I created Qin Tianjian in modern times

As a result, the salvage boats anchored on the surface of the Yellow River started up one after another, and the roar of the engines broke the silence. However, after half an hour of busy work, the boats still found nothing. Although a lot of debris was salvaged, there was not a single body.

At this moment, even Bai Wenzheng and others felt a little confused. Their original speculation seemed to be wrong. Logically, the body should have been washed downstream in the turbulent flow of the Yellow River. But now they watched helplessly as the salvage bureau worked for nearly an hour, and no findings were made whether in underwater investigation or surface salvage.

The team members began to re-examine the matter. Was it really a mistake? They looked at each other with doubts in their eyes. At this time, the leader of the salvage bureau came over, obviously wanting an explanation: "Comrades, what do you think about this? Do you want to continue this meaningless salvage?"

Bai Wenzheng thought for a moment and shook his head: "Thank you for your hard work, there may be other hidden stories behind this matter..."

"What kind of thing is this?" The leader of the salvage bureau complained and ordered all salvage vessels to return, which meant that the workers' more than an hour of hard work was wasted.

Seeing this, Ouyang Nian became anxious: "Master Buddha, why don't you let them try again? Maybe the place they just salvaged was wrong."

Bai Wenzheng shook his head and said, "This possibility is not high. The people in the salvage bureau are all professionals, and divers have dived into the water to investigate before. With such an intensive work, no clues were found. Maybe we overlooked something important."

"What should we do now? Is our clue cut off here?" Chen Tian said unwillingly. They had hoped to find new clues to the destruction of the Heroes Cemetery through this salvage operation, but now it seems that everything is stuck in the Yellow River.

"We need to go back to the Provincial Police Department and use their phone to contact the chief." Bai Wenzheng suggested, "There are many doubts about this matter. I need the chief to help me sort out my thoughts."

The team members all agreed, because they were also confused and could not figure out the situation. So they boarded the military vehicle again and returned to the Provincial Police Department. At this time, the Provincial Police Department had received information from the Salvage Bureau - they carried out salvage according to the instructions of the 788 Exploration Team, but no bodies were found in the Yellow River.

The deputy director and Lin Xia were not surprised by this, because they did not think that the 788 exploration team had the ability to investigate the case from the beginning. This incident just gave the superiors a bargaining chip to negotiate with the war zone, and the 788 special office faced the fate of being banned shortly after its establishment.

When Bai Wenzheng and others came to the Provincial Police Department again, the deputy director was a little surprised. After learning that they wanted to borrow the phone, the deputy director readily agreed. He thought that since the 788 Special Office was about to be abolished, he might as well go with the flow and do a favor. This way, at least the war zone would not be offended, and the final responsibility would be attributed to the incompetence of the 788 Exploration Team, and no one in the government department would be implicated.

Soon, Bai Wenzheng and his group entered the deputy director's office again. The deputy director pretended to be unaware and asked:

"Comrades, are there any new developments in your investigation?"

Bai Wenzheng shook his head slightly and pointed to the phone on the table expressionlessly: "Comrade, I need to use your phone."

"Please use it." The deputy director gestured.

Bai Wenzheng walked quickly to the phone and dialed the number of the military call center: "Please connect to the Kunlun Military Region."

"OK, please wait, we are transferring you..." the operator's voice came, followed by the sound of the line switching.

Soon, a steady voice came from the other end of the phone: "Kunlun Military Region Zhao Qi, who is this?"

The team members couldn't help but get excited when they heard Zhao Qi's voice. Although the deputy director pretended not to care, he was actually paying close attention to their conversation.

"Commander, it's me. We are in trouble now!" Bai Wenzheng explained their current predicament directly, and then asked in a serious tone, "Commander, we applied for the assistance of the salvage bureau, but after more than an hour of salvaging, we found nothing. Was our speculation wrong from the beginning? Is there another hidden reason for the disappearance of the body in the hospital?"

Zhao Qi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Master Buddha, when you lit the ghost lanterns at the Heroes Cemetery and walked on the ghost road, you saw the place filled with intoxication. That was the hospital where the accident happened, right?"

