Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 65 The Corpse Mover

At the Ren family mansion, murmurs gradually rose around the mourning hall.

The fear on people's faces had not yet subsided, but their eyes gleamed with a strange light as they kept glancing at the young Taoist priest behind the altar.

The scene of the candlelight bursting forth flashed through everyone's minds like shooting stars.

Such extraordinary Yin-Yang techniques are rarely seen by ordinary people in their entire lives.

Not to mention, this was a highly skilled person performing a spell on Old Master Ren, who had risen from the dead after breaking open his coffin!
The combination of the two is simply unbelievable.

If it weren't for the fact that this was the Ren family's mourning hall, there would probably have been an uproar long ago.

Many people witnessed this scene.

In the near future, news will surely spread in Nanyang of a mysterious figure who can surpass the "Heavenly Goddess".

This is something even a fool could have predicted.

The strange creatures at the scene gradually went from being terrified to "excited," and they could talk about such bizarre things for a lifetime.
"Senior brother, what's going on with Daoist Yi??"

Ying Yu has the sharpest eyesight among the Tiankui disciples:

"The flames are just the surface; inside lies an extremely sophisticated internal energy technique. With a flick of the finger, the true energy is like a sword flying out. This is more subtle than ordinary palm strikes and cannot be used casually."

"My master said that the more skilled a person is, the more they value subtlety and nuance."

"In the martial arts world, those who can do this are either top-notch figures or masters of internal martial arts who are well-versed in powerful finger techniques."

Lu Wuxia praised in a low voice, "Master Yi is not very old, how can he be so amazing?"

"That's hard to say."

Ying Yu coughed and said, "Although there are many experts in Nanyang County, when it comes to true masters, there are few who can be compared with the number one master of the Daoist sect."

Lü Wuxia said irritably:
“Those are three grandmasters, who overshadow the contemporary masters, so naturally we can’t compare.”

Ying Yu replied:

"What I mean is that Taoism is mysterious, with its own classics and numerous schools. The Yi Daoist has long been hidden in the city, so his lineage must be extraordinary."

He coughed a few more times, still trying to figure out what was wrong with Old Master Ren.

Several fellow disciples quickly stepped forward and told him to be quiet.

After burning the paper offerings, Zhou Yi put down the Yin-Yang flag in his hand.

Seeing that Ren Jingfu was about to call his relatives to pay their respects, he quickly stepped forward.

“Master Ren, there’s no need for that. I have already set up the altar, and all I do is fulfill my duty.”

He was about to raise his hand to help.

Suddenly, his gaze swept to the side!
A man in gray was seen moving furtively, hurrying towards the outside.

"Stop him!"

Zhou Yi gave a low shout.

The disciples of Tiankui were influenced by his imposing manner and unconsciously obeyed his orders.

Lu Wuxia and her two fellow disciples were closer to the man in gray, so they gathered their strength and gave chase!
Each of the three ring-pommel swords blocked one side's retreat route.

Seeing the strange behavior of Old Master Ren this time, they dared not hold back in the slightest.

The wind from the blade forced the man in gray to a halt. He hastily pulled out two strange weapons from his waist, shaped like double axes.

He immediately lowered his shoulders and elbows, and used both axes to slash left and right, blocking the three blows.

"Dang Dang Dang~!"

The sound of weapons clashing grew louder and louder!

The man in gray had some skill, but he was no match for the three of them working together. In just ten moves, he had already sustained six more knife wounds.

Before the eleventh move was even finished, Lü Wuxia took advantage of her fellow disciples parrying the double axes on the left and right and thrust out a scalpel.

He slipped under the gray-clad woman's armpit, turned around, and circled behind her, grabbing her neck with one hand and holding a knife to her neck with the other.

"who are you?"

Lu Wuxia pressed down with her long sword, cutting a bloody gash on the gray-clad man's neck.

