Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 474

After eating the offerings from the Great Emperor, Runsheng lost himself.

It can be said that during his time in the ghost town, Runsheng had long forgotten who he was; he was simply a dead body.

One body, lying dead, acting entirely on instinct.

At first, he instinctively tried not to let Yin Meng leave him; when Yin Meng was harmed by the little monk Jin Guang, he instinctively rushed out and smashed Jin Guang.

Before Yin Meng could remind Runsheng that the "Bodhisattva" had left the little monk's body, Runsheng released his grip on the monk's neck, sparing his life.

Xiao Yuan had taught him that unless absolutely necessary, he should not harm ordinary people and invite trouble.

The act of smashing open the hot pot restaurant door and making a phone call was to warn Xiao Yuan that there was danger there. Sitting at the hot pot table was to invite Yin Meng to eat hot pot. And then, there was the constant work of making coffins these past few days.

He had clearly lost control, yet he continued to follow another kind of inertia.

These days, Yin Meng has been filled with mixed feelings, including guilt, unease, fear, and anxiety, but also an irrepressible sweetness.

She would look at Runsheng's current state, crying and then inexplicably laughing, and she felt like she was a lunatic.

There's a saying that goes, "I'd rather die than not be good to you."

This is something that normal people cannot verify.

But even though Runsheng had died, he was still kind to her.

There are no beautiful scenes, no elaborate musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, or painting; only a profound and down-to-earth quality that permeates to the core and even transcends life and death.

Moreover, not only Yin Meng, but everyone present, knowing that Runsheng was out of control, did not think that Runsheng would pose a danger.

In the past, whenever Xiao Yuan was about to venture into dangerous territory, Tan Wenbin and Shuyou would prepare in advance. But this time, even when Xiao Yuan was right in front of "death," the two of them stood still.

It was as if everyone was unconditionally certain that Runsheng would never hurt Xiaoyuan.

Even Li Zhuiyuan was convinced of this, so he abandoned the method of setting up a plan and directly resorted to the most primitive irrational awakening.

When Runsheng uttered the word "Xiaoyuan," it signified that the situation had officially reached a turning point.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Yin Meng: "Don't feel guilty. You didn't do anything wrong. This is a great opportunity for Runsheng."

Back in Little Hell, Li Zhuiyuan had already discovered Runsheng's weakness after he forced his seedlings to grow too fast.

Admittedly, Runsheng is already very strong now, but he is currently looking for shortcomings by referring to Uncle Qin.

Given the same skill level and the same environment, if it were Uncle Qin, he could fight from beginning to end, constantly adjusting himself according to different situations. Runsheng, on the other hand, couldn't do that. He relied on the same template from start to finish, and eventually his body couldn't take it anymore.

Li Zhuiyuan's idea at the time was to catch some corresponding evil spirits for Runsheng to nourish his body after returning.

As a result, Yin Meng delivered a huge blow.

Yeah, I overdid it.

Fortunately, Runsheng has now been awakened, so I don't need to help him release the pressure. Now, I just need to wait for Runsheng's self-awareness to gradually recover and regain control, and then the food he ate this time will not be wasted.

However, this method of stimulating the blood can only be used once for each type of item. Even if Yin Meng continues to steal offerings from the Great Emperor, it can only satisfy Run Sheng's appetite.

Unless next time, Runsheng eats not the Emperor's sacrificial food, but the Emperor's...

In short, we can put Runsheng's matter aside for now, but we need to take care of other things first.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and looked at the Buddhist and Taoist master and disciple sitting close together at the door.

Hell is now in a three-way standoff, with the Great Emperor holding an absolute advantage, but he is no longer able to steadily suppress the other two as he once did.

The bodhisattva and the tomb owner not only gained more breathing space in hell, but this aura could even spread to the ghost city.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that this overflow of conflict was not something the emperor deliberately allowed.

Yin Meng's ability to successfully steal the offerings must have been facilitated by the Emperor's tacit approval.

The tomb owner entrusted his vision to the pottery figurine, his gaze sweeping over the coffin shop, forming a thick fog barrier that separated the out-of-control Runsheng from the living. This was not an act of targeting or suppression, but rather a benevolent act of protection.

