Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 509

If it's just about seeing people from the past, there are many possible explanations, the most extreme of which could be bringing up a giant tortoise.

But for those who are still alive today, because they see their past selves and can simultaneously recall new memories... the nature of the matter is different.

The boy reviewed the documents and photos in his hand again, and he suspected that this place was very likely the secret realm in the Western Regions.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Liangliang, where exactly is this project located?"

Xue Liangliang: "I really didn't know that. I'm already violating the rules by showing you these things."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Liangliang."

Xue Liangliang: "Hmm?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "You got promoted so quickly?"

Xue Liangliang: "It's just a chance to strive for, like the last time at the Goguryeo tombs, to be the head of a group in a large project."

Even our teachers didn't know about this; I was found out on my own.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Because it's very dangerous?"

Xue Liangliang: "Mm."

Li Zhuiyuan: "How long do you need to consider this?"

Xue Liangliang: "The selection process hasn't even started yet, and we don't know how long the assessment will take, or even whether the project will be successfully approved in the end."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Liangliang, give me a little more time."

Xue Liangliang: "Okay, let me know when you've made your decision. I'm giving it my all now, and once you give me your answer, I'll do everything I can to win you over."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Xue Liangliang: "Then I'll get off the bus first. It's quite lively up ahead, so it'll be easy for me to find a ride back to Nantong."

I won't go to Suzhou with you. You're busy and I'm busy too. It's not easy for me to come back this time. I'm leaving soon and want to spend more time with your sister-in-law.

Oh, and please tell Binbin that I'll have Lu Yi handle the logistics company matter for me.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but I think it might be a little inconvenient to call Binbin right now."

The taxi stopped, and Xue Liangliang got out, waving goodbye to Li Zhuiyuan through the car window.

In the past, the two of them would always grant each other's requests, but this time, Li Zhuiyuan showed clear hesitation.

There was no way to not hesitate. After Xue Liangliang found him tonight, his previous guesses had almost become new rules that could be written into the "Secret Scroll of Tracing Ancestors".

Catalog One: Drought Demon.

Table of Contents 2: Qinglong Temple.

Table of Contents 3: The Secret Realms of the Western Regions.

The original exam, which was set by Jiang Shui, has been changed to allow students to choose their own questions.

It seems to give me more freedom, but the difficulty of the questions has increased dramatically.

The meaning of Heaven's Way is very clear:
Either you split them in half, or they break you.

The boy didn't know if there would be any new chapters, but judging from the first three, any new chapters would definitely be heavyweights.

Li Zhuiyuan's failure to directly encourage Liangliang to strive for it means that he doesn't want to choose Catalogue Three: The Western Regions Secret Realm right now.

Because it has already revealed such a strange aspect, unless his red thread can undergo another qualitative change, Li Zhuiyuan is not confident enough to touch it.

Table of Contents 1 is, on the surface, the simplest and most traditional.

To suppress the evil spirits that were once killed and sealed by the Dragon King—I've experienced this kind of adventure many times before.

But this involves the life and death of King Qi, which represents enormous risks and uncertainties.

After the process of elimination, Qinglong Temple in the second section of the catalog turned out to be the most suitable.

It's laughable and absurd to think about it. A lineage with a heritage comparable to the orthodox Dragon King's family has become an easy target in my hands.

Having already harbored old grudges, and with Yayoi already a hidden agent, he had both the motive and the opportunity to act.

But Li Zhuiyuan couldn't figure out how, with his team's current strength, he could overthrow Qinglong Temple in one fell swoop without using the resources of the Qin and Liu families and risking mutual destruction.

The Ming family has been repeatedly weakened by me through various favorable circumstances, and they are still like a centipede that is dead but not yet dead.

No, Heaven will not force itself into a deadly situation. If it wanted to bring about its own demise, there would be no need to go through this extra step.

So, can the second volume, Qinglong Temple, be divided into separate volumes?
It wasn't that one wave completely solved the problem; rather, it was that one wave after another was heading straight for Qinglong Temple.

If that's the case, then it's much easier to accept.

Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but suspect that Table of Contents 1 and 3 were just extras added to Table of Contents 2, and that it knew which option it would choose when listing the choices.

So what exactly is Qinglong Temple doing, or what is about to happen that makes the Heavenly Dao think it needs to push me over there continuously?

It seems it's time to call Yayoi out for a meeting.

……

A remote new scenic area, a historical site that is only one year old.

