Becoming a martial arts god starting from the mortician.

The next day, Shen Qi got up very early.

He put on thick clothes, found a clean white cloth, and wrapped his right hand around and around, making sure it was completely covered.

Since you've put up a sign, you're bound to have some injuries on your hands.

After tidying up, he pushed open the courtyard gate and went out onto the street.

Although there were few pedestrians on the street, a few breakfast stalls were still set up.

After all, if businesses don't open, there's no food to eat. No matter how anxious people are, life still has to go on.

Passing by a street corner stall selling steamed buns, plumes of steam rose straight up.

"Hey, Seventh Brother!" The owner, a chubby fellow, was kneading dough when he greeted him warmly, "Two, you think? Freshly steamed big meat buns!"

Shen Qi stopped and glanced at the steamed buns in the steamer, each as big as an adult man's palm.

My stomach growled.

Since he completely assimilated Wang Laosan's life essence, his appetite has increased significantly.

I used to be unable to finish a single steamed bun, but now I can go through two or three and it's like I haven't eaten anything at all.

Shen Qi thought for a moment.

"I want four."

The boss paused in kneading the dough, his eyes widening in surprise.

As he wrapped the buns in oiled paper, he kept talking: "Wow! Seventh Brother, your appetite has increased! You can eat four in one meal now!"

The steaming hot buns were handed to me, emitting an enticing aroma.

Shen Qi paid with a copper coin and casually made up a lie: "I got a new prescription from Doctor Li, and my appetite has improved a lot."

"Dr. Li's medical skills are unparalleled, so you should eat more to make up for what you missed before!" The shopkeeper smiled and accepted the coins.

Shen Qi nodded and took a bite of the steamed bun.

Thin skin, generous filling, and fragrant meat.

It really smells good.

He ate as he strolled down the street.

In the years that followed, he rarely had the opportunity to walk on the street like this.

After all, just staying alive had exhausted all his strength. How could he possibly have the mind to look at the street scene?

But he has to come out now.

Zhou Wenyuan made it very clear last night that he wanted him as bait.

If the bait doesn't show itself, how will the fish take the bait?

At this moment, Zhou Wenyuan must have concealed his inner energy and was watching him from the shadows.

The murderer who practiced evil arts may be lurking in the shadows, under some eaves or behind some wall.

Shen Qi swallowed a mouthful of steamed bun, his expression calm.

After wandering aimlessly for half an hour, Shen Qi strolled into the teahouse.

There weren't many tea drinkers in the morning, and the storyteller hadn't started singing yet.

Shen Qi chose a seat by the window and ordered a pot of cheap tea leaves.

Holding the warm teacup, he focused his attention on the casual conversation of the tea drinkers around him.

"I don't know what's wrong with the government," two merchants at the next table complained in hushed tones, their faces full of worry. "The city gates have been closed for so many days, allowing entry but not exit! If this shipment of goods is stuck with me, my whole family will starve when I get back!"

"That's right, they've already stuffed a lot of money into my pocket, but they just won't budge."

Shen Qi's eyes flickered.

It's likely that Zhou Wenyuan used the privileges of the Observatory to directly order the city to be sealed off, aiming to trap the fish in a jar.

But what's the use?

The abilities of a martial artist are enough to overturn the understanding of ordinary people. Even if this murderer is not as good as Zhou Wenyuan, he must be stronger than Wang Laosan.

This wall can stop ordinary people, but it may not be able to stop martial artists.

Shen Qi stopped thinking about it and turned to listen to the sounds from the other table.

"Have you heard? Zhao the Cripple and Sun the Blacksmith still haven't been buried! They're just sitting there rotting in the mortuary!"

"It's been several days already, why hasn't he been buried yet?" the person next to him asked in surprise.

"How could that be! Without a proper encoffining, who would dare bury someone who died a violent death?" The neighbor, seeing someone else asking, suddenly became interested. "The other morticians in town took a look, and no matter how much money they offered, they all shook their heads, saying the death was too gruesome, the evil spirits were overwhelming, and touching it would cause one to have no descendants!"

"Is it really that strange?"

"Why would I lie to you! My wife told me his face is terrifying!" The neighbor took a sip of tea and continued, "If you ask me, the best mortician in our town is that Shen guy. He's skilled and daring. No matter how gruesome the death, he can handle it perfectly. If he hadn't injured his hand a few days ago..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the neighbor turned his head and saw Shen Qi drinking tea by the window.

The teahouse fell silent for a moment.

"Oh dear! Seventh Brother!" The neighbor chuckled awkwardly. "My mouth is so sharp... Are you here? Is your hand feeling better?"

Shen Qi put down his teacup, raised his right hand which was wrapped in a thick layer of white cloth, and was about to exchange a few polite words.

Two bailiffs rushed in.

His eyes were bloodshot and his face was full of anxiety.

The leader's gaze swept across the teahouse, and when he saw Shen Qi by the window, his eyes lit up.

"Seventh Brother! I've finally found you!"

The constable rushed over in three strides, grabbed Shen Qi and pressed down on the table in front of him, panting heavily.

"We spotted you on the street just now, and my brother and I chased after you. You were walking incredibly fast!"

Shen Qi leaned back subtly: "Gentlemen, what business do you have with me?"

"Hurry home, grab your tools, and come to the mortuary with me!" The bailiff stamped his feet in frustration. "If we don't collect Zhao the Cripple and Sun the Blacksmith's bodies soon, the magistrate will skin us alive!"

Shen Qi frowned deeply.

He raised his right hand, which was wrapped in white cloth, and sighed repeatedly, "Sir, it's not that I'm unwilling to do my work, but I accidentally injured my hand a few days ago and can't do this delicate work."

"No, Seventh Brother!" Another constable grabbed Shen Qi's arm urgently, smiling obsequiously. "We're begging you! Just straighten that ghost face a little and seal it in the coffin! It doesn't need to be as meticulous as usual!"

"The magistrate has decreed that this job will be paid ten taels of silver!" The leading constable held up ten fingers, gritted his teeth, and said, "If you think it's too little, my brother and I will add another two taels!"

The surrounding tea drinkers gasped.

Twelve taels of silver!

In Qingping Town, this is enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a year.

Shen Qi lowered her eyelids, concealing the light in her eyes.

Money is secondary.

He was thinking about the corpses of Zhao the Cripple and Sun the Blacksmith.

Both Wang Laosan and Wang Laosan died after their martial meridians were taken from them, yet Wang Laosan's life threads remained intact on his body. What about the other two? Did their life threads still remain?

Just when I was wondering what excuse I had to go see, the opportunity came knocking on my door.

Shen Qi looked troubled.

He looked at his bandaged right hand, then at the two constables who were so anxious they were about to kneel down.

"...Never mind."

He gritted his teeth, sighed, and stood up.

"Since you two officials have put it this way, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse. Let's go, I'll go back and get my tools."

"Seventh Brother! What a loyal friend!" The lead constable slammed his hand on the table, turned to his companion, and shouted, "Let's go! Protect Seventh Brother!"

Two constables flanked Shen Qi on either side, as if afraid he would run away, and escorted him out.

The neighbors in the teahouse watched the three leave, exchanging bewildered glances.

……