Judging from her appearance, she was a woman nearing forty, with an average appearance and a black mole on the tip of her nose.

"Humph!"

The woman in gray said:
"It's getting dark, and I need to go back to my old house in the east of the city. Your Tiankui Sect doesn't even know who I am, so what right do you have to draw your sword and injure me? Is Nanyang County some kind of backyard for the Tiankui Sect?"

"Why didn't you leave when things got chaotic earlier? Why are you leaving in such a hurry now?"

Zhou Yi stepped forward slowly:

"What do you mean by 'back garden'? The Tiankui Sect's actions at this moment are precisely on behalf of the Grand Leader to maintain stability in this region. If you have something to hide, what's wrong with stopping you?"

"Not bad!"

The two Tiankui disciples approached with knives drawn: "Stop talking nonsense and state your names."

Ren Jingfu frowned and strode over, suddenly recognizing the woman in gray: "You are..."

"Hey~!"

Suddenly, the woman in gray raised her double axes and slashed to her side and back!
Lu Wuxia jumped back, and in her haste, slit her throat with a knife: "She's asking for death!"

Zhou Yi looked at Ren Jingfu: "Patriarch Ren, who is she?"

Ren Jingfu said, "I have seen her. She is a corpse mover in the mortuary outside the city."

A corpse mover?
Lu Wuxia reached out and groped the woman in gray, but found nothing.

"Take him away—"

"Yes!"

Ren Jingfu ordered people to carry the body away and then dispatched seven or eight people to investigate the mortuary.

With so many people around, they invited Zhou Yi and his group of seven into the inner hall.

People were sent to clean up the mourning hall again.

The Ren family offered Ying Yu their finest medicine, and several physicians skilled in martial arts took turns treating him. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

If anything were to happen to Master Lü's eldest disciple, not only would I offend people, but I would also feel guilty.

"Master Yi, may I ask what caused this sudden change in my father's condition?"

Ren Jingfu completely changed his form of address.

When his father was alive, he often referred to Guan Yinzi, Wenzi, Liezi, Zhuangzi, and others as "true men," which was the most respectful and appropriate term he could use.

Ying Yu, who was healing with his eyes closed, also listened attentively.

The Tiankui disciples were even more curious, all looking at Zhou Yi with curiosity.

Zhou Yi countered, "Did Old Master Ren have any dealings with any martial arts masters before he passed away?" "I don't know either."

Ren Jingfu said:

“My father had been visiting friends, and the people he met were all familiar old friends. A few days ago, after returning from his trip, he suddenly went into seclusion. We thought his skills had improved, but he suddenly went into a qi deviation and died.”

"The old man was just pretending to be dead; he was hanging by a thread."

"What?!" The people in the inner hall were horrified.

Zhou Yi didn't keep us in suspense:

"However, that breath of true energy was not his original essence, but was injected by someone else. Old Master Ren's mind was affected by it, and he kept urging this breath of true energy, which also stimulated the true essence contained in his body. Therefore, his movements were stiff, but he was able to perform martial arts according to his instincts."

"You two have the same martial arts skills, but the styles you display are completely different, which is due to the influence of this true energy."

“No wonder the power doesn’t diminish even after death,” Ying Yu suddenly realized.

Ren Jingfu asked in bewilderment, "What kind of true energy is so strange?"

This time, without Zhou Yi having to speak, Lü Wuxia said, "My father said that innate true qi is subtle and profound, and can be combined with the spirit to have miraculous effects that are unimaginable to ordinary martial artists."

"Master Yi, have I said anything wrong?"

"Yes."

"If nothing unexpected happens, Old Master Ren was ambushed. Judging from the way the attacker used his internal energy, he doesn't seem to be a righteous person."

Zhou Yi picked up the teacup beside him: "Has your family offended any members of the demonic sect?"

