I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality
Chapter 168 - 105 Crane Bone Flute, Corpse Collector_2

Chapter 168: Chapter 105 Crane Bone Flute, Corpse Collector_2

By then, even if the inference proves wrong, it’s not a big deal. Maybe we can find new clues amidst the confusion...

"Brother Xu, what do you think?"

Xu Qing remained noncommittal, curiously asking, "In a critical situation, did neither you nor Zhiyuan think of seeking help from Prince Zhu?"

Wu Wencai shook his head, saying, "Perhaps earlier we could have, but now, with rumors spreading like wildfire, everyone says the Crown Prince conspired with the Celestial Heart Sect to kill the Crown Prince. As this case is also tied to the Celestial Heart Sect, we definitely cannot seek help from His Highness."

"Otherwise, it would be like adding fuel to the fire, not only burning ourselves but also implicating His Highness."

Xu Qing was speechless.

When faced with a serious matter, there are usually two paths to choose from: one without any scruples, and the other full of obstacles and thorns.

Those who disregard moral restraint and ignore loyalty often choose the easiest path.

But the Wu brothers have always chosen the hardest path.

Good people don’t get good returns, yet evil ones last a thousand years; perhaps because the path of the former is too bumpy.

"Brother Zhiyuan has decided to go to the capital to argue his case, just to delay the conclusion, but who knows if he can buy more time for our uncle."

Having said that, Wu Wencai sighed again, "After this event, my brother has been sleepless and tasteless, even walking looks like wind-blown reeds about to fall. The road to the Capital City is long, and my heart is uneasy, what can I do!"

Xu Qing shook his head slightly.

Although Wu Zhiyuan and Wu Yaohua have the Peace Talisman from Hu Baosong for protection, this thing can only prevent some external disasters.

It is of little use to heart disease.

Xu Qing thought for a moment, then reached into his sleeve, took out a few talismans.

"This Peace Talisman is for you, the others are Peaceful God Talismans and Healing Talismans. You can give one to Zhiyuan, two to the old lady, and if you see old Wu, give him two as well, as a token of peace."

Then, Xu Qing took out a pair of bone flutes from the Mountain and River Map.

"This is called the Crane Bone Flute, made from the wing bones of an old crane.

The two flutes were originally part of the same body, highly spiritual between each other. If one breaks, the other will also inexplicably break."

Handing the flutes to Wu Wencai, Xu Qing continued, "You brothers have deep loyalty. With these flutes, no matter how far apart you are, you will know if the other is safe."

"Brother Xu..." Seeing Wu Wencai’s eyes redden, Xu Qing quickly stopped him from being too sentimental.

"No need to thank me. After all, I can’t help you much, everything still depends on you and Zhiyuan...

Alright, I have an outing task to do at the wharf tomorrow, so I won’t stay any longer. Brother Wencai, stay put."

Leaving the Paper Mache Shop, Xu Qing returned to his own shop, still thinking about the Wu brothers.

Back when he went to a banquet at the county magistrate’s mansion with Hu Baosong, the old man only took one look at Wu Yaohua and noticed he was surrounded by misfortune, disaster looming over him, predicting that calamity would soon befall him.

Just a few days later, Hu Baosong’s words came true, and something really happened to Wu Yaohua.

"Old Hu has practiced the Sixth Realm Technique, only the second realm has reached Eye Recognition, yet he has such insight. If all nine consciousnesses are opened..."

Xu Qing looked at the few jars of buried money accumulated in the Mountain and River Map, noting that the crafting of a Yin Gold Coffin was getting closer.

As long as he crafted the Yin Gold Coffin and refined it into a Golden Armor Corpse Body using the power of Yin Gold, he could break through the limits of a Mortal Corpse and access the unique Nine Orifice Divine Techniques of zombies.

If he could open all the nine orifices, he could possibly become a Celestial Corpse, transcending the Five Elements and the Nine Netherworld, as described in the Corpse Talk.

And Kui Ba is evolved from a Celestial Corpse.

...

The next day, at Linhe Wharf.

Xu Qing traveled lightly and quickly, arriving at the dock where the Corpse Recovery Team registered.

Recovering corpses is a difficult business. The Baisha River is vast, with turbulent waves and dangerous creatures like the Piggy Dragon and man-eating catfish lurking in the waters.

