I become a god in another world

Chapter 640 The Dead in the Coffin
Chapter 640
This unexpected event left everyone stunned.

"Sir, there are people inside—"

Chen Duozi exclaimed in surprise.

"No, there's a ghost—" Chen Duozi shouted, then realized something was wrong and corrected himself in time.

But after saying that, he still felt something was off, so he said it again:

There are corpses.

"Push the coffin lid open a little."

Zhao Fusheng gave the instructions.

Yu Lingzhu, Meng Po, and the others simultaneously grabbed the coffin lid and yanked it open.

The iron piece broke, the coffin lid slid off the coffin, and finally fell to the ground with a 'clang'.

Meng Po stepped forward with a lamp lit, illuminating the inside of the coffin, where a corpse lay.

Upon seeing the corpse, everyone looked at each other in dismay. After a long while, Yu Lingzhu said:
"It's a man."

The coffin contained a male corpse.

The body was not properly prepared, and no funeral robes were changed—perhaps because it was mentioned to Wu Jiabing, the village chief of Baili Temple, that Dou Sansao was despised in the village and had a low status (more likely because the body in the coffin was not Dou Sansao).

A pale yellow linen cloth covered the corpse from head to toe, leaving only the hands and feet exposed.

Judging from the length of the body, the deceased was relatively tall in life, and was wearing a pair of cloth shoes covered in mud, as if he had walked in the mud before his death.

Chen Duozi reached into the coffin and touched the sole of his shoe:
"The mud and water haven't dried yet."

In other words, the deceased had stepped into the mud not long ago.

A bad feeling welled up inside him, and Zhao Fusheng also reached his hand into the coffin:
"Could it be one of ours?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed the burlap sack and ripped it open, revealing a bloodless male face to everyone.

"It's him!"

Everyone exclaimed in unison.

The man inside the coffin stared wide-eyed, his pupils having lost their luster and turned grayish-white. His face was sallow, and his lips were pale. The surprise he had felt in life was now permanently frozen on his face, causing his features to become slightly distorted.

Even so, Zhao Fusheng still recognized him: Miao Yougong's subordinate, the vanguard commander who was among the first to enter the village earlier.

It was later that he summoned Wu Jiabing to speak with Zhao Fusheng. Afterwards, Zhao Fusheng's attention turned to the village and his conversation with Wu Jiabing, and he did not notice when he disappeared.

Unexpectedly, the envoy was locked in a coffin.

Yu Lingzhu's face darkened:

When did he die?

"I don't know."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head.

"But there's something strange about the village. Let's gather together later, call each other out by name, and not get separated. Let's figure out the rules of this place first."

The situation is still unclear, and it is safer for everyone to gather together.

Yu Lingzhu and the others nodded.

Just then, several people who had entered the village came out one after another.

Miao Yougong and the others looked relieved.

They were terrified as they entered the village house. Although Zhao Fusheng was certain that no one was inside, Miao and Wang were still sweating bullets as they went in. Their search was also very careless. They only looked around the house briefly and, finding no living people, hurriedly fled the village house.

Once outside, the two breathed a sigh of relief, then looked around, only to find that Wu Shaochun and the others had not come out.

The two men froze, feeling both embarrassed and somewhat uneasy. Seeing Zhao Fusheng and the others gathered around the coffin, they immediately steeled themselves and stepped forward.

"Sir, we—"

Miao Yougong and his companion were still pondering how to reply to avoid incurring the wrath of Zhao Fusheng and his men when, before they could even utter a word, Zhao Fusheng beckoned:
"Miao Yougong, come and take a look. Do you know this person?"

Miao Yougong's heart skipped a beat.

His explanation caught in his throat, so he stepped forward tremblingly, and the others made way for him.

Wang Ling also felt his heart pounding wildly and his hands and feet turning cold as he stepped forward.

As the two approached the coffin, Miao Yougong's face drained of color the moment he saw the face of the person inside.

"Yes, it's You Hong."

He was certain:

"It's You Hong—" He trembled all over:

"I initially sent him with, with—" In extreme terror, he could barely speak:

"They, ten men, came into the village. He came to report that there was a funeral in Bailici Village, sir, it has nothing to do with me, sir—"

He first protested his innocence, then said:
"The adults saw him in front of the carriage at that time—"

"Shortly afterward, Wu Jiabing appeared and led us into the village. Did you see him after that?" Zhao Fusheng asked calmly.

The campfire crackled and popped, and the water in the pot boiled, but everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, with a chill enveloping their entire bodies.

Despite this, Zhao Fusheng remained calm and composed, which greatly encouraged everyone.

Miao Yougong, whose mind was blank due to the shock, forced himself to stay alert.

