Chapter 65: An Unexpected Encounter with an Acquaintance

My master turned to look at him and spoke, “Why do you say that?”

The corpse herder smiled, replying, “It’s not the woman herself who is troublesome, but those behind her. Lu Tangjun—surely you’ve heard of this name.”

My master nodded without the slightest hint of alarm. Sitting beside them, I noticed the firewood was nearly spent. I stood up and fetched some more logs from the stack nearby. Just as I placed the wood down, a loud crash echoed from the door. A fierce gust swept in, sending dust and leaves swirling through the air. I hurried to the door and slammed it shut, restoring calm. Returning, I said to my master, “The rain is too heavy.”

He nodded, but at that moment, the window beside the door was flung open by the wind. Rain poured in, splattering the floor. I rushed over to close it, but as soon as it was secured, the door burst open again. I was overwhelmed, and then I heard the corpse herder’s voice, dark and grim: “What must come will come.”

I froze. My master glanced at the corpse herder. In that instant of distraction, a tremendous force struck me, sending me tumbling to the ground. My master hurried over, helping me up. We looked out into the storm-ridden courtyard, and as I rubbed my shoulder, frowning, I saw a figure standing there—or rather, a person missing half an arm.

Startled, I heard the corpse herder call out, “Friends, hide yourselves quickly! This is my own trouble; I’ll deal with it.”

Yet my master didn’t budge, staring at the rain-soaked figure outside and asking, “What is that thing?”

“A water corpse!” The corpse herder was ready for battle, and those two words shocked my master. “A water corpse? Here, too?”

“Yes, and it has already opened its eyes. Not easy to handle,” the corpse herder replied, brows furrowed.

My master was further surprised. “Its eyes? What color?”

“Blue—almost yellow now,” the corpse herder answered.

My master nodded, watching the unmoving water corpse. “How did you provoke it?”

“This creature tried to steal my foot traveler for consumption and followed me all the way. I never let it succeed, but one of my foot travelers was injured, and I fear it may soon transform into a corpse as well.”

After speaking, the corpse herder urged, “Friends, hide quickly. I’ll explain everything later. Unless we deal with it, the journey will not be peaceful. Hurry!”

But my master remained unmoved, looking at the water corpse and saying, “You can’t defeat it.”

The corpse herder paused, staring at my master, but then the water corpse outside roared in fury, lifting a broken door plank and hurling it at us. The corpse herder reacted swiftly, kicking the plank aside. Before he could steady himself, the water corpse rushed at him. The corpse herder dodged and pulled a yellow talisman from his waist pouch, slapping it onto the creature’s back, but it had no effect—the talisman was immediately knocked to the ground by the corpse’s foul aura.

Frowning, the corpse herder took out a ghost bell, shaking it as he chanted, “Spirits of the five directions, heed my command, aid me in slaying this corpse, let fate not oppose!”

My master watched him and remarked, “So you know Daoist arts as well—interesting!”

With those words, five spectral figures appeared out of nowhere, charging at the water corpse. The creature bared its long corpse fangs and let out a howl. I immediately pinched my nose and cried, “Ugh! The stench is unbearable!”

As soon as I spoke, the water corpse released its foul aura, scattering the five phantoms. With a crack, the corpse herder’s bell broke in two. He was stunned, and the water corpse seized the chance, leaping at him, pinning him to the ground, and strangling him with its remaining arm. I could see his face turning ashen.

I glanced at my master, puzzled by his calmness; he simply watched without intervening. Yet I heard him mutter, “The Five Ghost Curse was executed perfectly, but he cannot fully control it—what a pity.”

He finished speaking, and the corners of his mouth curled upward. I recognized this expression and knew he was about to act. Indeed, in a flash, my master dashed forward, delivering a thunderous kick that sent the water corpse crashing against the door plank. The creature doubled over, stunned, but my master didn’t pause—he kicked it again, sending it sprawling into the rain-soaked yard.

The water corpse was bewildered, and so was the corpse herder lying on the ground. He looked at my master in disbelief. My master dusted off his hands, helped him up, and shut the door. From outside came a deafening roar and the sound of footsteps. My master smiled coldly, turned, and struck with an open palm, and with a shriek, the water corpse was blasted away by the force of his blow.

