Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 160: The False Corpse
When Kuang Jinxin emerged from the secret path in the rockery with his master, fog had descended on the Cheng family’s large courtyard.
The fog made the old house eerily cold, and the sight of white mourning fabrics everywhere made it feel even more chilling.
Carrying a square, large box on his back, Kuang Jinxin followed his master through the rockery towards the courtyard wall, resembling a saint wearing holy robes, intending to slip away unnoticed.
They had already succeeded.
The box was filled with antiques and calligraphy paintings. Although Kuang Jinxin wasn’t deeply versed in these items, the fact that his master chose this box over rooms full of silver and jewelry made it clear to him which was more valuable.
However, there was something strange.
His master was as familiar with the Cheng residence as if it were his own home. Not a step was wasted; they went straight into the secret passage and into the “wealth center” of the house. Moreover, upon entering, his master didn’t search around but locked onto this box immediately, instructing him to carry it and leave without a second thought.
The goal was too specific, the route too clear.
“Who’s there?” Suddenly, a voice questioned from the bushes nearby.
Startled, Kuang Jinxin instinctively paused, only to see his master had already scaled the wall in a flash.
Kuang Jinxin had no time to sweat; he dashed to the base of the wall, hoping to use his momentum to kick off it and climb up…
As Qian Ai rushed out, he saw a young man with a large box on his back clumsily climbing the wall, moving so slowly and with such difficulty that he almost wanted to help lift him.
He had been driven here by the smell of the latrines, seeking a breath of fresh air in this idyllic spot, only to stumble upon unusual footsteps as he entered the bushes.
The sight before him made it clear. “Stop, thief—”
Shouting out a phrase in old-style slang, Qian Ai immediately felt as if he were transported back to the Kaifeng Mansion, as if the spirits of dynastic warriors and the legendary figures Zhang Long and Zhao Hu* were by his side. With a tiger’s stride, he charged forward and, without a second word, grabbed the leg of the little thief!
*They are bodyguards and investigators of Justice Bao, responsible for carrying the guillotine once Justice Bao sentences the criminal to death.
Kuang Jinxin had almost reached the top of the wall, about to succeed, when he felt a sharp pain in his ankle.
Looking down, he saw a dark face with bright eyes, fierce like a little tiger.
My apologies.
Kuang Jinxin silently apologized in his mind before kicking out at the face to avoid eye contact.
Qian Ai had anticipated the thief to pull his leg back, not expecting a kick. Caught off guard, he took a direct hit. Pain aside, hitting the face was a no-go, fueling his anger. He blurted out without thinking, “Fuck, you really kicked—”
At this exclamation, Kuang Jinxin froze.
Looking down again, the face seemed familiar.
“Qian Ge?” Kuang Jinxin murmured softly, unsure, and just as he voiced this, his master, already over the wall, pulled him down.
These words, mixed with the noise of his landing, puzzled Qian Ai, swirling in the foggy confusion.
Criminal record?
Lots of money?
Qian Ge*?
*Clarity: Hearing Kuang Jinxin say “Qian Ge”, Qian Ai is going through his brain thinking about what he had just heard (as if he had misheard it): criminal record [qian ke] (前科), lots of money [qian duo] (钱多).
In this world, except for Xiao Kuang, no one else would call him Qian Ge. But… could it be such a coincidence? And even if it was indeed Xiao Kuang, how could he recognize Qian Ai at a glance? The word “fuck” wasn’t his alone to use; the captain, the advisor, Xiao Xue—anyone could have said it.
Qian Ai looked up at the wall, tempted to jump over and ask for clarity.
But the fading footsteps beyond the wall told him the thief wasn’t alone, and they had already escaped far.
“What are you doing here?!” A middle-aged man came over, cursing. “One less person by the memorial hall makes an odd number. Breaking the rules and causing trouble, can you afford that?”
Qian Ai looked away, smiling apologetically, not because he was easygoing but because he had grown immune to the man’s nagging after waking up and having to listen to it 80% of the time.
This man was a tea server hired by the Cheng family, skilled in managing both joyous and sorrowful events, knowledgeable in all rituals and customs, from preparing the body to funeral procedures, orchestrating each step.
On the way back to the memorial hall, the tea server’s constant chatter, mainly complaints, became clear to Qian Ai—they had visitors for mourning.
“I’ve never seen such disregard for rules. Who mourns before the body is prepared? And at this hour, the sons in mourning need rest too. Who’s to ‘accompany the wake’? Who’s to ‘thank for mourning’…”
Qian Ai, half-understanding, nodded along, knowing agreement was usually safe.
Returning to the spirit shed, they found a young man in a Western suit and gold-rimmed glasses paying his respects to the portrait of Old Master Cheng.