After calming down, his thoughts gradually cleared. After thinking for a while, he said:
"After we entered the village, everyone settled in; some led their horses, others drank water—"

After saying that, he added:
"Soon after, the adults wanted to stroll around Bailici Village, so they took me and Diao Xinggui and others into the ancestral hall. I didn't bring You Hong with me."

Zhao Fusheng nodded:
"In other words, in your memory, the last time You Hong appeared was after you entered."

Seeing her gentle tone and mild attitude, Miao Yougong's tense nerves relaxed, and he quickly nodded:

"Yes, yes—after I went in, I stopped paying attention to him."

Hearing this, he couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

There's something strange about the village, and everyone connected to it should be on high alert.

Thinking of this, he quickly said:
"My lord, it's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. You Hong's death is suspicious—" He didn't dare look at You Hong's face, which still bore the traces of fear, and said:
“I immediately ordered the ten messengers who entered the village to stay in one place, surrounded them, and kept an eye on them until dawn.”

Miao Yougong reacted quickly, realizing the seriousness of the problem. Instead of despairing, he proactively offered a solution—though a reactive one, it still earned him a glance and a nod from Zhao Fusheng.

"First, take attendance and find the first ten people who entered the village. Then, gather the ghost riders who came from the capital and have them call the accompanying messengers to check the roster. If anyone is missing, they must report their name first."

Seeing that she didn't blame him, Miao Yougong immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly:

"I will definitely get it done."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand, then looked at Wang Ling:

"Did you find anything in the village?"

Wang Ling's face was a mixture of pale and flushed.

He had lost the courage to question Zhao Fusheng in the Imperial Council Building and didn't even dare to raise his head in front of her.

Zhao Fusheng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing air without anger. Wang Ling trembled under her gaze and replied:

"No."

Fearing that Zhao Fusheng would ask about the details, he took the initiative to say:
"After we entered the house, we went into the main hall. The hall was not large and there were not many things. There were two rooms, including a livestock pen. There was an outhouse in the back. We did not see anyone."

After Wang Ling finished speaking in a stammering voice, he closed his eyes tightly.

He himself felt that this answer was somewhat perfunctory. If it were any other ghost tamer, they would definitely be furious on the spot and might even attack him.

But the thunderous reprimand he had anticipated did not come. Zhao Fusheng asked him:
Does the outhouse smell?

"Ok?"

Wang Ling was stunned.

This question caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss. He looked to Yu Lingzhu for help. Yu Lingzhu, unable to bear it any longer, snapped at him:

"Idiot, do you think the outhouse stinks?!"

She is proud and arrogant.

Wang Ling joined her ranks and became one of her subordinates. In the past, this old guy seemed quite shrewd, but I never expected him to be so dim-witted at a crucial moment.

"Lord Yu, I... I don't understand what you mean—" Wang Ling was so bewildered by the reprimand that he stammered.

Yu Lingzhu clenched her fists:
"You idiot." She took a deep breath, and Yu Lingzhu laughed angrily.

"Didn't you understand what Lord Zhao said? Do I have to explain it to you clearly? If the latrine smells bad, it means that someone has been living here recently."

Conversely, if there are only houses without a foul odor, it means that it is just a desolate and abandoned village that has long been abandoned.

Wang Ling suddenly realized.

Yu Lingzhu suppressed her anger:

"Have you checked out that outhouse?"

Wang Ling lowered his head in shame and unease.

At this moment, he even envied Miao Yougong. After speaking with Zhao Fusheng, he accepted the order and left. He didn't have to be scolded or suffer Yu Lingzhu's anger.

Upon seeing this, Yu Lingzhu understood immediately.

"you this--"

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she clenched her fist, but remembering how respectful Wang Ling had been to her, her raised fist froze in mid-air.

Zhao Fusheng watched coldly from the sidelines.

Yu Lingzhu's strengths and weaknesses are fully revealed in this short dialogue and action.

She was born into a theatrical troupe and grew up listening to operas. She believed in loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, and valued friendship and protected those who were in need.

Wang Ling was her subordinate, served her, and was also protected by her.

Their relationships were closely intertwined, forming a special hub. As a result, this group of ghost controllers, who had the favor of their superiors, even lost their basic ability to solve cases. Wang Ling's thoughts probably changed from 'improving strength and solving ghost cases' to 'pleasing Yu Lingzhu'.

In this way, Yu Lingzhu would naturally benefit him, and would not be able to really beat, scold, or discipline him, thus forming an abnormal relationship.

Based on her relationship with Wang Ling, it is not difficult to deduce her relationship with the Chang family.

"It's the father's fault if he doesn't teach him."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head.

Her words seemed nonsensical, but Meng Po, Chen Duozi, and the others understood the implied meaning.