Even if Runsheng doesn't harm ordinary people, his neighbors will still be "killed" one by one.

Just like the little oriole back then, even if she didn't kill anyone, just by staying near her grandparents' house, she could bring them endless bad luck.

Moreover, the intense resentment emanating from Runsheng at this moment is far beyond anything the little oriole of the past could ever have imagined.

The Emperor sent food, and the tomb owner acted like a kind-hearted person. Only one Bodhisattva was here, trying to seduce his companion.

Both sides are trying to curry favor with me, while the Bodhisattva is busy undermining my relationship.

And the digging was so rough?
Li Zhuiyuan said, "Brother Binbin, Ayou, take the divine tablets of the Two Generals of Increase and Loss, let's go to hell."

Tan Wenbin placed the armored clay figurine on the shop counter and left with Brother Xiaoyuan.

Ah Li stayed in the shop.

In a daze, Runsheng put down his tools and walked out of the coffin shop.

As long as the armored clay figurine remains intact, the fog barrier will remain.

When Runsheng walked out, he was met with an empty ghost street.

Runsheng walked up to a shop, reached out, and smashed open the door. It was a small convenience store.

When Runsheng returned to the coffin shop, he was carrying two cans of Jianlibao and two straws.

After placing the drink on the counter next to Ah Li, he continued making the coffin.

"Pfft!"

Ah Li opened the drink, inserted a straw, and took a sip.

It's bitter.

It carried a smell of paper ash.

It's very unpalatable.

But the girl's dimples appeared as she looked at another can on the counter. She was waiting for the boy to come back, and after drinking it, she could keep a special can of Jianlibao.

The fog separated the dead from the living, but materially they were connected.

For example, when the hot pot restaurant opened for business the next day, the door panel cracked due to rot as soon as the owner touched it. And the furniture store in the alley didn't discover that all the wood stored there had been eaten away by insects and ants into sawdust until the third day when they checked the inventory.

This is also why the master and apprentice at the door were so hungry.

It wasn't that they couldn't find food, but rather that anything they found in the thick fog was unpalatable to them; it was more like poison than food.

Yin Meng pointed at them to A Li, and A Li nodded.

Yin Meng opened A Li's hiking backpack, took out some compressed biscuits, thought for a moment, put most of them back, and handed them only a small portion, along with two bottles of water.

Yang Banxian paused for a moment, then took the package, opened it, tasted a little himself, and after confirming that it was edible, immediately fed it to his apprentice.

The apprentice was already somewhat out of it, wolfing down his food. Yang Banxian caught the crumbs under the apprentice's mouth with both hands, and after the apprentice finished eating, he put the crumbs into his own mouth.

A relieved smile appeared on Yang Bansian's face. He was about to recall his first encounter with his apprentice, when the boy was just a little kid...

Just as things were getting started and the atmosphere hadn't even begun to build, it was interrupted by the apprentice's wailing.

It's true that loving this stuff can easily lead to good intentions gone wrong. The compressed biscuits that were meant to be shared between two people were eaten by one person, and with the addition of water, even the apprentice couldn't handle it.

"Master, my stomach is so bloated and I feel so uncomfortable."

……

Taking advantage of the thick fog, Li Zhuiyuan set up an altar at the top of Ghost Street and summoned the Gate of Hell.

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou each held a divine tablet, closed their eyes, activated their Yin-walking technique, and followed Brother Xiaoyuan into the underworld.

Although he had been a ghost general for a long time, this was Lin Shuyou's first time actually going down into hell, and he found everything strange and wonderful.

Ah You: "Brother Bin, the underworld is really, really big."

Tan Wenbin: "You got into university through your own college entrance exam, can't you at least broaden your Chinese vocabulary?"

Ayou: "I was just shocked, hehe, I'm at a loss for words."

"Greetings, Young Master!"

"Greetings, Young Master!"

The sound of countless ghosts paying homage, like a thunderclap and a roaring sea, could be heard.

This scene gave even seasoned Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin a chilling feeling, as if their original selves, who were still outside, were getting goosebumps.

