Twin female zombies come to the door: My lord, please have mercy!

10:00 AM, first floor lobby.

The rain outside showed no signs of letting up, and there were very few pedestrians on the street.

The roller shutter door of the funeral parlor was half-open, letting in a few wisps of damp, chilly air.

Lin Ye sat at the octagonal table, with an old-fashioned purple clay tea set he had found at the ghost market in front of him.

On the small red clay stove, a pot of spring water was bubbling and making a "glug-glug" sound.

He retrieved the black token he had picked up on the Bright Moon cruise ship the previous night from the system space.

The token was neither gold nor wood, and it was icy to the touch. The front was engraved with a crescent-shaped blood moon, and the back was a hideous, dark character "煞" (sha).

This [Yinshan Sect Secret Order] faintly retains an unpleasant earthy and putrid smell.

"My lord, the array pattern on this plaque is a kind of interlocking sound transmission array."

Leng Yue carried a plate of freshly made osmanthus cakes out of the backyard kitchen.

She changed into an elegant moon-white long gown, which softened her cold and noble aura and added a touch of gentleness characteristic of the Jiangnan water towns.

She placed the plate on the table, her gaze falling on the black token, and analyzed it softly:

"Last night, you summoned heavenly lightning on the cruise ship and shattered the corpse-driving craftsman's altar. The aura on this tablet must have been detected by the Yinshan Sect's main force. They should already know that you destroyed their painstakingly set up Hundred Ghosts Devouring Souls Formation."

Lin Ye picked up a grape, put it in his mouth, and sneered:

"So what if they noticed? Do those rats from the Yinshan Sect, who can't stand the light of day, really dare to openly raid my Taiping Old Street? The people from the Ninth Bureau are not to be trifled with."

Leng Yue shook her head slightly and sat down opposite Lin Ye.

"Those sects that practice unorthodox and evil methods have no bottom line. Although you have the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, it is easy to dodge open attacks, but difficult to guard against hidden arrows."

She extended her delicate finger and gently drew a circle in the water stain on the table.

"The Yinshan Sect excels at capturing souls and summoning ghosts, as well as using feng shui curses to kill. They don't need to show their faces; they can simply set up a killing formation a hundred miles away, making it impossible for anyone to defend against them. My lord, you should be extra careful when you go out these days."

Lin Ye picked up the freshly brewed hot tea and felt the warmth emanating from the teacup.

"When soldiers come, I'll block them; when water comes, I'll dam it. Now that this token is in my hands, it's a clue. Once I've sorted out what I'm doing, I'll follow this vine and wipe out this bunch of rats in the gutter."

The rain outside was getting heavier, and the rainwater gathered into streams along the eaves, hitting the bluestone slabs and splashing up droplets.

"My wife."

Lin Ye put down his teacup and looked at Leng Yue.

"Go and fetch the Duan inkstone from my study in the backyard, and while you're at it, get some fine Xuan paper. Since it's raining today and no one will bother us, I'll teach you something."

Leng Yue's red eyes widened slightly, then she obediently nodded and got up to walk towards the backyard.

Before long, she returned to the hall carrying an ancient-style Duan inkstone and a stack of cut Xuan paper.

Lin Ye pushed aside the clutter on the octagonal table and laid out the Xuan paper.

"You zombies have long lifespans and live by absorbing the yin energy of heaven and earth."

Lin Ye picked up a fine pine soot ink stick and handed it to Leng Yue.

"Over the course of these long years, one should cultivate hobbies that nourish the mind and character. In my folk religion, drawing talismans is a profound form of practice. Today, I will teach you how to grind ink."

Leng Yue took the ink stick. Her hands, which were used to holding bone knives and karmic fire, seemed somewhat awkward holding this light ink stick.

She imitated Lin Ye's demonstration, dripped a little water into the inkstone, and began grinding with a stiff wrist.

"No, the force is too stiff."

Lin Ye stood up and walked around to Leng Yue's back.

He leaned down, wrapped his arms around Leng Yue's shoulders, and placed his large, calloused hands directly on Leng Yue's jade-like hands that were holding the inkstone.

Lin Ye's chest pressed tightly against Leng Yue's back.

The familiar yet deadly fragrance of red spider lilies, mixed with the scent of freshly ground pine soot ink, lingered around their noses.

"Grinding ink is like a sick man; the key is to be slow and even."

Lin Ye's deep, hoarse voice rang in Leng Yue's ear.

His warm breath as he spoke brushed against Leng Yue's fair and sensitive earlobe, raising a string of tiny goosebumps.

This hands-on teaching strips away all the violence and intrigue, leaving only the purest physical contact.

The ink stick is rubbed slowly and rhythmically on the surface of the inkstone.

The sound acted like some kind of strange catalyst, creating an ambiguous atmosphere in the surrounding air.

Leng Yue's back gradually relaxed, and her entire weight leaned against Lin Ye's chest.

A hazy, watery light welled up in those deep red eyes.

Leng Yue's breathing became completely disordered, and she slightly parted her red lips:

"My lord."

Lin Ye's breathing grew heavier, his hot breath brushing against the back of her ear:

"Wife, that's it..."

A large flush rose on the back of Leng Yue's neck, and her body was so weak that she could barely stand. She could only lean against Lin Ye's chest and tremble slightly.

It's a kind of unspoken, extreme tension that exists only between adult men and women.

"Did you understand?"

After a good twenty or thirty minutes, the ink in the inkstone had turned as black as lacquer, radiating an alluring luster.

Lin Ye then slowly stopped, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion.

Leng Yue didn't turn around, but slowly rested the back of her head on Lin Ye's shoulder.

She bit her red lips slightly, her voice as soft as a whisper, exuding a charming allure that could melt even the hardest steel.

"My lord's technique... I am too dull-witted, I'm afraid I'll need you to... teach me a few more times."

As soon as she finished speaking, her left hand, which wasn't being held, silently reached back and gently rested on Lin Ye's arm that was wrapped around her waist.

Fingertips traced subtle circles along the firm muscle lines, much like the motion of grinding ink earlier.

The autumn rain outside the window continued incessantly.

The temperature inside the funeral parlor's main hall, however, steadily rose amidst the thick, pungent smell of pine soot and ink.