"Yes, after we turned off the ghost lights, what we saw was the provincial hospital." Bai Wenzhen replied.

"Then you entered a state of suspended animation in the morgue, and were unknowingly guided by some force. When you woke up, you were already by the Yellow River, right?" Zhao Qi continued to ask.

"Yes, if we hadn't heard the sound of the soul-calling bell in time, we might have sunk into the Yellow River." Bai Wen Zheng said.

The deputy director was very confused by their conversation, and he unconsciously showed a puzzled expression on his face. Although he understood the words "lighting a ghost lamp" and "fake death", he had no idea what they meant when put together.

After a brief silence, Zhao Qi's voice sounded again: "I roughly understand your situation. From the current point of view, your investigation direction is correct."

"Chief, if this is true, why didn't we find the body in the Yellow River? The body may have the clues we need, but now all the clues are gone." Chen Tian asked in a raised voice, hoping that Zhao Qi could hear clearly.

Zhao Qi responded: "The direction of your investigation is correct, but your method is problematic."

Amid the doubts of the team members, Zhao Qi explained slowly: "Before you took over this case, the destruction of the Heroes Cemetery was handled by the government police department. Now you have determined that this case falls within the scope of responsibility of the 788 Exploration Team, so you took over the task from the police department. The subsequent investigation direction is necessary. But the body you speculated was not found in the Yellow River, which made you begin to doubt your direction. However, have you ever thought that the people in the salvage bureau and the police department are actually the same? This case has gone beyond the scope of conventional handling. How can their conventional salvage method be effective?"

The deputy director also heard these words. Although he didn't understand the specific meaning, he always felt that something was wrong. These words seemed to imply that the status of the 788 Exploration Team was higher than that of the police department.

Bai Wenzheng suddenly thought of something when he heard this, and said in surprise: "Chief, you mean that the body may be in the Yellow River, but due to some special circumstances, the people from the salvage bureau can't find it?"

"It's very likely." Zhao Qi replied, "You need to investigate further on this."

Ah Jing frowned in embarrassment: "Chief, the Yellow River basin in GS Province is so long, how can we find those bodies?"

Zhao Qi smiled softly: "A special profession has always been popular in the Yellow River area - corpse retriever."

As Zhao Qi told the story, the team members gradually learned about an existence they had never heard of. According to legend, in ancient times, there was a group of people wandering on the edge of life and death by the Yellow River. They were called Yin-Yang cross-border people, but more people are familiar with their other name - corpse retrievers. They drift on the Yellow River all day long, and salvaging floating corpses is their daily routine. The corpse retrievers have a rule of "three things to salvage and three things not to salvage", which is well known in the industry and no one dares to break it.

First, do not retrieve a corpse standing upright in the water, because it is bad luck and retrieving it will cause harm; second, do not go out on a boat to retrieve corpses in thunderstorms, because the corpses are likely to resurrect; third, do not retrieve a dead body, that is, a body that has not been salvaged three times, even if it is worth a mountain of gold and silver. This profession is mysterious and has strict rules. Practitioners will never violate taboos, otherwise they may become one of the wandering corpses in the Yellow River.

Bai Wenzheng and others were very surprised by what Zhao Qi said. They had never thought that there was such an ancient profession in the world. Even Bai Wenzheng knew very little about it. It was more like a unique regional culture in the Yellow River Basin.

After Zhao Qi finished speaking, Bai Wenzheng asked thoughtfully: "Commander, do you mean that we should find a corpse retriever to search for these bodies in the Yellow River? Are they really better than the salvage bureau with professional equipment?" Zhao Qi smiled meaningfully and said: "I am not asking you to find a corpse retriever. In this era, even if there is such a profession, they may have already retired. What I mean is that you can imitate the corpse retriever's practice, worship the Water Dragon King, and ask for guidance from incense."

The team members looked at each other, obviously not understanding what Zhao Qi said. But as Zhao Qi patiently explained, they gradually understood what he meant.

In ancient times, corpse collectors would hold a ceremony to worship the Water Dragon King before entering the water, both to pray for blessings and to estimate the approximate location of the corpse through the method of burning incense. However, what corpse collectors hate to see most is the incense sticks breaking off, because this indicates an extremely dangerous situation. Whenever this happens, corpse collectors will refuse to enter the water, believing that this is a warning from the Water Dragon King and that if they rashly enter the water, they may never come back.