Yu Lingzhu understood what she meant. She was about to retort, but her lips moved, and she finally turned to look at Wang Ling. A chill ran through her heart.

"Why don't you go and take a look?"

Yu Lingzhu reluctantly lowered her hand:
"As Miao Yougong said, it's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost—"

Wang Ling's face was filled with terror:

"Sir, shall I go alone?"

"Do you want me to go with you?" Yu Lingzhu gritted her teeth.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head:
"Forget it, checking one more house won't make a difference, checking one less house won't make a difference either. This village is strange, so let's not make unnecessary sacrifices for now."

However, Wang Ling was a coward who feared death. Since she had not fulfilled Zhao Fusheng's instructions, she did not intend to let the matter pass easily—otherwise, during the subsequent trip to Wuqing County, many people might outwardly comply with her but inwardly defy her, and her prestige would decline significantly.

"You just wait. If anything happens later, you can make amends with one action," Zhao Fusheng said coldly.

Her words plunged Wang Ling into an icy abyss.

"My lord—" He looked at Yu Lingzhu, feeling extremely regretful at this moment.

Zhao Fusheng's words implied that if there was any danger later, he would be sent on a mission.

If I had known it would end like this, I would have done a better job searching the village while I was exploring; it would have been much better than facing unknown dangers later.

It was too late for him to regret it.

Yu Lingzhu was feeling conflicted and didn't want to pay him any attention.

But the memory of Wang Ling's attentive service over the past two years flooded her mind, and she was overcome with nostalgia, ultimately unable to bear it any longer:

"With my Ghost Seal protecting you, what are you afraid of? Lord Zhao is right, are you still unwilling to atone for your sins? You were once a local general, how come you are not even as good as the magistrate of Wan'an County?"

Yu Lingzhu sneered fiercely.

Wang Ling lowered his head in shame.

While they were talking, Wu Shaochun and the others returned one after another.

They were a little late, and when they returned, they went straight to Zhao Fusheng and replied:

"Sir, there are no living people left in the village."

Fan Bisi stated the result first, and then continued:

"I shared four rooms with the villagers who were beyond saving—"

The kitchen, living room, sitting room, the utility room connected to the back door, and the outhouse behind it were also searched.

"The water tank was empty, but it was covered in cobwebs and a thick layer of dust, indicating that no one would live there for at least five years," he explained in detail.
“There is an outhouse in the back, but it is not covered with a dust board. There is no ashes in the stove, and the ash trough in front of the stove is packed tightly.” These are all evidence that no one lives there.

"We checked the latrine by lighting a fire; there was only some accumulated sewage, probably from the rain."

The findings of Wu Shaochun and Liu Yizhen were similar.

Compared to the people of Wan'an County, Yu Lingzhu became increasingly unhappy, while Wang Ling was drenched in sweat.

Fortunately, Miao Yougong was quite efficient in his work.

He quickly gathered all the ghost-tamers and messengers who had accompanied him from the capital and returned to report:

"My lord, of the ten people who entered the village earlier, apart from the deceased You Hong, I found six others. After questioning them, I learned that three of them went with Lords Wang and Jiang to investigate the ancestral hall."

The remaining six people were standing in the middle of the campfire.

They were unaware of what was happening, but judging from the large-scale actions of the ghost tamers and the solemn atmosphere, they guessed that something big might have occurred. At this moment, they all trembled and turned pale.

"Have him sit properly, the other ordinary messengers sit in the middle, and the ghost tamers sit on the outside, waiting for dawn—" Zhao Fusheng paused for a moment, then added with a playful tone:

"Or we'll see if Wu Jiabing and the others come back."

Yu Lingzhu was somewhat worried:
Do you really think it will get light again?

Her words made Miao Yougong tremble, but he dared not utter a sound.

Zhao Fusheng said:

"Even before dawn, ghosts will appear; they can't possibly trap us to death in this village." She thought for a moment, then laughed out loud.

"If the ghosts don't appear before dawn, then we'll rest for a while, take the initiative, and proceed as planned, passing through Eagle's Beak Cliff and entering Wuqing County."

On such a night filled with anxiety, her instructions were clear, purposeful, and directional, which put everyone at ease and made them feel as if a huge weight had been lifted from their hearts.

Meng Po also said:

"Even if there are ghosts, what are we, with so many ghost tamers, afraid of?"

Yu Lingzhu also felt inexplicably at ease:

“That makes sense. Once we enter Wuqing County, we’ll meet up with the other Ghost Tamers and we’ll be safe.”

She comforted herself.

But after saying this, she didn't receive a response from Zhao Fusheng, which made her feel uneasy.

Just then, footsteps sounded in the distance—it was Wang and Jiang, who had gone to the village ancestral hall to check on the clay sculptures, returning with their team.

(End of this chapter)