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墨書 Inktalez
Living Funeral
Burial goods? Is it that simple? That's a life we're talking about! Zhang Fatty is dead, and now Zhang Fatty is truly gone.
I felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, especially remembering how Zhang Fatty had acted like a madman in his last moments to save me. That scene left a deep impression on me; Zhang Fatty was finished.
Zhang Xun let out a sound of acknowledgment, then took out a flask of liquor. Three incense sticks were lit, and ghost money was burned to complete the ritual.
We took Zhang Fatty's car and left the place. Zhang Xun didn't say a word. It wasn't until we were nearing the city that he finally spoke, "You came this time too." His tone was somewhat flat. Nian Chen nodded in response, without much small talk.
At that moment, I still felt a bit stifled inside, unsure of what to do. Zhang Xun drove, and when we arrived, it was just getting light. Nian Chen and I went upstairs together. At that time, Gao Ling was still asleep. After I opened the door and we found a place to sit down, I couldn't shake off the feeling in my heart.
Perhaps it was just sadness; I didn't want anything bad to happen to someone who had died. How could I not feel sorrow?
I had previously suspected there might be something wrong with Zhang Fatty, but now it seemed I had been mistaken. The atmosphere was heavy, and Nian Chen said to me, "Fei, the people and things you will face next may be even more dangerous."
I understood. I remembered Zhang Fatty's last words to me: to take good care of Nian Chen. Did Zhang Fatty have feelings for her? A hint of confusion lingered in my mind, but I knew that wasn't the main point.
I stood up and said I would wash my face. Then I headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on myself repeatedly. This unfamiliar body looked no different from before; I couldn't understand the significance of having exchanged so much for this new form.
Looking at my face in the mirror, I felt a fleeting sense of strangeness.
After washing my face, I sat there for a while. Eventually, Zhang Xun spoke up, saying if there was nothing else here, we should prepare to go to that building in two days.
Nian Chen replied, "No way! There are still several Ghost Gates that need to be opened. Chen Fei should go retrieve something."
At this point, Zhang Xun fell silent for a moment without saying anything. We sat there for quite some time until Gao Ling emerged from inside the room. He rubbed his eyes with his hands and immediately looked startled as he exclaimed, "Why are you all up so early?"
Gao Ling's gaze fell upon Nian Chen, and it was understandable; who wouldn't take a second look at a beautiful woman? Nian Chen truly was an extraordinary beauty.
Gao Ling asked, "Hey, who is this girl?"
I looked up at Gao Ling and replied, "She's my friend, Nian Chen." I gave a brief introduction since I didn't know much more.
Gao Ling chuckled lightly, but at that moment, Nian Chen turned to Zhang Xun and asked, "Is he the one you mentioned before?"
Zhang Xun nodded but didn't elaborate further.
Gao Ling quickly introduced herself, and Nian Chen politely smiled at her but didn't say much more.
Zhang Xun said, "Then let's wait a bit."
Nian Chen replied, "Wait a bit."
I couldn't quite grasp what they were talking about. After sitting for a while, Nian Chen glanced at Gao Ling and asked, "Is your father Gao Yao?"
Gao Ling hurriedly responded, "Yes! Do you know my father?" Her interest was piqued immediately. Nian Chen replied that she didn't really know him well but had met him once. Upon hearing this, Gao Ling laughed heartily, saying it was indeed fate.
With a smile on her lips, Nian Chen sat for a moment longer before saying, "I have to go now. Hopefully, we'll meet again next time."
Gao Ling's tone turned slightly disappointed as she said, "You're leaving so soon? Aren't you going to stay?"
Nian Chen shook her head. As she was leaving, she turned to me and said, "I'll come find you again."
I replied to Nian Chen, "Okay." I watched her leave, feeling a surge of questions I wanted to ask her but found myself unable to voice them at that moment. I sighed softly as Gao Ling patted my shoulder and said, "Why are you sighing so early in the morning?"