The Lesser Hell is called the Lesser Hell because it is truly tiny compared to the real Fengdu Hell.

Thanks to the Emperor's clear support, Li Zhuiyuan, the young ruler of Fengdu, saw his awkward position in the underworld greatly improved.

The ghost officials and spirits in the underworld no longer regard Shaojun Mansion as a taboo they dare not touch, and as a result, the status of the Zhao surname ghost officials in Shaojun Mansion has also risen.

The reputation of the Zhao family of Jiujiang for their skillful management in the underworld was indeed well-deserved; given the opportunity, they could truly make a name for themselves.

With the support of Fengdu Shaojun, currently the most powerful figure in the underworld, it's not an exaggeration to say that the Zhao family has "connections and influence" in the underground world.

In any case, whether it was detaining evil spirits or getting approvals from other underworld offices, they could do it all smoothly, and no ghost dared to stop them.

Li Zhuiyuan glanced at the motionless Yellow Springs hanging in the middle, and then looked down at the Buddhist chanting emanating from the lowest levels, gaining a clearer understanding of the current layout of the underworld.

Lin Shuyou: "Wow, is this our Little Yuan's mansion?"

The place where Li Zhuiyuan once drew the map on the ground is now occupied by a towering and majestic building.

"Squeak..."

The main gate opened, and a group of Zhao clan ghost officials knelt on both sides to welcome them.

"Welcome back to the manor, young master."

"Welcome back to the manor, young master."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded to them and stepped inside.

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, after we die, will we live here?"

Tan Wenbin: "Would you like to pick out a room in advance?"

Lin Shuyou: "Is that okay? Uh, no, if we live here after we die, are we considered dead or still alive?"

Tan Wenbin: "It's sneaky."

Lin Shuyou: "Then forget it, it's better to die cleanly."

Li Zhuiyuan marked out another area in the Shaojun Mansion, drew a formation, and then instructed Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou to place the spirit tablets of the two generals, Zengshen and Shenshen, on it.

This matter could have been handled by Yin Meng, who could have even relayed a message to the Zhao clan's ghost officials in the Shaojun Mansion, but the Emperor forbade it.

It may seem like a hurdle, but from another perspective, isn't it also a form of emphasis?
The emperor hoped that he would often "come home" to visit. After making the arrangements, Li Zhuiyuan did not linger and left his residence.

At the entrance, there is a staircase leading directly from the gate of the Young Lord's Mansion to the highest level of the Underworld.

These steps are not for ghosts to climb, but rather a top-down certification of power and status.

At this moment, a group of Zhao family ghost officials escorted the evil spirits back to the mansion. These evil spirits were different from other evil spirits. Each of them was radiating Buddhist light. Although their faces were ferocious, they all had a Dharma seal between their eyebrows.

This is the best sacrificial material for the Guanjiangshou and Zhenjun system.

The theory is not difficult, and the method is also very simple, but to implement it is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

After all, not everyone is qualified to obtain authority from the Emperor of Fengdu to use the evil spirits of the underworld as firewood.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The Buddhist evil spirits being escorted suddenly went berserk and began running around and crashing into things.

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou immediately stood in front of Xiao Yuan to protect him.

Li Zhuiyuan reached out and pushed them away.

This is hell, where people's physical bodies are not here, so his greatest weakness here does not exist.

Of course, Li Zhuiyuan wasn't trying to show off. He saw that although the group of evil spirits seemed chaotic, their movements actually contained a hidden pattern and formed a formation.

The Zhao clan ghost officials in charge of escorting the goods had intended to make a good impression on the young lord, but they were surprised to find that the young lord had been fooled. They all took out their whips and tokens, ready to suppress the enemy.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand and waved gently.

The group of Zhao's ghost officials all withdrew.

Li Zhuiyuan watched as the group of Buddhist demons continued to roar and howl. By mapping their activity range to the ghost city, he could see a specific coordinate location. In addition, he could also read information such as time and number of people.

Bodhisattva, this is a gift being given.

The gift was given very subtly and tactfully.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the edge of the cliff outside Shaojun Mansion and looked down.