Zhao Qi introduced the method of this ritual and the key points of the incense method in detail to the team members. The team members took it seriously in their minds and did not notice that the deputy director was standing there with a teacup in his hand.

Their conversation made the deputy director feel like he was listening to a fantasy folk story. He had never heard of the Dragon King, the corpse collector, and the three taboos. The team members seemed very serious, which made him even more confused.

He was increasingly confused about what kind of team this 788 Exploration Team was, and who was the person they called the leader?

After Bai Wenzheng answered a series of confusing questions, he finally ended the call. He then turned to the team members and instructed:

"Everyone has heard the leader's instructions, right? Now, we have to act quickly..."

The team members nodded one after another. Just as they were about to follow Bai Wenzheng out of the office, the deputy director's doubts surged like a tide, and he couldn't help but stop them:

"Comrades, what were you talking about just now? What is the Water Dragon King ritual? What is the incense method?"

Chen Tian glanced at the deputy director, shook his head slightly, and explained:

"It's a long story, and we don't have time to explain it in detail right now. If you want to know, you can come and see for yourself."

After that, the team members followed Bai Wenzheng out of the office. Chen Tian also hurriedly followed, leaving the deputy director alone in the office, feeling that things were not simple.

After a busy night, the sky was already slightly brighter. After thinking for a moment, the deputy director decided to find Lin Xia.

He looked at Lin Xia and said in a firm and hurried tone:

"We have to go to the bank of the Yellow River quickly. I think there is something wrong with the 788 exploration team..."

Chapter 365: The rules of corpse collectors, worshiping the Water Dragon King
Lin Xia was a little puzzled by the deputy director's sudden decision, but the deputy director did not say much, but urged Lin Xia to leave as soon as possible.

Seeing this, other members of the task force followed. After the group walked out of the provincial department gate, the deputy director looked around, apparently looking for traces of the 788 exploration team.

However, the second team had already left by then.

"Leader, is there something urgent that's bothering you?"

Lin Xia stood beside the deputy director and asked with a confused look on her face.

The deputy director looked around and explained:

"I just heard the conversation between the 788th Exploration Team and their leader. This team is very strange, and their leader is also saying something that is difficult to understand. From what they said, it seems that they are going to hold some kind of ceremony by the Yellow River, and then they will be able to find the body."

Lin Xia frowned when she heard this:
"How is this possible? The 788 Exploration Team is a military team. Could they openly practice feudal superstition?"

The deputy director said solemnly:
"That's what I find strange, so I want to go and see what they are up to..."

Lin Xia understood the deputy director's intention, nodded, and immediately ordered someone to prepare the car.

After getting on the bus, they rushed to the bank of the Yellow River.

At the same time, after leaving the provincial department, Bai Wenzhen and others did not go directly to the Yellow River, but took a walk around the city first.

It was already early in the morning, and the military vehicles were slowly driving on the street, attracting the attention of many pedestrians. After all, in that era, old-fashioned bicycles were still the mainstream means of transportation, so the appearance of military vehicles was naturally particularly eye-catching.

When the military vehicle stopped in front of a funeral shop, passers-by cast puzzled glances. The army and the funeral shop, two seemingly unrelated elements, appeared at the same time.

Bai Wenzhen led his team members into the funeral shop, and soon each of them came out carrying a large bag full of unknown items.

After putting these items in the trunk, the military vehicle did not drive directly to the Yellow River, but came to the grocery street. The team members made some purchases, including a wooden table.

Before long, the trunk of the military vehicle was full.

After finishing all this, Bai Wenzhen ordered to go to the Yellow River.

They didn't know that the deputy director and others had been waiting by the Yellow River for a long time, with a look of confusion on their faces.

After arriving at the Yellow River, the deputy director did not see the 788 exploration team, and he was even more puzzled:
"It's really strange. They clearly said they were going to hold a ceremony here, so why is there no one here now?"

Lin Xia also asked uncertainly:
"Commander, could it be that we made a mistake?" (End of this chapter)