It enjoyed a brief period of success upon opening, but its popularity waned after just one month.

Locals don't come here to play; coming here is like going to another place. Outsiders have too many proper attractions to visit in the local area and have no idea about this place.

For a long time, this place has relied on cooperation with travel agencies, which bring several tour buses every day. They come and go in a hurry. After getting off the bus, the tourists first line up to use the toilet, and then get a sign to browse around the specialty shops.

The operators, still trying to salvage the situation, organized this Buddhist exchange conference, which was touted as lasting a whole month.

This move was effective; it did initially attract a surge of customers, but then the number quickly decreased day by day.

The exchange meeting lasted only a week before some monks decisively withdrew, severing their worldly ties, because the incense offerings promised by the organizers had not been received.

By the second week, most of the monks had left because not only had the offerings not arrived, but their food and lodging were also no longer provided.

Only Master Kongji from Qinglong Temple and one of his disciples insisted on staying behind, and they even followed the timetable set by the operators.

The organizers were deeply moved. Although they couldn't make money, they understood the importance of the event. They removed the posters and slogans of the departing monks, leaving only Master Kongji's. A Buddhist exchange meeting became a special event for Master Kongji.

As dawn broke, the white-bearded Master Kongji, supported by a young disciple, entered a pavilion.

The pavilion was surrounded by snow, except for a small circle in the center, where the monk Kongji sat cross-legged on a futon.

The wind and snow had not stopped, and the cold was biting. Master Kongji clasped his hands together, his lips were purple and trembling slightly, as if he were chanting sutras, or as if he was frozen.

The young monk left the pavilion, and when he returned a while later, he was carrying a basket wrapped in a cotton quilt.

The basket contained a porridge jar, and the little monk ladled a bowl of porridge for his master and handed it to him.

Master Kongji held the bowl of porridge with both hands, and drank it without chopsticks or pickled vegetables.

The bowl of porridge was quickly emptied, and the young monk served his master another bowl, but this time Master Kongji did not accept it. Instead, he looked out of the pavilion.

The young monk sighed helplessly, filled two bowls with porridge, and carried them out of the pavilion. He walked to a tree, where the snow under the tree was cleared away by the wind, revealing the figure of an old man lying down.

The old man showed no signs of being frozen; on the contrary, his complexion was rosy, his breath was soft and pale, and he had the typical appearance of a white-haired man with a youthful face.

The old man twitched his nose, opened his eyes, sat up, took the bowl of porridge, and frowned, saying:
"Emptiness, emptiness, I've been honored to listen to your teachings for days, and all I get is porridge and more porridge?"

The young monk was very dissatisfied with the old man's attitude and said angrily, "My master also uses this, and he has never deliberately treated you unfairly."

The old man said, "Heh, little fellow, I'm not being picky, nor am I blaming your master for being stingy."

The young monk turned his face away, clearly disbelieving.

Old man: "I suffer from diabetes!"

As he spoke, the old man stretched out his feet, kicked off his shoes, and revealed that his feet were already rotten.

The young monk chanted "Amitabha" twice, then turned around, picked up another bowl, and walked to the lotus pond covered in snow.

The pool water rippled, the ice melted and the snow thawed, and a woman with an exquisite figure rose from the water.

The young monk handed the bowl of porridge forward, bowed his head, and began chanting Buddhist mantras frantically.

When the woman turned around, she saw the face of an old woman, deeply lined with deep wrinkles and drooping eye bags; even a withered tree seemed more vibrant than her.

The old man under the tree shouted, "Hey, Granny Wei, can't you do us a favor and just keep your back to us? That way, when I'm bored listening to your Buddhist teachings, I can at least look at you and have some peace of mind."

Old woman: "Cao Buxiu, you're getting more and more shameless as you get older."

Cao Buxiu: "That's right, I even had a sweet dream last night. I dreamt that you went into a qi deviation while practicing your martial arts and lay there motionless. I covered your face with a handkerchief..."

Just as I was about to chuckle, someone made a sound and woke me up.

Ugh,
What a pity!

Wei Suxin: "Didn't we manage to stop the intruder from yesterday?"

Cao Buxiu: "I failed."

Wei Suxin: "Since you're bored, you should catch them so we can have some fun during the day. You shouldn't hold back."

Cao Buxiu: "I didn't hold back, but the other party was too slippery. The moment I had a thought, he noticed and retreated. He's no ordinary person."

