Swallowing the Stars: The cheat system only comes when I'm almost a god?

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The dim light of the oil lamps in the mortuary illuminated the faces of Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai, both etched with unwavering loyalty.

"Master!" Wen Cai rubbed his hands together, launching the first attack with utmost sincerity on his face.

"Please calm down, sir! Junior Brother Qian... he didn't actually slack off on purpose. He had a strange illness when he was a child, it's called... it's called..."

He got stuck and looked to Qiu Sheng for help.

Qiu Sheng immediately chimed in, his tone resolute, as if he had witnessed it firsthand: "Snares! The Western doctor said it's a condition he developed as a child. He seems lethargic, but it's all beyond his control."

As he spoke, he kept glancing at Uncle Nine's expression.

Uncle Nine sat upright in his chair, listening expressionlessly, but inwardly he was sneering repeatedly:

"Syllosis?"

Hmph, I've been in Renjia Town for decades. Who doesn't know what kind of person that young master Qian is? He's been into cockfighting and dog racing since he was a child!

Besides... it's hard to say whether Qian Chen is still the same person he was before.

That's an excuse, what a load of rubbish!

However, he did not expose him on the surface, but simply nodded slightly, his tone calm and indifferent: "Oh? So he has a chronic illness? If that's the case, then we can't entirely blame him."

"Alright, this matter... allow me to think it over some more."

Seeing that his master seemed to be relenting, Qiu Sheng's spirits lifted: "Master is wise!"

Junior Brother Qian told us today that he promised to work hard to overcome this problem, study diligently and practice hard, and never let down his master's teachings.

He truly has a heart set on the Way, Master!

Wen Cai nodded in agreement like a chick pecking at rice.

Uncle Nine's face showed a hint of "gratification," and he nodded repeatedly: "Hmm... It is a virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them."

It's always good to be willing to work hard. A prodigal son's return is priceless...

He paused deliberately, looking at the flames of hope burning in his two apprentices' eyes, "Then... let's observe them a little longer."

If he truly has this intention, it's not impossible to give him another chance.

He still did not agree.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai exchanged a glance, knowing that success or failure hinged on this moment.

Wen Cai forced a sorrowful expression onto his face and stepped forward, unleashing his trump card: "Master, you don't know!"

When you sent Junior Brother Qian home, Master Qian felt he had lost face and grabbed the family law, saying he would beat this good-for-nothing son to death.

My junior brother... he's at his wit's end now.

"Master, please have mercy on Junior Brother Qian, considering his sincere repentance!"

He secretly observed Uncle Nine's reaction and saw that his master's brows furrowed slightly, as if he had been touched. He quickly seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

"Master Qian also said that as long as you, Master, are willing to take your junior brother back, he is willing to pay for the renovation of our mortuary!"

They were even willing to donate money to build a grander temple for their master on the outskirts of town, so that the Maoshan Sect could flourish in Renjia Town.

Upon hearing the words "renovate the mortuary" and "build a grand temple," Uncle Nine's originally calm face finally showed emotion, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, he sighed "helplessly," seemingly moved by his apprentice's "filial piety" and the Qian family's "sincerity":

"Sigh...so be it. Since Master Qian is so sincere, I shouldn't be too heartless."

He looked at Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai's ecstatic faces and said, "You two bring Qian Chen back first thing tomorrow morning."

Remember, you must arrive at the mortuary before 7:00 AM!

If he hasn't arrived by Chen Shi (7-9 AM) yet...

Uncle Nine's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Then let this matter rest, and none of you are allowed to plead for him again!"

"Yes, Master!" Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai were so excited they almost jumped up. They patted their chests and assured each other, "Don't worry, Master, we'll go as soon as the rooster crows tomorrow and bring our junior brother to you safe and sound before dawn."

The two left happily, as if they could already see their new clothes, their wives, and the position of deputy captain of the security team beckoning to them.

……

The next day, in the backyard of the Qian family mansion.

After listening to Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai's vivid descriptions of how their master was persuaded, how much he valued him, and how the appointment at Chenshi was made, Qian Chen's heart finally settled down.

He let out a long sigh of relief, and his hand holding the teacup became much steadyer.

"It's finally done... We absolutely have to go back to this mortuary."

He could only learn some rudimentary, rudimentary boxing techniques from his own guards, which was incredibly inefficient.

Only by learning those profound Taoist and martial arts techniques from Uncle Nine can my Salted Fish System achieve its maximum effect.

A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes: "Lin Jiu, the humiliation you caused me by kicking me out today, I will make you repay double when I have mastered my skills!"

"Junior brother! Our matter..." Qiu Sheng rubbed his hands together and shamelessly approached.

Wencai watched longingly.

Qian Chen immediately put on a grateful smile: "Don't worry, senior brothers, I've already taken care of things with my father."

"We've already made an appointment with the matchmaker; the day after tomorrow is set for Brother Wencai to meet the girl. Mr. Wang, who manages the security team, has also given his approval, and Brother Qiusheng's appointment letter as deputy captain should be issued in two days at most."

"That's great!" Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai were overjoyed, as if their dream had come true. The three of them looked at each other and laughed.

Beneath his smile, Qian Chen's eyes, glancing at his two senior brothers, were filled with contempt and disdain: "Two idiots, only interested in these petty gains, they deserve to be used for the rest of their lives."

……

Another day passed, on a hillside outside Renjia Town.

The ceremony for the exhumation and reburial of Old Master Ren, presided over by Uncle Jiu, is underway.

The process was just like the cycle in my memory: a cold wind blew, crows took flight in fright, and a heavy coffin was carried out of the tomb, its body faintly exuding an unsettling aura of malevolence.

