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

Upon hearing this, I smiled wryly.

Two minutes later, I followed Lu Yan out of the stronghold.

The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, so I squinted and took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

Although the matter of the life-saving bill has come to a temporary end, I know that this is only the beginning.

The black bone needle in my arms was pressed against my skin, emitting a faint coolness.

So much has happened in the past month. Since I returned to Huilongzhai, the fog around me seems to be getting thicker and thicker.

The escaped remnants of Wandie Valley, the missing copper coin sword, and the rattle drum left by my grandfather.

To this day, I still don't understand what that thing is for.

The whereabouts of my parents are still a mystery.

And then another masked man with an unknown identity and purpose appeared...

After getting into Lu Yan's car, I leaned back in the passenger seat and closed my eyes to rest.

Lu Yan glanced at me occasionally through the rearview mirror while driving, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"Director Lu, is there anything else?"

Noticing her gaze, I opened my eyes and asked.

"Chen Yang, that day... did you have any clues about the skills that the masked man displayed?" She finally asked.

"That's a 'thread-puller,' used to deal with corpses that have a lot of resentment. It's not some profound technique," I said calmly.

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to keep the matter of the Ghost Needle to myself for now.

The masked man's identity is unknown, and the mundane art he left behind is far from simple, so it's best not to reveal this matter for the time being.

Hearing this, Lu Yan sighed: "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Anyway, if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up."

Go back and rest for a few days. We might need you for some work later.

"Sewing up a corpse?"

"This time it's not about stitching up a dead person."

Lu Yan's voice turned serious. "You'll find out when the time comes."

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, I didn't press her further.

He simply nodded, which was his way of agreeing.

Lu Yan was a great help to me with the account book; without her intervention, I would never have been able to escape this storm so easily.

One could die there.

So whatever she's talking about, just answer her.

Asking so many questions only makes you seem petty.

Two hours later, the black SUV came to a steady stop in front of the Jiangcheng Funeral Home.

"arrive."

Lu Yan didn't turn off the engine. She placed her hands on the steering wheel and glanced at me.

The sunlight streaming through the leaves outside the car window softened her otherwise hard features, making them appear much gentler.

"Thanks, Director Lu."

I unbuckled my seatbelt and said with a smile, "I'll treat you to dumplings another day."

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly: "Forget about dumplings, just don't let us meet again covered in blood."

Keep your phone on. That matter... it's still going through the procedures. I'll let you know as soon as there's any news.

"it is good."

I pushed open the door and got out of the car.

"I'm gone."

Lu Yan waved her hand, stepped on the gas, and the SUV shot off, leaving only a faint trail of exhaust fumes.

As I watched the car disappear around the corner, I let out a soft breath and turned to look at the familiar courtyard behind me.

The funeral home remains the same as always, with several drab gray buildings nestled among evergreen pines and cypresses, and the air is always filled with a faint smell of incense and disinfectant.

The electronic screen at the main entrance displays the words "May the departed rest in peace, and may the living be strong" in red, which, after a while, makes one feel somewhat dazed.

As soon as I entered the service hall, Director Wang suddenly rushed out from behind the counter.

"Chen Yang! You actually know how to come back, huh!"

Director Wang was waving a registration book around, looking like he wanted to slap it right in my face.

"Three days! Three whole days! I can't get through on the phone, and I can't find you anywhere! I'm terrified that one day we'll bring in your corpse!"

He was spitting as he spoke, his face flushed, and although his tone was hurried, it also revealed a hint of concern.

It's funny, but he's probably the only person in the world who cares about my whereabouts.

I skillfully took a half step back, avoiding his spittle, and put on a smile: "Director, calm down. There was an emergency at home, so I went back to my hometown."

My phone fell into the water, so I just got a replacement SIM card and rushed back.

I blurted out a lie on the spot.

"Urgent matter? What urgent matter could require not even asking for leave?"

Director Wang looked me over suspiciously. "You look fine, not like anything's wrong."

You wouldn't have been taking on side jobs behind my back, would you?

"No way."

I took out a pack of unopened Zhonghua cigarettes from my pocket and quietly slipped it into his pocket.

"If I were to take on private jobs, I would definitely have to inform you first, right? This is a local specialty I brought back from my hometown; please try it."

Director Wang touched his pocket, and his expression immediately softened considerably.

With this excuse, he snorted twice: "You've got some conscience, kid. Alright, now that you're back, get to work."

An elderly woman was just brought to Hall 3 for a joyous funeral. Her family had high expectations and specifically requested the best makeup artist to do her makeup.

I trust your skills, so don't let me down.

"Okay, I'll go right now."

I smiled and agreed, then turned and walked towards the locker room.

After changing into a white coat, putting on a mask and gloves, I was instantly enveloped in that familiar atmosphere as I pushed open the door to the No. 3 cosmetic surgery room.

Lying on the morgue was a kind-looking old lady, probably in her eighties.

She died of natural causes; there was no pain on her face.

This is actually the norm in our industry.

Where would there be so many bloodied corpses needing stitches every day? If that were the case, the world would have been in chaos long ago.

This is also why our lineage has gradually declined.

Many things will gradually disappear as times change...

"Old man, please forgive me. Let me cleanse you so you can travel in peace."

I muttered to myself as I began to touch up my makeup.

The whole process took about an hour.

After seeing the family members off, I returned to the lounge, took off my gloves, and turned on the tap to wash my hands.

After drying my hands, I glanced at the time; it was almost time.

After packing my things, I walked out of the funeral home.

I drove my old, eight-times-used Santana back to my rented room.

The rented room was still the same as always. I casually tossed my canvas bag onto the sofa and drew the curtains.

After finishing the food that had been packed up, I sat cross-legged on the bed and took out the black bone needle from my inner pocket.

In the dim light, the texture on the surface of the bone needle seemed to come alive, and the eye carved on the end of the needle seemed to be staring intently at me.

"The Ghost Needle... stitches up spirits and mends souls."

I muttered the incantation that had appeared in my mind, trying to mobilize a wisp of malevolent energy within my body and slowly inject it into the bone needle through my fingertips.

"Buzz—"

The bone needle emitted an extremely faint tremor, followed by a visible black light emanating from its tip, instantly lowering the temperature of the entire room by several degrees.