Wei Suxin took the bowl of porridge and, while drinking, looked at the lotus flowers in different states beside her: "I'm afraid we've already alerted someone." Master Kongji replied: "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. This humble monk has done such an outrageous thing, so it is only right that I be disgraced."

Cao Buxiu: "How many lotus flowers are still unopened?"

Wei Suxin: "There are twelve flowers, but one of them has opened but not fully opened, as if it has been frozen in place."

Cao Buxiu: "Direction."

Wei Suxin: "I can't figure it out."

Cao Buxiu: "Then it's sealed. Empty and desolate, missing a single flower, is that a problem?"

Kongji: "It's alright, this humble monk can make amends with my own body."

Cao Buxiu: "That's fine then. Hurry up and clear all the flowers in this pond so we can kill you quickly and fulfill your last wish. It's freezing cold, and I really don't want to keep wasting my time in this godforsaken place with you."

Wei Suxin looked at the empty space, her eyes filled with tenderness: "I wish these flowers could bloom a little slower. It has been many years since I have spent so much time with you."

Master Kongji closed his eyes and chanted sutras facing the lotus pond.

After the little monk finished distributing the porridge, he picked up a broom and went down the steps to sweep the snow.

There are far fewer believers coming to listen to the sermons these days, but there are still a few people every day. I sweep the steps clean so that it will be easier for them to come up.

However, with such heavy snow last night, there should be even fewer people.

"Ok?"

The young monk leaned on his broom and looked down, seeing a boy holding an umbrella and leading a girl up the steps below.

"A young believer?"

The young monk was unsure whether they were tourists or believers, and didn't know whether he should go up to them.

Under the big tree above, Cao Buxiu yawned and stretched, deliberately tapping the tree with the back of his right hand.

An extra gust of wind and snow blew towards Li Zhuiyuan's umbrella.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze narrowed slightly, and the feng shui energy around him flowed rapidly, sending this handful of snow back to where it came from.

"boom!"

Before he could finish yawning, his mouth was still open, and a handful of snow fell from the tree, smearing Cao Buxiu's face.

After wiping his face, the old man sat up straight, looking surprised and puzzled.
"There's a problem with the believers this morning!"

Wei Suxin gently lifted the surface of the pool with her jade-like fingers, and a string of water droplets floated up, like a crystal-clear little snake.

The steps, swept by the young monk, were covered with icy water that quickly froze and seemed to come alive as it darted under the feet of the young girl.

Li Zhuiyuan stepped on it first.

The ice underfoot melted, releasing a thin mist.

"hiss……"

Inside the lotus pond, the little snake that Wei Suxin was playing with with her fingertips suddenly opened its mouth and bit the old woman's finger.

Wei Suxin: "A Feng Shui master?"

The young monk stood to one side of the steps and bowed to the boy and girl:
"May I ask whether you have come to enjoy the scenery or to listen to Buddhist teachings?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Isn't Buddhism a scenic spot?"

The young monk said, "Thank you for your guidance, benefactor."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Since it is a scene, it should be trimmed and cleaned more."

The young monk's eyes darted around. In his eyes, the two people in front of him seemed like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven with the snowy scenery. But for some reason, he could detect murderous intent in the boy's tone.

Li Zhuiyuan held A Li's hand and continued walking. When the two figures gradually appeared at the platform, apart from the old monk in the pavilion who was still chanting scriptures, the old man under the big tree stood up and the old woman in the pond climbed ashore.

Cao Buxiu took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

He had assumed the other person was also an old man, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a teenager.

Recently, the name of a young man has overshadowed the entire martial arts world.

It can't be him, right?
Li Zhuiyuan ignored the three elderly people present and walked straight to the lotus pond.

What appears to be an ordinary scenic spot actually contains hidden wonders – a truly ingenious technique.

In "The Righteous Path to Subdue Demons", there is an evil technique called "The Sinful Curse Scripture", which Wei Zhengdao strongly criticizes.

This evil art can bring together a person's past and future karma in the present moment, and as the name suggests, it can trigger the release of karmic debts.

In addition to his critique, Wei Zhengdao also mentioned in the book that Buddhism also has this kind of secret technique, which eminent monks like to use to sever worldly ties.

It's actually the same technique, but it's called evil magic outside and secret magic within Buddhism.

The only difference is that the latter has an extra "slash" at the end.

High-ranking monks can use this to purify themselves, maintain the purity of their six senses, and remain untouched by worldly affairs.

