Gou Zai, a corpse sewn into a spirit in a mortuary during the Republic of China era, became a spirit

Xie An's words were like a stone thrown into stagnant water; they didn't create splashes, but rather silence.

Inside the cave, the bundle of Hanyang rifles, haphazardly tied with vines, lay heavily on the muddy ground.

For people like Xu Chun and Zhang Da, this thing had always only appeared on the shoulders of patrolmen, the waists of tax collectors, or... the dark hole pointing to their foreheads.

It is an extension of "the government," a deadly iron lump.

Nobody ever imagined... that one day they would pick up this thing and take someone's life.

Now, the young master wants them to pick it up. No wonder everyone is having trouble understanding it.

Li Erniu was the first to move. He swallowed hard, walked to the gun bundle, squatted down, his fingers trembling slightly, but he resolutely untied a vine and grasped the wooden stock of a gun.

It was cold and heavy to the touch, making his wrist feel sluggish.

He gritted his teeth and picked it up, the gun pointed at the ground, his movements clumsy as if he were holding a hot iron doll.

"My father...sold me." Li Erniu's voice wasn't loud, but every word was emphasized. "The shopkeeper burned the contract and said, 'Erniu, from now on you'll live standing up. Live standing up...'"

His eyes were a little red, and when he grinned, he revealed a set of not-so-perfect teeth. "I used to think that living upright meant standing tall and carrying a coffin, without stealing or robbing. Now I know that in this world, if you want to live upright, you first need to have something that can make others lie down!"

He awkwardly fiddled with the bolt, the metallic "click" sending a shiver down his spine, and his eyes brightened.

Liu Hu walked over, picked up a gun, and skillfully ran his fingers over the barrel to inspect the bolt. He was a trained fighter who had seen blood, so he wasn't unfamiliar with this deadly weapon.

"The shopkeeper saved my life," Liu Hu's voice seemed to be squeezed out of his chest. "Back then, I was so hungry that I stole offerings and almost got beaten to death. The shopkeeper said, 'Kid, eat a proper meal.' I ate that meal until I died."

With a "clack," he pulled back the bolt, then "click," his movements clean and efficient. "Before, this meal was the strength to carry a coffin, the courage to challenge the village. From today onward, this meal is the bullet in my gun! Anyone who tries to take away the livelihood of our Qinghe Mortuary, I'll knock their teeth out first!"

Xu Chun and Zhang Da, the two veteran craftsmen, exchanged a glance and slowly stepped forward. Xu Chun wiped his hands on his clothes again and again before carefully touching the gunstock, as if it were not ironwood but a piece of red-hot charcoal. Zhang Da, on the other hand, silently picked up a rod and weighed it in his hand.

Xu Chun touched the cold gun barrel, his voice hoarse like an old bellows: "We are both childless, without any children. We used to work as coffin bearers, but we hurt our backs and were kicked out. It was the shopkeeper who took us in and gave us a hot meal."

The coffin lid is our sleeping mat, the mortuary is our roof. Where will we sleep now that we're gone? Before, we were afraid of trouble, we avoided trouble, but now… there's nowhere to hide. Anyone who wants to tear down our Qinghe Mortuary will have to ask the old man's weapon first!

Zhang Da didn't speak, but slammed the butt of his rifle heavily on the ground with a dull thud. Everything was understood without words.

Zhou Xuli stepped forward, stretched out his calloused and wrinkled hands, grasped Xie An's arm, and squeezed it hard.

"Shoucheng, I came to the manor at fifteen and learned the 'Commentary on Funeral Rites' from the old master, and I learned to identify coffin wood. In my life, I've sewn more corpses than I've seen living people. This place... has long been my home."

He released his grip, finally bent down, and picked up a rifle. The weight of the gun made his thin shoulders sag slightly, but he tried to straighten his perpetually hunched back.

"Now that my home is collapsing, why would I run away?" he muttered, as if speaking to himself, yet also declaring to everyone, "Before, I used to sew up the dead with needle and thread, hoping for a complete corpse and peace of mind. Today, I've changed my tools... If I can't sew up the dead, then I'll try to break the bones of those 'living ghosts' who don't let the living rest in peace!"

