Chapter Sixty-six: Spending the Night at the Inn of the Dead

The corpse handler nodded, and this time it was my turn to be stunned. Cheng Quanguang? That name sounded familiar, as if I’d heard it somewhere before. I searched my memories, and suddenly recalled that when I was still at home, I’d seen something about him on my phone—he had even been interviewed. Changing my angle, I looked closer, and sure enough, it was him.

“Senior, my master used to mention you often. I’m finally meeting you in person,” the corpse handler said excitedly.

My master smiled and replied, “I never expected you would be his apprentice. What a coincidence.”

The corpse handler nodded, and so master and Cheng Quanguang began to chat. I sat to the side, tending the firewood, listening to them recount amusing anecdotes.

After a while, Cheng Quanguang gradually steered the conversation back on course, asking, “Senior, what are your plans next?”

Master naturally understood what Cheng Quanguang meant. He crossed one leg, rested his hand on his knee, and gazed into the burning firewood, answering, “I’ll pay a visit to the ancient village in Miao territory.”

Cheng Quanguang frowned slightly, looking at master in disbelief. “But... what about Lu Tangjun? He’s a troublesome fellow.”

Master nodded, saying, “Lu Tangjun is indeed troublesome, but I don’t take him seriously. Things will go as they must. Since that witch has harmed people and I happened to encounter her, I have no reason to turn a blind eye.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Quanguang bowed respectfully to master. “You are truly righteous, Senior!”

Master smiled, waved him closer, and said, “Enough. You’re Sun Tianyu’s apprentice, which makes you my junior. If you ever face any hardships, just come to me. Consider it repaying the debt I owe your sect.”

“Repaying the debt to the corpse handler’s lineage? What do you mean, Senior?” Cheng Quanguang asked.

“It was long ago, back when your master was just starting out,” master replied.

Cheng Quanguang nodded, not pressing further. Master looked at him and asked, “What about you? What are your plans?”

Cheng Quanguang hesitated, then laughed. “I still need to return these clients. There’s not much else. Our corpse handler’s lineage is declining day by day, and the ancient Miao village is pressing us hard. If my master were still around, Lu Tangjun wouldn’t dare be so arrogant.”

As he spoke, Cheng Quanguang bit his lip slightly. Master patted his shoulder, saying, “Don’t worry. After today, the ancient Miao village will suffer. I’ll fulfill Tianyu’s wish for him.”

Cheng Quanguang raised his head. I saw his eyes shining in the firelight, unmistakably brimming with tears. He said nothing, lowered his head, bowed again, and then let his hands drop. Master said nothing either. The room fell silent, save for the torrential rain outside and the crackling of the fire.

I didn’t know how much time had passed before darkness descended outside. My phone was dead, but judging by the feeling, night was approaching. The rain showed no sign of stopping. Cheng Quanguang stood up, went behind the partition, though I wasn’t sure what he was doing. Master glanced back but paid him no mind.

After a while, Cheng Quanguang emerged from behind the partition, carrying something in his arms. As he approached, I saw it was several thick cotton cloths. Master looked at him and asked, “Where did you find those?”

“They were already here. The bed in the back is ruined, and with this rain tonight, it’s unlikely to let up. Senior, let’s make do here for the night,” Cheng Quanguang said.

He spread the cotton cloths out on the floor. I went over to help, and Cheng Quanguang smiled slightly without speaking. Soon, three thick cotton cloths were laid out. I fetched a few bundles of firewood and stacked them nearby, feeding them one by one into the fire. Master sat with eyes closed, then suddenly said, “Behind the partition, you keep the corpse targets, right?”

Cheng Quanguang blinked, sat down on the cloth, and asked, “Yes, Senior, what’s the matter?”

Master opened his eyes, glanced toward the back, and said, “One of them is about to change.”

Cheng Quanguang’s eyes widened. He hurried to the back. I, too, sensed something amiss, but master called out, “Don’t worry, it’s not happening yet.”

Cheng Quanguang stopped, looking puzzled. Master stood, saying, “It’s only close to changing, nothing to panic about.”

Master went alone behind the partition. A golden light flared, and the unsettling feeling in my heart vanished instantly. Cheng Quanguang looked at master in amazement. As master passed him, he patted his shoulder, then returned to the cotton cloths, stoked the fire, and said, “It’s getting late. Sleep now. We have a long journey tomorrow.”