For ordinary people, the inability to cut down enemies is equivalent to taking out all the "suffering" they will have to endure in the future and consuming it all in a short period of time.

Xinghou worked as a laborer in this scenic area.

Li Zhuiyuan finally understood why Xinghou could turn into a demon in Nantong and even avoid his senses.

The resentment within Xinghou is different from that of other evil spirits; it is drawn from the future.

The future mentioned here is not the real future, but refers to that period of time, from Xinghou's perspective, where he experienced the days he would have to live for the next few decades, being ridiculed, mocked, suppressed, and looked down upon by his father-in-law, mother-in-law, wife, and his future children.

The honest and taciturn man finally couldn't hold back any longer at that moment. He rebelled by committing suicide, and his resentment continued to fester even after his death.

Li Zhuiyuan: "A dignified high monk of the Kong generation from Qinglong Temple, how could he lay down evil spells to poison ordinary people here? Doesn't he feel ashamed?"

Even though Qinglong Temple was his enemy, the boy didn't want his enemy to become so weak and dejected, as that would diminish the thrill of his revenge.

The Ming family is a good example; no matter how much I try to weaken them, they always keep trying to do their sit-ups.

Wei Suxin said, "Young master, you misunderstand. This is not an evil spell. It is the Buddhist scripture 'Crossing the Shore of Calamity.' All beings suffer. It is better to see through it in time and find liberation sooner."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But why should all living beings need you to make decisions for them?"

Xinghou's life seems very unhappy to normal people, but everyone's personality and ability to cope are different, so maybe Xinghou can continue to suffer?
Or perhaps after suffering for a while, one day he will suddenly wake up and stop serving them. At worst, he can go back to being a bachelor. Anyway, these days, people with hands and feet won't starve. Or, who knows, his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and wife might pass away before him, and he will be free again.

As a result, you force-feed someone a whole vat of bitterness, causing them to burst, and then you say it's for their own good?
Wei Suxin: "Young master, there is a natural order in this world."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I don't want you to argue with me, I want to hear what he has to say."

The boy reached out and pointed to the serene monk sitting in the pavilion.

Wei Suxin's gaze darkened slightly. She took a step forward, and the surrounding water vapor condensed, indicating that a deadly trap was about to unfold.

Ah Li looked up at her.

"Buzz!"

The moisture around Wei Suxin instantly dissipated.

"you!"

Wei Suxin was astonished by the girl's terrifying talent in feng shui.

Under the big tree, Cao Buxiu silently moved his candy-colored feet backward.

Unlike Wei Suxin, who had been in seclusion for many years and only broke out of seclusion to pursue her old lover at Kongji's invitation, Cao Buxiu knew about the turbulent world of martial arts. Previously, it was the young man who broke through his snowflakes' test, and this time it was the girl who broke through Wei Pozi's aura.

Legend has it that the head of the Qin and Liu families possessed the family's unique techniques, and that the young family head was accompanied by the granddaughter of Old Madam Liu.

The art of feng shui is even more difficult to learn than the art of formations. Looking across the entire martial arts world, apart from those two, where else can you find a pair of young boys and girls who have such mastery of feng shui at such a young age?
Inside the pavilion, Master Kongji stopped chanting and opened his eyes:
“Namo Amitabha Buddha, benefactor, it was my fault. I had no choice but to do this. Please rest assured, benefactor, once this matter is settled, I will pass away here to atone for my sins.”

If the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda of Qinglong Temple hadn't developed cracks for some unknown reason and urgently needed materials for repair, why would a highly virtuous monk of the Kong generation be out doing such a thing?

Li Zhuiyuan: "You'll commit suicide?"

Master Kongji said, “After this matter is settled, I will atone for my sins with my death. If you do not believe me, I am willing to swear an oath to Buddha.”

Inside the pavilion, the air was filled with Buddhist light, revealing the true profound knowledge and wisdom of this eminent monk from Qinglong Temple.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I believe you."

Master Kongji: "Thank you for your understanding."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But since you are prepared to die, why wait until then? Did you give yourself a chance to choose, and did you give those in the lotus pond who listened to your sermons and chanting of Buddha's name a chance?"

Master Kongji: "What does the benefactor mean..."

Li Zhuiyuan withdrew his hand from the high monk and pointed to the ground:

"I want you dead right now!"

---

This is a supplement to yesterday's post; there will be regular updates tonight.

(End of this chapter)