The tea server’s demeanor softened, despite the breach of etiquette, welcoming the visitor and guiding him through the mourning process.
After the ceremony, before the tea server could escort the visitor out, the young man asked, “Can I have a moment to speak with you?”
The tea server was stunned for a moment and didn’t understand what he meant, but he still followed him to the side.
Qian Ai stood still, unable to hear the conversation between the two, but his eyes never left the young man.
For some reason, he felt that the young man’s gesture of pushing up his glasses was particularly elegant, wise, composed, and, well, pretentiously cool. But it wasn’t just any pretentious coolness; it was a kind that exuded an irritating air, a vibe that was both annoyingly familiar and itching.
“Zhuzi…” Suddenly, a servant beside him tugged at his sleeve.
Qian Ai’s rare moment of inspiration was interrupted, and he looked over irritably. “What?”
The servant was pale with fear, looking in the direction behind them. “Do you see that… Is that… the old master… floating?!”
The last words were uttered in such a fright that they didn’t even sound human anymore.
A chill ran down Qian Ai’s neck, and he immediately turned around to follow the servant’s pointing direction.
Then, he felt a chill from his hair down to the soles of his feet.
In the depths of the mist, a figure was floating, occasionally moving into less dense fog, revealing a dead face under the moonlight.
Qian Ai glanced at the “person” floating in the distance, then back at the portrait in the memorial hall, going back and forth, back and forth… Wasn’t this Old Master Cheng, who was supposed to be lying on the leisure bed in the memorial hall?
“It’s a false corpse*! Ahhhhh!” Another servant at the memorial hall screamed out, not sure who made such a noise, echoing through the silent Cheng family courtyard like a mix of firecrackers, skyrockets, flashbangs, and magic bullets.
*Ancient superstition, where it is said that when a person dies, there’s still a breath of air left in them, which can possess an animal that disturbs their corpse. The corpse will temporarily resurrect but can’t sustain itself and will then officially die (thus calling it a false (resurrected) corpse).
The first to react was that young man. He ignored the tea server and dashed towards the “dead person” floating in the depths of the mist!
Qian Ai, unsure of what came over him, felt a rush to his head and followed suit!
The young man ran ahead, he followed behind, and Old Master Cheng, as if aware of the pursuit, floated faster and faster, eventually even passing over the courtyard wall!
Without saying a word, the young man climbed towards the top of the wall!
Qian Ai was too familiar with this place, having been kicked here not long ago. At that time, he hadn’t had the chance to confirm the look in the eyes and was only left with the imprint of a shoe sole on half of his face. This time, he couldn’t miss the opportunity again—
“Someone used [Team Reunion] on you. If you don’t understand, just ignore me and keep climbing…”
Amidst a string of mumblings, the person already sitting on top of the wall froze.
Wu Sheng was just focusing on questioning the tea server and completely ignored the servants around him. His teammate, who had seemingly transmigrated, blended too well into the darkness of the night, just like the men in black from Detective Conan, with his features entirely merging into the shadows.
But now, he understood completely, his voice was filled with genuine joy. “Lao Qian!”
“Wu Sheng?” Compared to his advisor’s certainty, Qian Ai was still a bit hesitant.
“Who else would chase after the old master’s fake corpse but me?” Wu Sheng sighed. The current development caught him off guard, but time was of the essence. “Hurry up and come over. He’s headed east. Let’s chase together!”
Qian Ai didn’t hesitate at all, immediately joining Wu Sheng to leap over the courtyard wall and chase into the depths of the alley.
During the chase, Qian Ai finally understood Wu Sheng’s mission—to find the missing Du Jinnian.
As for why they ended up at the Cheng residence, it was because the client, Xue Qingshan, mentioned that the last place Du Jinnian was seen before his disappearance was at the Cheng family’s home.
The Du and Cheng families had been friends for generations, with Du Jinnian frequently visiting the Cheng residence. Xue Qingshan didn’t have much interaction with the Cheng family, but he had a good impression of his friend’s friend. Unfortunately, it was at the Cheng residence where Du Jinnian disappeared. Of course, Xue Qingshan had approached the Cheng family, but by then, the old master was already gravely ill. He was received by the eldest son of the Cheng family, Cheng Xiaonan, who confirmed that Du Jinnian did visit that day but left after having a cup of tea, knowing nothing else.
Wu Sheng had then hurried to the Cheng residence to investigate.
By the time all this was explained, Qian Ai was already out of breath, but there was one question he had to ask, “How could you recognize me as the servant at a glance? It could have been the captain, Xiao Kuang, or Xiao Xue, right?”
Wu Sheng glanced quickly at his teammate’s coarse clothes, worn shoes, and the face that read “life is hard”…
“Cough, it was just intuition. It’s very subtle, hard to describe…”
……
In a secluded back alley.