Even though the Emperor had already trampled her underfoot, the Bodhisattva still had to maintain her dignity.

"Let me take a look at the weight of this gift first."

……

The small boat drifted along.

A middle-aged man with a thick beard and hair is rowing a boat, and around his neck hangs a string of purple beaded Buddhist necklaces.

At the bow of the ship stood a refined man, dressed in a dark blue robe, exuding an otherworldly air.

Inside the cabin sat two old monks.

One monk wore an exquisite robe, and every ritual implement he carried was extremely luxurious; the other monk wore a robe full of patches, and his hands were picking lice out of his messy, bird's nest-like hair.

In front of the two old monks were a golden Bodhisattva statue and an ancient-style bronze mirror.

The impoverished monk caught a louse, tossed it into his mouth, and while chewing, said to the extravagant old monk before him:
"I feel uneasy about this trip. I've had this louse on my head for thirty years. I've always wanted to catch it, but it kept running away. But today, it seemed to give up and let me catch it on its own, as if it didn't want to live anymore."

The extravagant old monk smiled slightly: "Jiejian, it's getting closer to Buddha, letting go of its attachments."

Jiejian smiled and said, "I hope so."

Abstaining from extravagance: "Your heart is not sincere."

Jiejian said: "It's not that I'm not sincere, but that there are too many things to do. The Qin and Liu temples have not been destroyed, and now they are being revived. For my Qinglong Temple, this is a great calamity."

Jieshe: "Therefore, we need to welcome the Bodhisattva back to the temple, to add to the foundation of our Qinglong Temple, so that we can better deal with the disasters that will follow in the martial arts world."

Jiejian said, "It's a pity that we can only welcome back a portion of them. If the Bodhisattvas of their heyday were willing to take up their seats at my Qinglong Temple, what would we have to fear even if it were a calamity for the revival of Qin and Liu?"

Jieshe: "That's enough. We can still welcome back a portion. If it were a Bodhisattva in his prime, how could he be willing to dismantle his Dharma body and place it in a mortal temple for us to meditate on?"

Jiejian raised his head and said, "This generation is indeed different from the past. This generation of the Jiang can be called an era of great contention. It is the one who lit the lamp in my temple..."

Abstinence: "Aren't those who light lamps in my temple still on the river?"

Jiejian: "Ha, that traitor who sweeps the Demon Suppression Tower?"

Jieshe: "Whether he is a rebel or not is not for you or me to decide. It depends on the will of those above and his fate. In the current situation, the temple cannot regard him as a rebel. On this river, Qinglong Temple must have a foothold. The best way is still to join forces on the river, just like in the past, to suppress the Qin Liu family."

Jiejian called out, "Juetong, Jueyu?"

The refined-looking man standing at the bow and the one punting the boat responded in unison:

"Uncle Master."

"Let's land first and explore the way."

"Yes, uncle."

Jue Tong walked across the river, while Jue Yu pushed off with a bamboo pole, rising into the air. The two landed at the Ghost City Wharf at the same time.

As soon as they landed, a group of lay disciples appeared from the shadows on both sides, holding small golden Buddhas and small bronze mirrors.

"Reporting to our two masters, we have successfully invoked the Bodhisattva's Dharma body to descend, but the Bodhisattva did not possess us, but instead resided in another person within the ghost city."

Juetong said, “That is because your affinity with Buddhism is not enough. There is someone here with great affinity with Buddhism. Find out who it is and I will bring him back to the temple.”

"Reporting to our commander, although we have searched diligently, it seems to have vanished into the ghost town and we have been unable to find it. We have failed in our mission and ask for your punishment."

Jueyu: "It's alright. Those with a great affinity for the Buddha are not easy to find. The more difficult it is to find them, the more it proves that they have a connection with the Buddha."

Jue Tong and Jue Yu exchanged a glance and then sent a message to their two senior uncles on the ship behind them.

Inside the ship.

Jieshe: "Things went very smoothly. It seems that we have accomplished our mission this time."

Jiejian: "But this is Fengdu after all. What we are about to enter is a ghost town."