The memories were not too different from those in reincarnation. Uncle Nine had Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai burn plum blossom incense at a nearby grave, while he led people to carry the coffin back to the mortuary.

Before long, the two returned, their faces pale, holding three incense sticks in their hands—two short and one long!

People fear three long and two short, and incense burns most inauspiciously, two short and one long!

"If this incense is coming out of the house, someone must have died!" Uncle Nine said solemnly.

As dusk settled, the sky gradually darkened.

Uncle Jiu glanced at the sky and, as usual, said, "Qiu Sheng, it's getting late. Your aunt's house is in town, and it's not close. You should hurry back."

After Qiu Sheng responded, he pushed his bicycle from the corner of the courtyard and left the mortuary.

Watching Qiu Sheng's figure disappear through the doorway, Uncle Jiu followed in a flash, his aura concealed to the extreme.

"In the memories of reincarnation, it is tonight... You wretched child, I will give you one last chance to see if you will still disobey your master for the sake of a female ghost."

Qiu Sheng rode his bicycle, humming a little tune.

As he rode his bicycle back to his aunt's house, passing an abandoned house at the edge of town, a startling sight suddenly appeared in the dim light ahead:

The town's night watchman was seen frantically tearing at the clothes of a woman in white!

The woman was pretty, and she was now struggling and crying out in panic, "Help! Help! I'm being molested!"

"Stop! In broad daylight... uh, in the middle of the night, what do you think you're doing!" Qiu Sheng's blood boiled, and his heroic heart was instantly aroused.

He slammed on the brakes, shouted angrily, jumped out of the car, rushed forward, and shoved the watchman who was behaving improperly away.

The night watchman stumbled from the shove, pointing at the woman in white and shouting angrily at Qiu Sheng, "She's a ghost! She's a ghost!"

Qiu Sheng refused to believe it. Before him was clearly a lecherous man bullying a weak woman.

He stood in front of the woman and shouted angrily, "You're the ghost! Get out!"

The night watchman, his face flushed with anger, pointed at Qiu Sheng and yelled, "You ungrateful wretch! You...you...fine! Fine! I'm not going to bother with you anymore! You don't know what's good for you!"

After saying that, he picked up the lantern and ran away cursing.

Uncle Nine, hiding in the shadows, could see clearly that the woman in white was none other than the female ghost Dong Xiaoyu.

Just moments before Qiu Sheng appeared, a cunning glint flashed in her eyes. With a mere flick of her finger, the night watchman was manipulated like a puppet, struggling to lunge at her and tearing at her clothes, creating the illusion of an attempted crime.

Uncle Nine shook his head repeatedly, sighing inwardly, "After studying Taoist magic for so many years, he still can't distinguish between humans and ghosts."

That female ghost used a little magic to trick you, making you mistake the well-meaning night watchman for a villain. How utterly foolish!

"Girl, are you alright?" Qiu Sheng asked Dong Xiaoyu with concern.

Dong Xiaoyu was on the verge of tears. After tidying her disheveled clothes, she gracefully bowed and said, "Thank you for saving my life, young master."

My name is Dong Xiaoyu, and my home is not far ahead.

The road is difficult to travel at night; could you, sir, possibly... escort me on my way?

Qiu Sheng's bones melted at the sight of the beautiful woman before him, how could he possibly refuse?

He pushed the cart and followed Dong Xiaoyu toward the abandoned house.

As he walked, he suddenly muttered to himself, "A romantic encounter in the dead of night? The other person is either a prostitute or a scoundrel!"

Uncle Nine, hidden in the shadows, nodded: "Not too stupid."

But Qiu Sheng's next action made his blood pressure spike.

Qiu Sheng secretly glanced at Dong Xiaoyu; in the moonlight, her skin was as white as snow, and her face was exquisitely beautiful.

He chuckled, "Who cares! Such a beautiful girl, even as a ghost, it's not a loss! To die beneath a peony is to die a romantic death!"

Upon entering the abandoned house, Dong Xiaoyu's room was surprisingly elegantly decorated.

She poured Qiu Sheng a cup of wine with great care, her eyes sparkling, and her lips parted slightly: "Young master, please drink this cup to the brim to express your gratitude."

Qiu Sheng was completely captivated and took the wine glass, about to bring it to his lips.

At this critical moment!

"You monster! How dare you harm people!" A thunderous roar exploded forth!

Uncle Nine could no longer contain himself, broke through the window, and pointed his peach wood sword directly at Dong Xiaoyu!

Dong Xiaoyu was shocked and reacted very quickly, blowing a puff of pink mist at Qiu Sheng.

Qiu Sheng's eyes glazed over instantly, and the scene before him suddenly changed: where was the gentle and lovely Dong Xiaoyu? All he saw was Awei grinning as he grabbed at a woman, and that woman... was none other than Dong Xiaoyu!

"Awei! You beast! Let go of Xiaoyu!" Qiusheng roared, and without thinking, he swung his fist hard at "Awei's" face!

"Stubborn fool!" Uncle Nine slapped Qiu Sheng hard across the face with his backhand, while simultaneously making a hand seal with his other hand and touching Qiu Sheng's forehead.

"Snap!" A crisp sound!

Qiu Sheng staggered from the blow, his face burning with pain, but the psychedelic vision in his eyes receded like the tide.

He covered his face, staring blankly at his master, then at Dong Xiaoyu beside him who looked terrified, his mind buzzing.

"Look carefully!" Uncle Nine roared, and a manifestation talisman was slapped onto Dong Xiaoyu.

"Ah—!" With a piercing scream, the illusion surrounding Dong Xiaoyu instantly crumbled.

One half of her face was still that of a stunning beauty, while the other half was rotting and oozing pus, crawling with maggots, and looked hideous and terrifying!