Folklore simulation, starting with the mortician

"this……"

Upon hearing Liang Zhong's words, Li Feng's face immediately showed a troubled expression.

This is quite a dilemma. If even a master couldn't handle this fierce corpse, how could a novice like him, who hasn't even entered the profession yet, not simply be throwing his life away?

"Well, that's why I'm saying this. It's not easy, but it's not without a solution. It just depends on whether you're willing to do it..."

As Liang Zhong spoke, his eyes kept scanning Li Feng's face.

"Uncle Liang, please speak!"

Li Feng sighed inwardly. He was forced into this situation and had no choice but to hope that Uncle Liang, whom he barely remembered, could offer some good advice.

"I'd rather give up this skill and live a peaceful life..."

Li Feng frowned at Liang Zhong's words, not expecting that he wanted to cut off a lineage for him.

"This matter..."

Li Feng pondered for a moment, knowing that this was a good idea, but he still felt that there was something fishy going on.

"I'm doing this for your own good. You've taken on this business, but do you have your master's skills? Even your master failed because of this. Do you really want your master to be restless in the afterlife?"

Liang Zhong offered a word of advice, but told Li Feng to weigh the pros and cons himself.

"Uncle Liang, could you let me think about this when I get back? The main thing is..."

Li Feng was about to speak when the Sun family patriarch, whom he hadn't spoken to before, approached with a round belly and a gloomy face. He spoke only after getting closer.

"Young master, we're all seasoned travelers; we all know the rules of the trade. We agreed on a price beforehand and paid it all at once. Now that the matter hasn't been settled, what do you think we should do?"

Li Feng opened his mouth, but he really didn't know how to explain it. He couldn't possibly say that the money was taken by his master and had nothing to do with him.

They were well aware of the habits of these wandering people; they valued integrity and trustworthiness. Now that they had taken on the job but failed to complete it, it was indeed the fault of the master and apprentice.

After much deliberation, Li Feng could only offer this advice: "Master Sun, now that my master has passed away, could you grant me some more time? I'll come back after the funeral arrangements are complete..."

"No, no, no! If evil spirits were involved, who would want to do business with us merchants? No, absolutely not!"

Before Master Sun could speak, a long-faced, scarred man followed behind, shouting.

Li Feng glanced at Master Sun's expression. Master Sun kept his eyes down, his expression already revealing his attitude.

"If you don't give me a straight answer today, your head chef isn't leaving this place..."

The long-faced, scarred man stepped forward, staring at Li Feng like a wolf.

Just as they were in a dilemma, Liang Zhong hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over, "There's no need for that. We're all just trying to make a living. We're from the same village, and we'll run into each other all the time. In my opinion, this matter is easy to handle. I'll be your witness and I'll definitely get this done properly. I certainly won't embarrass Master Sun."

Liang Zhong hurriedly gave Li Feng a meaningful look. Li Feng, seeing this, gradually realized that this was a trap set for him, a trap that would surely lead to his death.

What frustrated Li Feng was that even if he wanted to break the deadlock, he couldn't find a way.

For now, the only option was to go along with it, apologize to this Mr. Sun, and show him the proper respect.

Upon hearing Li Feng's words, Sun Bashi's expression softened slightly, and he simply said, "Three days. I can only wait three days."

After saying that, he turned and left, and it seemed that he was going to drive the person away. Li Feng had nothing to say. He took the mule cart that his master had brought earlier, put the body in a simple coffin, and then placed it on the cart.

After everything was settled, he thanked Liang Zhong. Liang Zhong sighed and said, "Child, you've had it tough too, but things are urgent now. Think it over yourself, and tell me when you've made up your mind."

After saying that, he patted Li Feng on the shoulder, put his hands behind his back, and left.

After Liang Zhong had gone far away, Li Feng finally let out a heavy sigh of relief. Before it got dark, he hurriedly drove the mule cart back to the temple.

For some reason, the journey was very easy, and there were no stray dogs digging up graves by the roadside. The mule also walked much more briskly.

Upon arriving at the temple, Li Feng locked the door and first placed his master's body in an empty room in the west wing. It wasn't the usual morgue, but since the man was dead, out of consideration for their past relationship, he couldn't let his master stay in a large dormitory; at least he had a private room.

With a slight sigh, Li Feng returned to the room, found the two copper coins that his master had dropped, and wiped them slightly. Words appeared before his eyes, and his master's life story flashed before him like a revolving lantern.

Over a hundred years ago, during the Great Yi Dynasty, Emperor Jing was a ruler of both civil and military prowess, bringing peace to the land. Later, Emperor Wu ascended the throne and launched campaigns in all directions, seeking hegemony. Years passed, and the wars continued unabated, leading to conscription. You were of marriageable age and, to avoid the ravages of war, you became the disciple of an old gentleman who traveled to various places.

The old master, unaware of his own identity, passed on his skills to you and your apprentice. Upon your completion of your apprenticeship, he only instructed you never to reveal his name. Wanting only a peaceful life, you retired to the countryside and became a mortician.

[But little did you know that your junior brother was extremely arrogant. Since childhood, he had been by your side and had shouted the slogan, "The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise; in the year of Jiazi, great fortune will come to the world." He also spread his teachings in the world as the Way of Great Peace, but was later suppressed by the imperial court as a heretical sect.]

Your junior brother once begged you to join him in a great undertaking, but you resolutely refused. Unexpectedly, the Way of Peace was later destroyed, and your junior brother was also subjected to the cruel punishment of being sliced ​​to death. On the execution ground, you exhausted your family fortune to find a way to recover your junior brother's body intact and stitch it back together.

At that time, Emperor Wu was tyrannical and superstitious, believing in the magic of sorcerers. The entire court was filled with chaos and corruption. After ten years, Emperor Wu issued an edict of self-reproach, repented, reorganized the court, and established a new dynasty.

[But you know that things changed the day your junior brother died. You also understand that sooner or later, your junior brother will come looking for you again. Therefore, you severed your ties with life and death early, stole a yin body, and sought your own end.]

[Heaven and earth are a single scale, its value used to judge good and evil; the reward is three taels of silver!]

A peaceful life, ultimately unfulfilled, yet the descendants carry on the legacy and strive. Rating: Upper-B.

[Reward: Court ritual to ward off evil spirits and suppress malevolent forces.]

[A glimpse through a crack in the embankment reveals a sharp light; a ladle is picked but no soup is offered. A green seed weighs down Mount Tai's bones; a needle's point sews a fierce attack—a pestle's head over the sea.]

Before he could ponder the depth of his master's background, the wonder of the rewarded technique, or the Qingfu coins mentioned in the evaluation, Li Feng felt that everything about this matter was strange.

It seemed as if his master was seeking death. Upon further reflection, Li Feng felt a cold sweat break out. Over a hundred years ago, that was just a figment of his imagination.

According to the original owner's memory, he had heard the storyteller in the county say that the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu of the Great Yi Dynasty lasted for a full two hundred years.

Thinking about it this way, in this chaotic world where birth, aging, sickness, and death are all within the reach of a young man, my master has actually lived to be an ancient relic.

It even involves the changing of dynasties and the succession of emperors!

"Damn it, the waters here are too deep. It's safest to get out as soon as possible."

Li Feng sighed slightly, went to the back hall, found three incense sticks, and was about to take down his own memorial tablet when he noticed that his master's name was displayed on the tablet.

There was a note folded inside, with the words clearly visible: "I knew you were afraid of death, so I left this note. Put aside your thoughts for now and listen to my explanation."