Jie She: "The Ming family has already sent word that the Fengdu Emperor will only intervene once for that person, and that person is not a true successor of Fengdu. The Emperor will no longer interfere in Jianghu affairs. After all, Heaven has eyes, and no one can act recklessly."

Furthermore, the fact that the Bodhisattva was able to leave part of his Dharma body from the underworld also indicates that the Great Emperor suffered great losses after attacking the Ming family, so there is nothing to worry about.

I'll go first.

He abandoned extravagance, disembarked from the boat, and leaped ashore.

Jiejian stood up, but instead of leaving the boat immediately, he walked to the stern.

"Knowing you've been following me all this way, shouldn't you show yourself now?"

A white-robed monk emerged from beneath the water at the stern of the boat; it was none other than the monk Yayoi.

Jiejian: "What are you trying to do?"

Monk Yayoi: "Please, Uncle Master, stay away from Fengdu."

Jiejian: "Hehe, let's not even talk about whether you are a traitor for lighting lamps without permission and killing your fellow disciples. Even if you are the current orthodox lamp-lighter of my Qinglong Temple, you are not qualified to say such things at this time."

We have been summoned by the Bodhisattva to guide the Bodhisattva's Dharma body back to the temple. What, do you think the Bodhisattva would harm us?

The monk Yayoi said, "Buddha cannot be spoken of."

Jiejian: "You just stay on the river and watch. Don't get too close, so as not to cause any misunderstandings. The temple is not targeting you, but that doesn't mean the temple doesn't know what kind of person you really are."

If you continue to follow suit, don't blame me for cleaning house!

The monk Yayoi said, "May Buddha have mercy."

After reciting the Buddhist chant, the monk Yayoi submerged back into the water.

Jiejian picked up the golden statue of the Bodhisattva and the bronze mirror, then pushed off with his feet, accelerating the small boat to the dock.

When he came ashore, the lay disciples around him bowed in unison: "Greetings, Grandmaster Uncle."

Abstaining from extravagance: "Let's guide them."

Jiejian nodded, handed the bronze mirror to Jieshe, and then held the golden Buddha in front of him while Jieshe held the bronze mirror to his side.

A beam of Buddha's light emanated from within Ghost Street, first shining on the bronze mirror, then reflecting off the golden Buddha, making the golden Buddha shine brilliantly.

A lay disciple said, "Grandmaster Uncle, the person who was possessed by the Bodhisattva last time disappeared right there."

Jieshe smiled and said, "Very good. It seems that the Bodhisattva is not only willing to take a seat in our temple, but has also selected an excellent disciple for our temple."

Jiejian and Jieshe walked side by side, with Juetong and Jueyu on either side, and a group of lay disciples behind them. The group walked up Ghost Street, heading towards the place where the Buddha's light was released.

Jue Tong: "The one with the great affinity with the Buddha is inside."

Jueyu: "The Yin family's coffin shop? Yin..."

Abstaining from extravagance: "A Bodhisattva emerges from hell, just as one emerges from a coffin broken open in the underworld. This place is fitting, so fitting!"

The group walked to the coffin shop and stood at the door.

Sitting on a chair in the shop was a young man, radiating Buddhist light. He was the source of this Buddhist light tonight.

Such dazzling Buddha light was already a clear indication, and coupled with the boy's bright eyes, white teeth, and jade-like complexion, he was almost certainly a Buddhist disciple.

Juetong: "I want to take him as my personal disciple."

Jueyu: "I'll collect it."

Abstain from frugality: "Noisy."

Jieshe: "Hehe, although I am old, I am still willing to train another disciple for my temple."

As he spoke, Jie She smiled kindly and asked the boy sitting in the shop:
"Child, you have a karmic connection with Buddha. What is your worldly name?"

Li Zhuiyuan answered while fiddling with the armored clay figurine beside him:

"Li Zhuiyuan."

Jieshe: "Tracing back to the past? Hehe, what a good name..."

The next moment, Jie She's smile froze, and the other monks around him also looked thoughtful.

This name,
Why does that sound so familiar?

---

There will be another chapter tomorrow morning.

(End of this chapter)