I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 156 Soul Transfer (Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month!)
On this day, Xuan Yu went out early to work and support his family, while Xu Qing stayed at the shop, lost in thought.

It is far more difficult for zombies to survive lightning calamities than for humans and demons. However, if there is enough incense, not only can they counteract the Yang lightning that restrains demons, but they can also completely negate the divine lightning of heavenly punishment.

Incense, and more incense.
As Xu Qing was lost in thought, Wu's sister-in-law, who lived next door to the wallpaper shop, suddenly turned the corner and came in.

The other person had a basket of eggs slung over their arm and greeted him with a forced smile as soon as they entered.

Xu Qing didn't think much of it, got up and took ten taels of silver from the counter, saying, "A few days ago, a generous customer bought all those paper offerings. I won't say exactly how much silver he made, but I always make a profit. My sister-in-law has some family matters to attend to and needs money right now, so please take these ten taels of silver."

At first, Sister-in-law Wu had a smile on her face, but as soon as she saw the money Xu Qing handed her, tears started streaming down her face.

"You know how much money those paper offerings can fetch, Sister-in-law. You can't accept that money."

Xu Qing didn't know how to explain this. "You know, this whole thing is so complicated, why doesn't anyone believe me when I tell the truth?"

Those paper offerings sold for a hundred taels of silver, how much did he just give out?

"How about this, sister-in-law, take two taels of silver to use first, and keep the rest here. When you need money later, you can come and get it."

Sister-in-law Wu shook her head again, refusing to accept the money no matter what.

Xu Qing instantly realized that if it wasn't about money, then something else must have happened.

"Sister-in-law, please speak your mind."

Wu's sister-in-law hesitated and stammered for a long time before finally explaining the matter clearly.

It turned out that Wu Zhiyuan's newlywed wife, the daughter of Magistrate Zhang Yong, had lost her mind and crashed into the door and wall, dying in the process.

The eldest daughter and son-in-law of Magistrate Zhang Yong believed that since his younger sister had already married Wu Zhiyuan and died for love with an outsider who was "disloyal, unfilial, and morally flawed," it would bring shame to the Zhang family's ancestors if she were to be buried in the ancestral tomb.

Zhang Yong always valued his reputation. Upon hearing what Yang Hong and his wife said, he abandoned all religious ceremonies and did not linger in the mourning hall or at the coffin. He hastily held the funeral and buried his youngest daughter in a mass grave outside the city.

Zhang Wan's foster mother was a soft-hearted woman who couldn't bear to see her youngest daughter's body buried in the wilderness. So she sent someone to Linhe to tell Wu's sister-in-law about it, hoping that Zhang Wan's coffin could be moved to the Wu family's ancestral graveyard so that she could have peace of mind.

When Sister-in-law Wu first heard the bad news, she was stunned for a long time.

Imagine, a woman like her, her husband framed and imprisoned, her son and nephew still missing. How could she possibly handle all these distressing matters on her own?

After thinking for a long time, Wu's sister-in-law had no choice but to take some eggs and go to her neighbor Xu Qing.

In her eyes, Xu Qing was both an acquaintance and a funeral director, and moving and reburying remains was his livelihood. Apart from Xu Qing, she really couldn't find another person she could entrust with this task.

Xu Qing was speechless for a moment after hearing what Wu's sister-in-law said.

The Wu family has truly suffered many misfortunes. No wonder Hu Baosong once said that the Wu family had a hurdle to overcome; if they could overcome it, they would have a bright future, but if they couldn't, they would be ruined and die.

Well, things have turned out differently. Instead of getting any incense business, funeral business has come knocking on our door.

Since they were acquaintances, Xu Qing didn't ask Wu's sister-in-law how much money she wanted. He simply accepted the basket of eggs as payment for the trip.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. Baisha County is only about twenty miles from here. I'll move your coffin back to Linhe before tomorrow."

After closing the shop door, hanging a "Work Available" sign at the entrance, setting up a message board next to it, and placing a charcoal pencil on it, Xu Qing went to Baisha County.

When Xu Qing arrived at Magistrate Zhang's residence, he realized that the Zhang family was now completely bewitched. If he dared to come to their door and say, "I want to move your daughter's grave, please show me the way," Xu Qing knew that the Zhang family was now completely obsessed.

The county magistrate would definitely give him a good beating and kick him out of the house.

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then found the old gatekeeper and said, "Sir, I am a relative of Zhang Wan, the foster mother of Miss Zhang from the Zhang family. I have something to discuss with her, so please inform her."

After saying that, Xu Qing gave the old servant some money for running errands.

And so, in no time at all, Xu Qing met Zhang Wan's foster mother.

