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墨書 Inktalez
Living Funeral
Although these Black Souls engulfed us and tore at my soul, they did not truly harm me. In that moment when my soul was about to be ripped away, I felt a Dragon's Roar resonate within my body.
The Dragon's Roar echoed through me, but only I could hear it.
Finally, I let out a roar, and the Dragon's Roar burst forth from my mouth. The Black Souls were immediately pushed back, creating a space around us. Seizing the moment, Gao Ling shouted, "You two grab the rope and climb up together!"
At that moment, neither Hu Qingming nor I hesitated; we grabbed the rope and began to ascend. Zhang Xun and Gao Ling struggled to hold onto the rope above us. By the time the Black Souls regrouped, we had already climbed to safety.
"We're almost out!" Gao Ling called out.
I immediately sat down cross-legged, separated my wrists, and began to drip blood into the space below while murmuring, "With this blood, I bind ten thousand souls."
The blood slowly solidified into beads, emitting a transparent light that suppressed all the approaching Black Souls. Zhang Xun quickly found something to seal the exit and placed several Yellow Talismans, then began to fill in the earth.
Hu Qingming remarked, "Filling in the earth is even more effective because this soil has buried countless dead."
Since Hu Qingming said so, we naturally intensified our efforts to fill the pit. Once it was filled, a mound appeared. We three were panting heavily. Gao Ling said this was the most exhausting job she had ever done.
I turned to Gao Ling and asked, "Can you still handle this job?"
After my words fell, Gao Ling paused for a few seconds before replying, "It seems I can't anymore. That damn Mr. Xu, who knows what he was thinking."
I replied that with so many people dead here this time, we needed to figure out how to explain it.
Zhang Xun stated that life and death are fated; we are not murderers, so it's not our responsibility to explain. Gao Ling added that those were people she had brought out.
After a moment of silence, Hu Qingming suddenly interjected, "I have a way. I can summon their souls and let them return home to explain to their families since their fates are already sealed."
I let out a sound of acknowledgment.
Hu Qingming quickly began the summoning ritual. He sat cross-legged on the ground, muttering something under his breath. As he chanted, over twenty souls of a ghostly hue emerged from the graveyard. Once they appeared, they stood before us, each wearing a look of despair.
Gao Ling said, "You can't blame me for your deaths."
The souls remained silent, but their demise was indeed due to their overwhelming greed.
Hu Qingming then asked us, "Do you have anything to say to them?" I shook my head, indicating that I had nothing to say. Zhang Xun naturally had nothing either. However, Gao Ling had something to say. She continued, "When you return, tell your families the cause of your deaths. Remember to be content and happy in your next life. Although I can't compensate you with money, I will burn plenty of Ghost Money for you. That's all I have to say."
The souls still wore expressions of despair.
After Gao Ling finished speaking, Hu Qingming said, "You should follow her advice. I will burn a talisman for each of you later."
Once Hu Qingming finished speaking, the despondent expressions on the souls' faces softened, and they gradually dispersed. With this matter settled, it was time for us to leave. I picked up the Book of Ten Thousand Ghosts, but I couldn't read the characters on it.
However, Li Qiang had mentioned that if one couldn't read the characters, they could ask Hu Qingming for help. Now that I had found him, I asked, "Can you translate these characters for me?"
Hu Qingming replied, "Others cannot see them; these things can only be understood by you." His response was straightforward.
I asked Hu Qingming what I should do then.
He said, "That depends on how you handle it. When you're able to understand it, you will eventually comprehend it."
Damn it, I thought. Hu Qingming was being cryptic after coming out of there for so long. What was the point of being vague at this stage? If I could access the Yin-Yang Ghost Path and bring these things along, that would be even better.
I told Hu Qingming, "Just be direct with me; there's no need for riddles. You've been trapped in there for so long; why play games now?"
Hu Qingming replied, "Chen Fei, I don't want to be vague either, but I can't make sense of what's written here. I was watching over you back then."
I: ...
At this point, there was nothing good left to say.
Hu Qingming said, "The Book of Ten Thousand Ghosts consists of forty-nine pieces in total, and the most important one is hidden inside you."
After Hu Qingming finished speaking, I took out a piece and asked, "Is this it?"
Hu Qingming glanced at it and replied, "No, that's a golden one."
I told Hu Qingming, "This piece is the one I took from my body."
Hu Qingming said, "Chen Fei, I wouldn't lie to you. That isn't the piece. If you don't believe me, count them; there are only forty-eight pieces here." At that moment, a bright moon hung above us, and the bonfire outside had not yet extinguished. We began to count, and before long, we confirmed that there were indeed only forty-eight pieces, including the one I had.