On a dark, murderous night with high winds, the thin fog couldn’t cover the smell of blood.
Hai Yunlong kicked a person towards Ying Jiu, who was tightly bound and had been tortured so badly that there wasn’t a good spot left on him. He was barely breathing, rolling on the ground like a blood gourd.
“Master Jiu, here’s the person back to you. I might have gone a bit too far, but he’s still alive,” Hai Yunlong said with a smile, wiping the blood off his shoe on the ground as if kicking that person had dirtied his shoe.
The brothers of the Fushou Gang standing behind Ying Jiu immediately stepped forward, veins bulging, barely restraining themselves from starting a fight.
Hai Yunlong’s followers immediately mimicked their stance, not giving an inch.
The atmosphere between the two sides became tense.
Until Ying Jiu said calmly, “Thank you, young gang leader.”
Following his words, the person on the ground was quickly put on a stretcher brought by the brothers of the Fushou Gang and carried away for treatment, leaving the remaining brothers on site.
Hai Yunlong tilted his head to look at Ying Jiu for a while, then smirked without a smile. “His life is still there, but my brother’s life—” he suddenly spread his hands, jokingly, “is gone.”
Ying Jiu gave a signal with his eyes.
Chi Yingxue, with his hands tied behind his back, was pushed out.
Ying Jiu touched his sleeve and said calmly, “A life for a life. Our Fushou Gang always abides by the rules.”
Hai Yunlong glanced at Chi Yingxue, then back at Ying Jiu, confused for a half-second.
His followers were collectively confused for several seconds.
These two were dressed almost identically; what was the meaning of this?
Both in long robes, one wouldn’t tell them apart if not for the bound hands of one, as if there were two Ying Jius standing there.
Had Tianjin introduced new rules? Before going on the road, one must dress according to the gang leader’s standard?
While Hai Yunlong’s followers were pondering in confusion, Hai Yunlong had already snapped back to reality, feigning politeness. “I knew Master Jiu was a man of principle.”
With a wave of his hand, two men immediately came up to drag Chi Yingxue towards Hai Yunlong’s side.
Just as he was being lifted, Chi Yingxue somehow broke free from the ropes, slipped out of the control of the two Hai gang brothers like a snake, and lunged at Hai Yunlong!
Hai Yunlong, completely unprepared for this turn of events, didn’t even have time to reach for his gun at his waist before Chi Yingxue had him in a chokehold!
Instead, Chi Yingxue helped him draw the gun, pressing its muzzle to his temple. Chi Yingxue’s eyes swept across the crowd coldly. “If anyone from the Hai Gang or the Fushou Gang dares to step forward, I’ll blow his head off.”
His gaze was cold, and his voice even colder, like a thin blade in the dark night, ready to cut throats.
“Back off!” Hai Yunlong shouted to his brothers, his voice breaking. Gone was his previously imposing demeanor.
The Hai Gang brothers naturally didn’t dare gamble with their young leader’s life.
But the stance of the Fushou Gang brothers was more delicate.
Hai Yunlong glanced nervously towards Ying Jiu.
The Fushou Gang and Hai Gang had never gotten along, but there had never been a major conflict openly. In theory, he thought the Fushou Gang wouldn’t dare act rashly, considering his father’s position above him. If they really did something to him, when his father came with the entire Hai Gang for revenge, things wouldn’t end well for the Fushou Gang.
But what if Ying Jiu acted impulsively? This was the cunning Master Ying Jiu—who knows what he was thinking.
“Let him go,” Ying Jiu finally said, making Hai Yunlong want to cry.
Chi Yingxue tightened his grip. “You let me go, I let him go.”
Ying Jiu nodded without hesitation. “Okay.”
Chi Yingxue smiled—a faint, disdainful smile—as if to say, my escape isn’t because you allowed it, but because I earned it.
Ying Jiu remained expressionless, just quietly watching him.
Chi Yingxue, while holding Hai Yunlong, retreated towards the direction of the Hai Gang brothers, who immediately cleared a path for them.
Hai Yunlong stumbled, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, pleading continuously, “Brother, don’t strangle me to death. If I die, you won’t be able to get out…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden noise came from the wall, and the next second, a body “plopped” into the alley, landing between the Hai Gang and the Fushou Gang, right in front of Chi Yingxue and Hai Yunlong, with the person’s hand landing on Hai Yunlong’s foot.
Upon closer inspection, this wasn’t a living person at all, but clearly someone wearing funeral clothes!
If not for Chi Yingxue holding him with the gun pressed against him, Hai Yunlong would have jumped up.
The air suddenly froze, and every brother in the alley, regardless of affiliation, stared dumbfounded at the corpse of the old man in funeral clothes on the ground, somewhat bewildered.