I said it was nothing, and Gao Ling handed me a cigarette. I took it, lit it up, took a puff, and said I was going out for a bit.
At that moment, it was around ten in the morning. Gao Ling said it was perfect timing and offered to go with me. "Where are you headed? I'll drive you," he added, and Zhang Xun decided to join us as well.
"I'm going to the Paper Offering Shop," I replied. Gao Ling frowned and said, "Why are we going to that ghostly place so early in the morning?" I explained to him, "It's the Ghost Festival. Where else would we go?" My tone might have been a bit harsh, but Zhang Xun didn’t mind and drove me to the Paper Offering Shop.
Once there, I spent quite a bit of money on various items, and after purchasing everything, I immediately burned them.
Gao Ling asked who I was burning them for. I replied that they were for a friend. He didn’t pry further but then mentioned, "Last night, Gao Qing called me about a business deal."
I looked at Gao Ling in surprise, curious if the family still discussed business matters. However, the image of Gao Qing popped into my mind, making it seem plausible. "What kind of business?" I asked.
Gao Ling replied, "It's not a big deal; it's just that the location is a bit far, and I'm not really keen on going." I didn’t respond, and he continued, "Gao Qing said it's something my father wants me to handle. But why should I be the one managing this exhausting task? It’s clearly favoritism." Despite all this talk, Gao Ling hadn’t gotten to the point yet.
I gradually lost my patience and stood up after finishing burning the items. "Let’s get in the car," I said.
Gao Ling acknowledged with a sound and continued, "The business this time is just helping out the fortune teller from back then."
"The fortune teller?"
"Yes! If it weren’t for that bastard telling me there was a dead person residing in my body back then, I wouldn’t have ended up like this! Besides, the pay isn’t much; what money does a poor fortune teller have?"
Gao Ling seemed somewhat frustrated at that moment. However, this was apparently the first task assigned by the family. Although he complained verbally, he didn’t refuse; it was clear he wanted us to accompany him. I murmured to myself about the fortune teller—could it be Jiang Changsheng? After all, Zhao Fan was involved too.
At that moment, Zhang Xun spoke up: "When are we going?" After he said that, Gao Ling paused for a few seconds before exclaiming in surprise, "Brother Zhang, are you interested?"
Zhang Xun nodded, "Yes." I looked at Zhang Xun in surprise. He had always held a prejudice against Gao Ling, but in a way, Gao Ling was also a key figure. Perhaps it was because of me that Zhang Xun had never done anything to Gao Ling.
Although Zhang Xun told me to stay away from Gao Ling, I didn’t follow his advice. In the end, Zhang Xun simply stayed by my side.
As it turned out, Gao Ling hadn’t done anything harmful to me so far. Maybe Zhang Xun's worries were unfounded. Gao Ling said he hadn't decided yet whether to go or not. Zhang Xun suggested that we should go together after the Ghost Festival with Chen Fei.
Gao Ling agreed, saying, "Alright, but don’t back out."
I replied that since Zhang Xun had already agreed, there was no way we would back out. Gao Ling smiled and mentioned that there was still one thing left to do tonight—the matter with the Taoist priest. Although Lin Xue had advised me not to go, I felt I should at least go once.
Moreover, I thought I could no longer keep this from Zhang Xun. Once we returned to Gao Ling's house, I would directly tell Zhang Xun about it.
However, to my surprise, Zhang Xun informed me that he had already known about it since the last time by the river. He added that he would go with me tonight.
I explained the situation regarding the ghost to him. Zhang Xun fell silent; the ghost wanted the coffin material, but what was the Taoist priest's reason for wanting me to see the coffin? Perhaps something else would happen tonight.
At noon, the three of us went out for a meal. Gao Ling seemed in a good mood, likely because we had agreed to accompany him. He had always sought his father's approval, and if he could handle this matter well, he would surely gain some recognition from his father.
After we finished eating, Fu Yan suddenly called me. On the phone, he said that Li Qiang wanted to see me one last time.
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