If that piece is golden, could it have been taken by Jiang Changsheng? Although Jiang Changsheng saved me last time, he had also come into contact with me. So could it be in his possession?
Thinking this way, I asked Hu Qingming, "Is it possible that someone else took the other piece?"
Hu Qingming replied, "Impossible. You never told anyone where the golden Book of Ten Thousand Ghosts was. You even laughed about it being your biggest secret."
"Really? I can't seem to remember."
Hu Qingming said, "If you can't remember, just take your time! Let's leave this place first."
I agreed. I wrapped up the Book of Ten Thousand Ghosts and then we left. When we got home, Gao Ling called Mr. Xu. It was late at night, but Mr. Xu answered almost immediately. Gao Ling didn't mention what happened tonight; she only said that the funeral might not be able to proceed and requested a refund of the deposit.
Mr. Xu on the other end said it wasn't possible. Gao Ling switched to speakerphone.
Gao Ling asked, "So what do you want to do?"
"Mr. Xu said, 'The funeral will proceed as scheduled, but you can choose the location.'"
Gao Ling was stunned for a few seconds and asked, "Really?"
"Of course, I keep my word. However, due to the falling of the black star tonight, the location needs to be changed. You all can decide where it will be, but it must be nearby."
Gao Ling glanced at me, seeking my opinion. I nodded slightly. Since his demands weren't too high, it was best to go along with him. Gao Ling smiled and agreed to handle it. Mr. Xu exchanged a few more words before concluding, "Alright, it's settled then."
After hanging up the phone, Gao Ling remarked that Mr. Xu was quite understanding and considerate.
I responded with a hum, not realizing anything was amiss, but Zhang Xun interjected, "Does he really speak so kindly?"
I thought back to Mr. Xu's delicate demeanor and replied, "It doesn't seem like it."
"Did you notice that he seems to believe in a fortune teller?"
Gao Ling shrugged it off, saying, "What's the big deal? I've seen plenty of that. The richer people get, the more they fear death and become superstitious. This guy probably wants to hold a living burial because he heard from a fortune teller that living or dying could offset his fate. Wealthy people aren't short on money; they just believe in this nonsense. Those con artists make more money than we do."
Gao Ling's words made sense to me, so I didn't think much more about it.
Nian Chen was sitting with Bai when Nian Chen spoke up, asking if things were going poorly. I replied with a hum and mentioned some minor issues.
I suggested to Nian Chen that Bai should go to sleep. Nian Chen agreed, and then I turned to Hu Qingming and said, "Let me help you change into some new clothes." At that moment, Hu Qingming's brocade robe was in tatters.
Hu Qingming nodded, and I helped him into one of my outfits. After putting it on, he remarked, "I feel kind of strange."
I replied, "It's your lack of clothing that makes us feel strange."
Hu Qingming responded with an "oh" and changed into the clothes I provided. I then asked him if he had anything he wanted to say to me. Hu Qingming inquired, "What do you want to hear?"
I said, is this the point? The point is what you want, right? Hu Qingming was quite straightforward and directly told me that he had nothing to discuss with me. I was instantly left speechless; after being locked away for who knows how long, he came out with nothing to say to me.
Hu Qingming said, "Some things still need to wait until the right moment arrives. Then it will happen naturally."
His words left me confused. I asked Hu Qingming, "What kind of person was Jiang Changsheng back then?"
From what Nian Chen had said, Jiang Changsheng didn't seem like a good person. After I finished speaking, I waited for Hu Qingming's response. He replied, "I'll find a way for you two to meet."
I was at a loss for words...
This guy was just impossible to communicate with; perhaps he had been buried underground for too long.
Hu Qingming decided to take a shower, so I led him to the bathroom. Afterward, he had no choice but to sleep with me. Fortunately, we slept soundly that night and didn’t wake up until noon. When I got up, Gao Ling said, "I need to head out for a bit. Fei, you should come with me. Mr. Xu wants to talk with us."
I had just gotten up and agreed. Gao Ling added that it was a good opportunity to get the car back. We set off together and arrived at a high-end hotel. Gao Ling mentioned looking for Mr. Xu, and the staff quickly understood and led us to Mr. Xu's private room. The room was large and luxurious, and inside sat two people: Mr. Xu and someone I didn't recognize.
I had never seen him before and asked Gao Ling if she knew him. She replied that she hadn't seen him either and guessed he was probably one of those con artists from the underworld.
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