They had seen corpses before, in all states of gore, but the sudden appearance of an old man from the sky, especially on such a dark, windy, and foggy night, was a different kind of horror.
Chi Yingxue was the first to snap out of it. Taking advantage of everyone’s shock, he pushed Hai Yunlong and jumped over the wall to escape!
Hai Yunlong, pushed onto the old man, took a while to get up. His legs were weak. Furious, he ordered all the brothers, “Chase!”
A group of people immediately scaled the wall, no longer caring about the unrelated corpse.
……
After jumping over the wall, Chi Yingxue didn’t leave but hid on the roof of a nearby shop, leisurely watching Hai Yunlong and his gang run off. He blew a whistle only he could hear and jumped down from the roof.
To his surprise, a group from the Fushou Gang was waiting behind the house.
As soon as Chi Yingxue landed, he knew trouble was imminent. Turning around, sure enough, Ying Jiu was standing there with his hands behind his back, relaxed, with the Fushou Gang brothers carrying the old man’s corpse behind him.
“I don’t know him,” Chi Yingxue declared first.
“……” Ying Jiu sighed lightly, for the first time feeling his patience wearing thin. “He is Old Master Cheng from the Cheng family, who passed away two days ago.”
Chi Yingxue: “Oh.”
Ying Jiu: “……”
Perhaps unable to watch their leader being tormented any longer, the Fushou Gang brothers burst into action—
“Why waste words with him, Master Jiu? He denies involvement after drawing lots; our Fushou Gang doesn’t harbor such cowards!”
“Exactly, Master Jiu. Just say the word, and we’ll dump him in the Hai River!”
“Before dumping him, strip off those clothes. They look so uncomfortable!”
Ying Jiu raised his hand.
The brothers immediately fell silent.
Chi Yingxue tilted his head, curiously looking at Ying Jiu’s hand. Having witnessed its effect twice now, he had every reason to suspect it had a “mute button”.
“Why did you hold Hai Yunlong hostage?” Ying Jiu suddenly asked.
Chi Yingxue was slow to respond, only realizing Ying Jiu was speaking to him.
“I can’t die.”
“Can’t?” Ying Jiu raised his eyebrows slightly. People usually say, “Don’t want to.”
“If I die, I can’t submit my paper.”
“Paper?”
Chi Yingxue, losing patience with this repetitive conversation style, unilaterally decided they were not suited for dialogue.
Ying Jiu also realized that following the other’s lead in conversation was a dead end and directly brought back the original question. “Why did you, being closer to me, go out of your way to take Hai Yunlong hostage?”
Chi Yingxue shrugged. “I don’t want to pay with my life. You’re at fault. I take him hostage, it’s his loss of face. If he doesn’t hold it against you and you don’t spread it around, this matter will slide. If I took you hostage, it would be both your fault and loss of face, and he could broadcast it everywhere…”
He paused mid-sentence, suddenly zoning out as if just realizing what he had said.
Ying Jiu didn’t catch his lapse, instead showing rare approval. “Kid, from now on, follow me.”
Chi Yingxue didn’t hear Ying Jiu’s words, deaf to everything except his own heartbeat. Was it really him who answered so smoothly? That clarity of thought, that sharpness of vision, that decisiveness in action—it all felt more like… Yan Wang.
He despised thinking because clarity brought back unwanted memories. So, he preferred to be lazy and muddled.
Slowly raising his hand to his chest, Chi Yingxue, feeling the steady heartbeat, suddenly realized something.
The joke he and Chi Zhuolin made might be true—Yan Wang hadn’t left; he just stayed with him in another way.
“Hey, Master Jiu is giving you face. Don’t throw it away!” Someone nearby pushed him.
Chi Yingxue snapped back to reality. “Hm?”
Ying Jiu looked up at the foggy night sky, exhaling softly before looking back at Chi Yingxue. “I said, from now on, stay by my side. Stop being Cat Five.”
The career shift came too fast for Chi Yingxue to follow. “Then what am I?”
Master Ying Jiu: “Master Wu*.”
*Five.
Chi Yingxue: “You’re Master Jiu*, and I’m Master Wu. Wouldn’t I be running ahead of you?”
*Nine.
Master Ying Jiu: “Young—Master Wu.”
Chi Yingxue: “That’s good, sounds younger.”
Master Ying Jiu: “……”
Fushou Gang brothers: “……”
—Cat Five, a low-level thug in the Fushou Gang, was promoted on a starless night.
“Master Jiu.” The brother carrying the corpse asked, “What do we do now?”
Master Ying Jiu, having recognized the corpse as Old Master Cheng, pondered for a moment before saying, “Go to the Cheng family.”
……
On the main road, two alleys away, Wu Sheng and Qian Ai, having lost track of “Old Master Cheng”, ran into a procession of monks headed to the Cheng family for a ritual the next day.
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