daoist for one more thing: after my death, I hope the Daoist will bury me and Xiao Cui together. In life we could not share a blanket, but in death, we shall share a grave."

"Regrettably, I now possess nothing of value, my wealth scattered. I only have a copy of 'Corpse Sutra,' I wonder if it could catch the Daoist's eye. If the Daoist finds it disdainful, just burn it. This land deed of the Felicity Hall, I also give it to the Daoist as a token of my gratitude, cough cough cough."

The young man's complexion began showing a strange red. In his greed for success, he had rushed progress by using forbidden necromancy to cultivate a corpse. His life essence had long been greatly depleted, and now his life had reached its end.

"Daoist, please wait a moment. I will go and clean up Xiao Cui and myself, and change our clothes."

"Xiao Cui loved beauty the most, she deserves to depart in beauty."

As if a dying flame flared up one last time, the young man, holding the bridal gown of the female corpse in his arms, struggled to stand and walked into the room.

Yi Chen watched his figure, silent for a long time.

The young man's melancholic tune echoed in the courtyard.

I reside in the east of Qinyuan.

You are in the north of Qinyuan.

When you left, your bridal dress was red.

It vanished by the Qingshui River.

I engraved our vows on the riverbank.

An expanse of cold moonlight flooded the city over the river.

I waited for you by the Qingshui Riverbank for a long time.

Mischievous children mocked me, laughed at my graying hair.

…

A homing pigeon flew out from the backyard of the Felicity Hall, and the singing abruptly stopped.

At that moment, a stream of information appeared on Yi Chen's retinal display.

[You have successfully killed the Bridal Armor Corpse Xiao Cui, gaining ten Deep Red Points.]

For some reason, Yi Chen did not feel pleased at this moment.

He slowly walked into the room, where the young man was dressed in a red groom's robe, with Xiao Cui in her bridal dress. Their fingers were interlocked, tightly clinging to each other.

Dead.

On the room's table were a land deed, and a book neither of gold nor jade, inscribed with golden seal characters—'Corpse Sutra.'

Seeing this scene, Yi Chen let out a long sigh.

Gone, it's good that you've gone.

The world is too bitter; do not come back in the next life.

Shi Shoufu, you've lost 'Shoufu' (longevity and fortune).

You were without fortune or longevity; who cursed you with such an inauspicious name?

Don't worry, the name of the man who harmed you, Town Chief Wu, is not much better.

He's called Wu Changshou (long life), but he won't be long-lived.

I guarantee he won't live past a week!

I said so.

Not even Daozun can save him.

Yi Chen silently picked up the land deed and the 'Corpse Sutra' from the table and tucked them into his chest.

The 'Corpse Sutra' felt cool to the touch, a cold current flowed into his body upon contact.

[Touching a special item, Deep Red Points count +50]

???

A look of joy appeared on Yi Chen's face.

Is there such a blessing?

"Shi Shoufu, rest in peace."

"That Wu Changshou; I guarantee that he won't live past three days."

"I'll make sure to deal with him before your seventh day after death."

"You can trust the humble Daoist's work—it's all about professionalism, and I'll expedite it for you."

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