What do you mean by saying that the corpses I sew are all ominous creatures?

With so many lives lost, if the Bureau of Folklore doesn't come knocking on their door soon, they might as well quit.

If I don't report this to higher authorities soon, and the folk customs bureau follows the ominous smell from the cellar to find me, I won't be able to explain myself no matter how hard I try.

I sighed and went to the bathroom to wash my face.

Grandpa Huai is dead, and Yin Yang Face is dead too. I originally just wanted to get Lin Tiantian's heart back and settle my score with Yin Yang Face, but who would have thought that the waters would be so deep that you couldn't see the bottom?

The reason I went to the locust tree today was purely because Yin Yang-face's dying words, "Master," left me with a lump in my throat.

The most taboo thing for the corpse sewing lineage is having someone stare at the back of their head. I have to sleep with one eye open until I find out who this "master" is.

But now, Grandpa Huai is dead, and I can't handle the mess he left behind by myself.

After washing my face, I sat on the sofa and opened the booklet.

The content here is surprisingly concise, yet surprisingly terrifying.

Each page has a small photo pasted on it, below which is the birth date and time written in cinnabar, followed by a date and coordinates.

I quickly flipped through a few pages and found that most of the photos were of young women, one of which was none other than Lin Tiantian, who had already been cremated.

After Lin Tiantian's name, someone crossed out a large X with black ink, and next to it were written two words: "Medicinal Guide".

As I continued flipping through the pages, the last few pages of the roster began to feature names from Jiangcheng's local business and political circles, and even a few faces I often saw on television.

Beneath these names are records of astonishing money transfers, and their corresponding "requests"—longevity, changing one's fate, having children, and even more insidious curses.

This is not a roster at all; it is a ledger of life-buying by the powerful and wealthy in Jiangcheng!

Uncle Huai is merely a buyer in this grand scheme.

I closed the roster and felt a chill run down my spine.

This thing is a hundred times hotter than I imagined.

If I took this and rushed into the Bureau of Folklore, I might be silenced by some "big shot" on the list before I even met the director.

I need to find a reliable middleman.

I took out my phone and found Jin Wanliang in my contacts.

Although this fat man is greedy, he has been involved in the folk customs circle of Jiangcheng for so many years that his information network is frighteningly well-informed.

Moreover, he's the kind of person who knows how to weigh the pros and cons best; he won't easily sell me out before he's received enough benefits.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered, and Jin Wanliang's low, terrified voice came from the other end.

"Hey... Brother Chen? Is that you?"

"It's me, Boss Jin," I said calmly, my voice sounding somewhat unsteady due to weakness.

"Oh my little devil! You dare call me!"

The sound of a lighter came from Jin Wanliang's side, as if he wanted to smoke to calm his nerves.

"The area around Huai Shu Li is in complete chaos! The Folklore Bureau has dispatched two task forces to seal off the entire area within a three-kilometer radius!"

I heard that Master Huai was stabbed in the throat, and the cellar is full of human skin... Brother, tell me honestly, did you do this?

I didn't respond to his question, but calmly asked, "Boss Jin, I need the contact information for the person in charge of the Jiangcheng Folklore Bureau, or an official channel through which I can speak directly. I have something important to report."

There was a full half-minute of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Are you going to report this?"

Jin Wanliang's voice rose several octaves.

"Dude, are you crazy? You're the prime suspect at the scene! Your murderous aura as a corpse stitcher is brighter than a light bulb on the Bureau of Folklore's ghost detector! Going there now is like walking into a trap!"

"I have an advisor's certificate from the Folklore Department."

I added casually, "Besides, I have Master Huai's account books. If these get out, half the sky in Jiangcheng will collapse."

I believe the folklore department would rather have this ledger than arrest a 'suspect'.

Jin Wanliang gasped on the other end of the phone.

"The ledger...you actually got your hands on that..."

His breathing became rapid, as he was clearly calculating the risks and benefits.

"The consultant's certificate... does work, but for something this important... how about this, the director of the Jiangcheng Folklore Bureau is surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Jianguo. He's an old stubborn man, so going to him won't do you any good."

He paused, then lowered his voice and said, "The deputy director in charge of this operation in Huai Shu Li is named Lu Yan. Although she is young, she has a powerful background and is known for being intolerant of injustice."

I'll send you her private contact number, but please don't tell anyone that I gave it to you.

Also, brother, if you really plan to go, first rein in your menacing aura, lest you get shot dead on the spot before you even open your mouth.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Jin. I will remember this favor."

I hung up the phone, and soon a text message popped up. It was from a number starting with 139, followed by two words: Lu Yan.

I looked at the number but didn't dial it immediately.

My current condition is terrible. Although the side effects of the forbidden technique have subsided, my body has not fully recovered yet.

If I were to meet Lu Yan now, and she showed any hostility, I would have no chance to resist.

I struggled to my feet and rummaged through the kitchen cabinets to find a small packet of cinnabar and a bowl of water.

I dipped my fingertip in cinnabar water and quickly drew several concealment talismans on the door frames and window gaps in the living room.

These talismans may not be able to stop a master, but at least they will keep me undisturbed for the next few hours.

After doing all that, I sat back on the floor and began to regulate my breathing.

Two hours later, I felt that my physical condition had recovered to about 50-60%.

Then I finished my meditation and stood up.

I picked up my phone, took a deep breath, and dialed the number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Who is it?"

The voice was clear, cold, and crisp.

This must be the Lu Yan that Jin Wanliang mentioned.

"Director Lu, hello."

I spoke calmly.

"I am Chen Yang. I think we need to talk about the case in Huai Shu Li. Also, I have Huai Ye's account books now."

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

I could hear the other person's rapid breathing and the background noise of walkie-talkies.

About five seconds later, Lu Yan's voice rang out again, this time less cold and more sharp: "Chen Yang? The corpse-stitching man who killed Master Huai? Where are you?"

"Where I am is not important; what matters is how many people you plan to bring to see me?"

Looking at the increasingly heavy rain outside the window, I said softly, "Director Lu, if you want this ledger to appear intact on your desk, I suggest you come alone. I'll send the address to your phone."

I hung up the phone without waiting for her reply.