After briefly explaining their purpose, Zhang's maid called her husband, and they boarded the carriage with Xu Qing, heading out of the city. Along the way, Xu Qing, driving the carriage, inquired about Zhang Wan.

The foster mother's husband, the head cook of the Zhang family, shook his head and sighed, "It's all the fault of the son-in-law, who's so useless. He insists on wandering around gambling and whoring all day long, and now we don't know where he's gone. The master regretted marrying Miss Wan'er to that man surnamed Wu, so he arranged another marriage for her. Who would have thought that Miss Wan'er is such a stubborn and fiery person, she's set her sights on that man surnamed Wu, and no matter how others try to persuade her, she won't listen. Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this."

Xu Qing was puzzled. Wu Zhiyuan had come to the capital to seek justice for his father. How could he have the leisure to indulge in drinking, gambling, and whoring? Had the entire Zhang family been corrupted by evil influences?

"Who told you that?"

Inside the carriage, Zhang's maidservant replied, "At first, I didn't believe the young master would do such a thing, but everyone in the household is saying it. The young master hasn't shown up yet, and it's my Wan'er who's suffering."

Xu Qing frowned and stopped asking questions.

It's clear that someone in this mansion is stirring up trouble and deliberately trying to sow discord between the county magistrate and Wu Zhiyuan. Wu Zhiyuan is not at home right now and has no way to defend himself, so he can be easily framed.

The three of them rode in a carriage and soon arrived at the outside of the cemetery.

The mass grave had a separate enclosed cemetery, which was guarded by grave keepers. Although Magistrate Zhang hated his daughter for being unworthy, he did not actually bury her outside the cemetery where wild dogs dug up graves.

The three got off the carriage. Zhang's cook knew the old man who looked after the grave. After they explained the situation, the old man was quite understanding.

"That's the county magistrate's daughter. It's not very nice to bury her here. But moving a grave without permission is no different from grave robbing. If word gets out, it could cause trouble."

Zhang's wet nurse took out some silver to try and bribe the grave keeper, but the old man wouldn't have any luck: "I have no wife or children, and I won't live for many more years. What use is this money to me? Take the money back. As for the grave, I'm going out to buy some wine. If you want to pay your respects, hurry up and don't be late."

Xu Qing chuckled upon hearing this, took a pickaxe, crowbar, axe, and shovel from the back of the carriage, and casually entered the cemetery.

Guided by his foster mother, Xu Qing found Zhang Wan's grave and skillfully picked up a shovel to begin digging.

When Zhang's foster mother and cook saw this scene, they were terrified.

Judging from their posture, they don't seem like it's their first time digging up a grave; they seem like a skilled worker who does this often.

The cook grabbed his foster mother's arm, sweat beading on his forehead, and said, "Where did you find this person? He doesn't seem like a respectable gentleman; he looks more like a seasoned tomb raider."

The foster mother also had her doubts, but she still comforted her, saying, "This is a spirit-shifting master that the son-in-law's mother found. He's in this business, so it's normal for him to have experience."

Over here, Xu Qing removed the loose soil. He didn't use a knife to pick at the coffin nails; instead, he pinched the coffin nails with his fingers, lifted them gently, and removed all the coffin nails in a short time, just like plucking chicken feathers.

To prevent the two from becoming suspicious, Xu Qing added, "This coffin is too heavy. The three of us definitely can't lift it onto the carriage. We might as well disassemble it, move the lid and body separately, and then seal it once we get to the destination."

The foster mother and cook had no suspicions and let Xu Qing do as he pleased.

After removing the coffin nails, Xu Qing lifted the coffin lid, and Miss Zhang, dressed in a pearl-colored funeral gown, lay inside as if asleep.

Xu Qing apologized and said, "Moving the spirit requires burning incense and chanting scriptures for the deceased, as well as tidying up their appearance. Please wait a moment; it will only take half an incense stick's time."

After saying this, Xu Qing placed a stick of incense in front of the coffin, then took out an eyebrow pencil and a powder palette and began to prepare Miss Zhang's remains.

After dressing up, Xu Qing lifted Zhang Wan's wrist, ready to begin the ritual of deliverance. However, when his fingers touched her wrist, he found that the scripture of deliverance did not react at all.

Looking at Zhang Wan's arms again, they were surprisingly soft, like those of a living person.

Xu Qing was surprised and reached out to touch Zhang Wan's pulse, but there was no pulse.

Feeling the temperature, her little hands were icy cold, not like those of a living person.

With his Qi Observation Technique activated, Xu Qing finally discovered something unusual: a ball of hot air was condensing and lingering around Miss Zhang's chest.

　There should be another chapter around midnight, please vote with monthly tickets!
　　Note: The book title will remain unchanged for the time being.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)