Then, he snapped his fingers, and a golden radiance enveloped the door. My master and the corpse herder returned inside, the latter giving my master a look of utter disbelief. I went back to tend the fire. My master sat down first and glanced at us. “Why stand there? Isn’t it more comfortable to sit?”

I hesitated, pointing at the water corpse outside. “But…”

Before I could finish, my master waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. It can’t come in. It should leave soon. If it doesn’t, let it wander around—so long as I’m here, it won’t cause much trouble.”

I nodded, obeyed, and sat down. The corpse herder remained dazed, standing in place. My master chuckled and said, “Friend, don’t just stand there. The rain’s getting heavier; you won’t be able to leave for a while. Why not sit and warm yourself by the fire and chat?”

The corpse herder finally came to his senses, nodded blankly, and sat with us. He then asked, “May I ask your name, noble friend, your master, and your origin? I’m simply curious, nothing more.”

My master smiled, leaning against the table leg. “A name is but a label. I am self-taught, from Chongqing.”

“Self-taught? Are you a prodigy in Daoist arts?” the corpse herder asked, puzzled.

My master waved his hand and continued smiling. “You could say so, though I wouldn’t call myself a genius.”

I was startled. My master had, in a roundabout way, admitted he was a genius—how shameless! Yet I heard the corpse herder ask, “Then why not simply destroy the water corpse? Given your skills, surely it would be easy.”

“He has harmed no one, and cultivated his own awakening. Why should I destroy him?” My master’s words left the corpse herder awkwardly silent.

Then my master laughed and said, “Just joking, friend. I know he’s troubled you for some time, but he…”

Before he finished, another loud crash came from outside. My master glanced at the door and shook his head. “Stubborn fool!”

He turned to the corpse herder and said, “We all make our living in this circle. Since you helped me, let me help you in return. I’ll deal with the water corpse for you, as thanks for your earlier assistance.”

The corpse herder was stunned, staring at my master as he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was wrapped in golden light, leaving the corpse herder even more amazed. My master smiled gently and spoke, “Divine head flees the darkness, the spirit transcends the void.”

With those words, he flicked his finger, and the noise outside ceased instantly. The corpse herder walked to the window in confusion and looked out—there lay the water corpse, motionless. My master said, “No need to look. I’ve drawn out its corpse aura, but its strength remains at the yellow-eyed stage. Refine it well—it’ll be useful in the future.”

I was dumbfounded. What? Was my master giving the water corpse to the corpse herder? Indeed, the corpse herder was equally stunned, asking, “What do you mean, friend?”

My master sat up straight and explained, “It’s a gift. Take the water corpse. I know your clan not only walks the feet but also practices corpse refinement. Let it strengthen your lineage.”

The corpse herder was utterly speechless, staring at the water corpse outside for a long time before returning and asking, “Why help our corpse herding clan? Surely it’s not just because I shared a name with you?”

My master smiled and nodded, “Indeed. Your clan has a man named Sun Tianyu—do you know him?”

“Sun Tianyu?” the corpse herder murmured softly.

After a moment, he suddenly asked, “Who are you, friend? How do you know people from our clan?”

My master smiled gently. “Not only do I know him, we were well acquainted. We once roamed the world together. But he is gone now. Otherwise, your clan would not have declined so rapidly.”

“Friend, may I ask your name?” the corpse herder requested again.

My master gazed at the blazing fire, as if lost in deep memories after mentioning Sun Tianyu. This time, he answered, “Beiming Pass, surname Tan.”

Hearing this, the corpse herder was stunned, bowing his head to mutter, “Beiming Pass? Tan Boqing? Master Tan?”

My master nodded slightly, and the corpse herder suddenly raised his head, bent low, and respectfully called out, “Master!”

This time, it was my master’s turn to be surprised. He helped the corpse herder up and asked, “What are you doing?”

The corpse herder quickly replied, “Master, to tell the truth, Master Sun was my benefactor. I was his last disciple.”

“Last disciple?” My master was astonished.

The corpse herder nodded, and my master asked again, “You… you are Cheng Quanguang?”