Xie Bingxiang looked at these men who had been with him for most of his life, who were usually honest and even a little timid. As they picked up those heavy iron tools one by one, and listened to the words that came out of their mouths, full of blood and determination, he felt as if something was tightly gripping his heart, burning hot.

He walked over to his son and patted Xie An's shoulder heavily: "Good, good, good."

The three "good" characters seem simple, yet they seem to contain a thousand words—worry, fear, heartache, and a heavy sense of recognition forced out in a desperate situation.

Xie An felt the strength of his father's hand, his gaze sweeping over the increasingly different men before him, and spoke:

"Shen Qianjun is about to lead his men into the mountains for a hunt. I can't say for sure that I can lead everyone to safety. I also know that none of you have used this before, but there's always a first time. If we really get into a desperate situation, the gun will be our last resort."

Liu Hu tightened his grip on the gun handle and said fiercely, "Young Master, say the word, and we'll rush out and fight those thugs right now."

"Count me in."

"I am Xu Chun."

"I am Zhang Da."

Seeing the resolute and ruthless look in everyone's eyes, Xie An nodded slightly: "It's not time yet. I gave everyone guns to prevent extreme situations from occurring, and also for the future of our mortuary. You will continue to stay here. If the enemy doesn't come here, don't fire, so as not to expose your position."

Everyone was stunned. They thought the young master had brandished a gun to go out and fight Shen Qianjun to the death. Unexpectedly…

Li Erniu asked curiously, "Young Master, you're letting everyone stay here, what about you?"

Liu Hu said, "Young master, more guns mean more help. Don't try to shoulder everything by yourself."

Xie An didn't speak, but walked to the marble side.

Suddenly, he raised his right hand, his muscles and bones bulging and cracking. He then slammed his fist into the stone.

Bang.

The thick marble was smashed open, creating several cracks, and soon collapsed and shattered.

"Going out rashly is no different from sending yourself to your deaths. Stay here and wait."

Leaving behind a message, Xie An shouldered a Hanyang-made rifle, tucked a pistol into his waistband, and strode out of the cave.

The cave was completely silent; everyone stared wide-eyed at the shattered rocks, utterly incredulous.

Li Erniu went over and touched the stone, even punching it twice before letting out a cry of pain. "Brother Hu, you've practiced martial arts. What's the trick behind the young master's move?"

Liu Hu finally recovered from his shock: "The tendons are taut and the muscles and bones are generating power—this is the third level of the Iron Bone Realm. Moreover, the young master's tendons and bones are resonating in unison; this is innate martial talent. Even against ordinary experts at the fourth level of the Five Organs Realm, he could put up a fight. The young master... is truly a divine being!"

Upon hearing this, everyone walked to the cave entrance, watching Xie An's departing figure with eyes filled with shock and fervor.

Although the situation is terrible, everyone has a strong intuition: the young master can make it!

Zhou Xuli helped Xie Bingxiang up, saying, "Shopkeeper, you have a fine son."

Xie Bingxiang gazed at the morning light streaming through the cave and murmured, "Shoucheng has probably suffered a lot these past few days while learning martial arts from Master Zhou..."

……

Xie An left the cave and headed straight for the riverbank.

Luo Bosi just sent me news about Snake Lao Er, and Xie An needs to go over there to make contact.

The sun rose at that moment, and the morning light filtered through the dense branches of the trees, casting circles of light on the ground.

Xie An was traveling along the riverbank when he suddenly heard footsteps in the distance, and the sound of two people whispering among themselves.

Xie An immediately stopped, leaned against a large camphor tree, and peeked out with half his head out.

Two soldiers in dark green uniforms were seen patrolling the woods, each carrying a Hanyang rifle.

Shen Qianjun's men have arrived!?

Xie An's heart tightened suddenly. He dared not be careless for the slightest and immediately activated Shadow, concealing his figure as he slowly approached...