As the saying goes, those who drown are usually good swimmers. Even if you are an experienced corpse collector, one moment of carelessness, and you might become a corpse to be recovered.

Xu Qing registered his name and received the necessary equipment for corpse collectors.

A bundle of rope, a pig’s bladder for underwater breathing, and a specially made sickle for cutting aquatic plants. Nothing more.

"You’re new and inexperienced. If you encounter something, don’t just focus on retrieving the corpse." The steward in charge of registering the corpse collectors smiled at Xu Qing.

"Why can’t you retrieve a corpse when you see one?"

The steward drew a copper coin on the table with his finger, smiling, "Insider knowledge can’t be casually shared. If it could, it wouldn’t be insider knowledge."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, took out a tael of Qingfu money from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

The steward happily pocketed the silver, saying, "Young people like you who act impulsively, I can tell you don’t understand the intricacies here."

"There aren’t so many good-hearted people in the world. We fish corpses to make money, to earn the reward from the living. Whoever retrieves the corpse first gets the silver they find."

"But whether that money can be kept is another story!"

The steward looked around, then lowered his voice, "Let me give you a tip. After you find something on the corpse, don’t hide it on you. Look for a shallow water patch with reeds, tie it there with a rope, and when the Corpse Recovery Team returns, you can row your boat over quietly."

"I don’t usually share this trick, but I like you..."

Xu Qing smiled, taking out another tael of real silver from his pocket and placing it on the table.

"I like you too. Here’s another tael of silver for you."

The steward was overjoyed.

There aren’t many smart and sensible youngsters like this.

...

Corpse collecting is an ancient craft. Besides retrieving corpses, they occasionally fish out valuables dropped into the water.

After joining the Corpse Recovery Team, Xu Qing rowed a small black-covered boat, following a dozen other collectors to the spot where fishermen reported someone had fallen into the water.

The leading corpse collector was named Lu Ping, an experienced hand in this trade.

Estimating the water flow speed, he directly started rowing downstream.

The others followed suit, imitating his actions.

Xu Qing rowed his boat leisurely, following at the very end.

He had learned many practical skills in the past, including the boatman’s ability to gauge the water.

If it were about navigating and steering the boat, no one present could match him.

Setting down the oar, Xu Qing stood at the bow, taking out the Corpse-Seeking Compass gifted by Hu Baosong from the Mountain and River Map.

The compass was simple to use. When a person newly dies, their Qi field changes. By combining it with the corresponding spell, the compass can detect any newly deceased bodies within a twenty-mile radius.

Corpse collectors usually recover those who have recently fallen into the water, even if it’s uncertain they’re dead yet.

But if the person really drowned and is within range, the compass will sense it.

Injecting a wisp of Yin Qi into the compass and casting the Corpse-Seeking Spell, the compass made of yellow poplar wood began to tremble, its needle rotating twice before pointing southeast.

Holding the compass in one hand and placing the other behind him, Xu Qing’s boat moved without wind.

The Water Technique allowed one to move over waves as if on flat ground, and also to control a boat.

Not seeing other collectors around, he steered the black-covered boat into the reed marsh. After traveling less than two miles, he saw a floating corpse in the reeds.

The corpse was caught in the reeds, not carried downstream by the current.

Putting away the compass, Xu Qing cheerfully jumped into the water.

Using the Water Technique, currents swirled around his feet. As he approached the floating corpse, he sensed something amiss.

The corpse was head down and feet up, like it was doing a headstand in the water, with only its hips and legs sticking straight up.

The fishy river wind blew, making the legs sway.

According to the corpse collectors’ rules, such a "headstand corpse" was never to be touched. It was considered one of the most ominous death forms among drowned bodies.

But Xu Qing was not superstitious. As long as it was a corpse, it was under his purview!

Approaching, he placed his hand on its ankle without hesitation.

At that moment, Xu Qing suddenly felt an itch on his neck.

Looking down, he saw a piece of waterweed crawling onto him, growing wildly like a snake trying to strangle his neck.

Once tightly coiled, the weed attempted to drag him underwater, seemingly planting him head down in the reed marsh too.

Xu Qing remained unmoved. The force from the water was strong, but it wasn’t enough to pull his Silver Armored Corpse body underwater.

Activating the Qi Observation Skill, he looked into the water, and upon seeing what was causing the disturbance, he suddenly lost interest in the corpse at hand.

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