With that, master lay down beside the fire. Cheng Quanguang and I stood awkwardly, listening as master soon started snoring—soft enough for the rain to drown out. I smiled awkwardly at Cheng Quanguang. “Senior, you’ll get used to it, really. Let’s sleep.”

I lay down next to the fire as well, leaving Cheng Quanguang standing there staring at us. I leaned against the fire, eyes open, mind racing with other concerns—especially about Chu Mengxi, that little girl. What worried me most was my dead phone; I feared she’d be anxious if she couldn’t reach us. But worrying wouldn’t help. The sooner we resolved this, the sooner we could return.

Soon I heard the sound of someone else lying down. I glanced over—Cheng Quanguang had lain down too. The three of us formed a circle around the fire. Then Cheng Quanguang suddenly spoke, “Can’t sleep?”

I was startled. There were only three of us here, and if he’d meant master, he would have addressed him as ‘Senior’. Since he didn’t, he must have been talking to me. I hesitantly replied, “Uh, yeah, I can’t sleep.”

Cheng Quanguang smiled and asked, “Are you Master Tan’s apprentice?”

I said yes. He continued, “You’re lucky to have such a good master. My own master often told me that Senior Tan was famous for helping those in need, always lending a hand no matter how big or small the issue. For friends, he’d do anything. Meeting him in person today is a blessing earned in a previous life.”

I was stunned again. Clearly, Cheng Quanguang’s respect for my master ran deep. I replied, “Ever since I met him, he’s always been like that. Though he can be a bit rough around the edges, he’s the best master I’ve ever had—not just a teacher, but a mentor. I suppose that’s my own fortune from a past life.”

Cheng Quanguang laughed, “What’s your name? Since Senior Tan accepted you as an apprentice, you must have some special qualities.”

I scratched my head, embarrassed. “My name is Lin Xuan. Special qualities? Not really. I often cause trouble for my master. Honestly, I have no idea why he took me as his apprentice—you’d have to ask him.”

Cheng Quanguang turned over and sighed, “Ah, time flies. Every year I dread two days—the day my master was born, and the day he died. I think of him constantly, and there’s so much I wish I could say, but nothing can bring him back. Kid, cherish what you have.”

I remained silent for a long while. Cheng Quanguang wasn’t wrong—one’s happiest day each year is often their birthday, but decades later, the saddest is the day they leave this world. Many people throw away what’s right before them, deceiving themselves with talk that the future will be better, that they’ll give up now and pick it up again later, missing countless opportunities and blaming the mistakes on the passage of time.

After a long silence, I finally spoke. “Yes, cherish the moment.”

Cheng Quanguang murmured agreement. I added, “Senior, let’s skip the sentimental stuff. Let’s talk about something else. I’ve seen you on TV before.”

“TV? Oh, I think I appeared once. Just a bunch of idle journalists interviewing me,” Cheng Quanguang replied.

I laughed, about to say something, when master’s voice came from nearby, “You two are quite lively. Can’t sleep, or just bored?”

Both Cheng Quanguang and I were startled. Cheng Quanguang replied awkwardly, “Uh, Senior, you sleep. I’ll stop talking.”

“Heh, master, sleep, sleep,” I echoed.

Master turned over, and his snoring resumed. I yawned, found a comfortable position, and finally closed my eyes to rest.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but eventually I heard a rooster crowing. I rubbed my messy hair, squinted, and sat up, yawning as I looked around. The fire was out, only a wisp of smoke rising. Master and Cheng Quanguang were already up. I rubbed my eyes and yawned again, then heard Cheng Quanguang’s voice behind me, “Kid, you’re awake?”

I turned and nodded, asking, “Senior, where’s my master?”

Cheng Quanguang leaned against the partition and answered, “He said he was going out for a bit. Not sure what for, but he’ll be back soon.”

I nodded and stood. Outside, the sky was gloomy and rain still fell. Soon, I saw master’s figure at the door—he hurried in, shook off his hair, and I asked curiously, “Master, where did you go?”

Master glanced at me and replied, “Nature calls—what do you think I was doing?”

Boom... Master’s words struck me like thunder. I’d thought he was off hunting for wild game, but it turned out he was just watering the earth.