The words "members of the Demonic Sect" startled Ren Jingfu. He hesitated for a long time before saying:
“Strange, my father was devoted to Taoism and did not concern himself with anything else. He was also a renowned figure in the martial arts world. If someone from the demonic sect wanted to assassinate him, they would not be an ordinary person.”

“We have no dealings with ordinary members of the Demonic Sect, let alone such a troublesome character.”

His appearance seemed genuine, making it difficult to find any clues for the time being.

Not long after, the retainers who went to investigate the mortuary returned on horseback.

They brought back two pieces of news.

“Master, we have found out that the woman in gray is named Zhai Zhen. She came here from the north two years ago. Her origins are a mystery. She usually does hard labor carrying corpses and rarely socializes.”

"besides."

The messenger hesitated and stammered.

"explain."

The retainer said, "There were six corpses in the mortuary. The corpse mover said they all disappeared the day before yesterday. He also said that the old master went to the mortuary more than ten days ago."

"What!!"

Ren Jingfu's forehead was beaded with sweat.

"I see, you go out."

"Yes."

Zhou Yi listened silently, remaining as still as a Zen master, and did not ask another question.

He was only there to perform a ritual; he was not a benevolent person who helps the world.

When I was raiding the Emperor's lair before, I had Little Phoenix by my side, which at least gave me some sense of security.

What kind of mortuary is this? It might just be the hideout of some evil sect leader.

It would be ridiculous if we couldn't even get into Nanyang City and were then chased down.

Ren Jingfu leaned back in his chair, his gaze inadvertently drifting towards Zhou Yi.

'This Master Yi is no ordinary person, but we've already received his help since we just met, and asking for more favors might create a rift. Hmm, I should seek help from my father's old friend first.'

After considering for a while, seeing that dusk had fallen, he asked the men to stay overnight.

There is another courtyard next to the mansion, which is used for living.

Since there was no risk of disrupting the funeral procession, Zhou Yi and the others did not refuse.

Firstly, Ying Yu was injured, and secondly, many unexpected events had occurred today, so traveling at night was not a safe option.

“Brother Jingfu,” Ying Yu, though younger than the head of the Ren family, was of the same generation, and solemnly reminded him, “If the situation becomes critical, you can seek out Yang Dalong.”

"Even the most powerful figures in the Demonic Sect wouldn't dare to directly confront the major forces of Nanyang."

Ren Jingfu forced a smile and gave a vague reply.

Zhou Yi, observing from the side, noticed that the head of the Ren family was still hesitant about "searching for Yang the Great Dragon Head".

Ying Yu mentioned visiting his master, Lü Chong.

Then I thought about it.

Although Yang Zhen was the top leader, he ultimately found it difficult to do everything personally.

The eight major powers in the prefecture alone are already a headache, not to mention that the Ren family is just a martial arts family on the outskirts of the prefecture.

Since Old Master Ren and Lü Chong had a past relationship, it would be more appropriate for Ren Jingfu to seek help from the Tiankui Sect.

The next day dawned.

Ren Jingfu gave gifts to everyone, and Zhou Yi carried a small bundle containing a monetary reward.

The head of the Ren family was extremely thorough in his work.

He escorted them all the way with dozens of retainers, only bidding them farewell when they reached the city wall.

Along the way, he attracted the attention of many passersby.

During their casual conversation along the way, Ren Jingfu only asked Zhou Yi whether he would stay in Nanyang for a long time.

I didn't inquire about any other background information.

Zhou Yi liked his way of doing things very much.

Unfortunately, nothing is certain yet, and even he himself doesn't know if he will stay in Nanyang for long.

Naturally, I cannot give a definite answer.

“Father, you seem to value Master Yi very much.”

At the gate of Sheqi City, the Ren family's two children looked at the dusty figures ahead, then turned to look at their father.

“Hmm,” Ren Jingfu said in a long voice, “This person is not simple.”

"But now is not the time to discuss this. Gather everyone and come with me to the mortuary."

"Yes!"

……

(End of this chapter)