[Acquired Soul Severing Blade Technique (Yellow Rank Middle Grade)]

 

[Proficiency: 0/10 (Not Yet Initiated).]

A surge of information flooded Bai Yu's mind.

The Soul Severing Blade consists of three moves.

The first move severs the head, the second severs the intestines, and the third severs the lineage.

Each move is extremely simple yet ruthless.

Bai Yu was overjoyed, grabbing a woodcutting hatchet and starting to practice in the small courtyard.

Under the moonlight, Bai Yu executed each move with precision.

Nearby, a black dog sat on a small stool, attentively reading the Meng Family Herbal Classic.

An hour later, Bai Yu was drenched in sweat, his gaze becoming sharper.

The proficiency of the Soul Severing Blade increased by 0.1.

This Soul Severing Blade is a martial skill, unable to temper the whole body or advance cultivation levels.

However, it can greatly enhance combat ability.

If Bai Yu masters the Soul Severing Blade, his combat prowess should double.

From then on, besides funeral processions and practicing fists, Bai Yu had a new goal: practicing the blade.

***

The next day, Bai Yu rose early as usual and went to the front hall.

Today, Zhu Tong was on duty, yawning as he said:"Bai, you're up. Want to grab breakfast?"

Bai Yu replied with a smile:"Yes, have you eaten, Brother Tong? I'll bring you a portion."

Zhu Tong laughed and said:"That sounds great. Could you please bring a portion of scallion noodles from Aunt Wang?

Aunt Wang's stall is clean, generous, and affordable. We all eat there at the Charity Mortuary."

Bai Yu nodded and headed to Willow Street across the way.

After enjoying a bowl of hot scallion noodles, he felt completely refreshed.

On Willow Street, one side sold incense, candles, and paper horses, while the other offered snacks and sundries, making it quite interesting.

Bai Yu packed several portions of scallion noodles.

This reminded him of bringing meals to his dorm mates.

The scallion noodles were packed in large bamboo tubes, which he carried back.

Besides Zhu Tong, he also brought portions for Daoist Lin Jiu, Mangzi, and even Old Zhangtou.

Of course, Old Mo wasn't left out either.

Bai Yu returned to the Charity Mortuary with the scallion noodles.

Zhu Tong handed over two coins, praising Bai Yu for being considerate.

Bai Yu then entered the inner courtyard, where Mangzi was washing his face.

Bai Yu smiled and said:

"Mang, you're up. I brought you some noodles and left them on the table."

Mangzi stood there, unsure of what to say.

After Bai Yu left, he looked at the noodles and recalled yesterday's events.

After a while, he slapped himself again.

"What am I doing? I really deserve it."

Bai Yu's gesture of bringing food for everyone strengthened their bond, and he quickly integrated into the small group at the Charity Mortuary.

***

In the morning, Old Zhangtou brought in five more corpses.

They were all people who had starved to death on the streets.

Bai Yu took on the task of burying them.

He gained 8 points of Qi and Blood, 5 points of Strength, and 6 points of Life Experience.

Even though there were more bodies than yesterday, the funeral reward was actually less.

But Bai Yu wasn't worried.

As long as he gained something every day and his strength steadily increased, he wouldn't trade these days for anything.

***

In the afternoon, Bai Yu and Zhu Tong were chatting in the front hall.

Zhu Tong animatedly recounted his glorious exploits at the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Suddenly, a lean young man entered the Charity Mortuary, carrying a corpse on his back.

"Can you find a place to bury my mother?"

The back of the Charity Mortuary was connected to the Mass Grave, so it was responsible for collecting and burying bodies.

However, Zhu Tong frowned and impatiently said: "This is government land; you can't just bury people here. Go away."

The lean young man's lips were cracked, and he pleaded:"Please, I can't find anywhere else to bury my mother."

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Everywhere in River City was owned, and you couldn't just dig a hole and bury someone.

Zhu Tong impatiently said:"No land, no land. If you want to bury her, it'll be fifty coins per person. That's it. Outside, you can't even dream of finding a place to bury someone for fifty coins."

The lean young man, helpless, searched his body and finally gathered forty-six coins.

Zhu Tong took the coins and waved his hand:"Fine, fine, consider it a good deed. Xiao Bai, take him to the Mass Grave to pick a spot and bury her."

***

Bai Yu nodded and led the lean young man to dig a grave and bury his mother.

Finally, he played a mourning tune.

[Funeral successful, Funeral Participation 37%.]

 

[Qi and Blood +3, Life Experience +4]

The lean young man gave Bai Yu a grateful look and silently left the Mass Grave.

Bai Yu returned to the front hall, and Zhu Tong handed over eighteen coins.

"According to the usual practice, Immoral Wu takes ten coins, and the rest we split.

Xiao Bai, you did well, not speaking out of kindness."

Bai Yu remained silent.

Every trade has its unspoken rules.

For attendants, simple tasks must be made complicated.

If things can't be done easily, people will pay.

If Bai Yu had been kind and spoken up, it would have disrupted the Charity Mortuary's way of making money.

He wouldn't be able to stay here.

Bai Yu understood the intricacies at a glance, but it still left him feeling uneasy.

Zhu Tong continued to ramble:"Xiao Bai, don't think we're heartless. We live off the dead here.

We only earn a hundred coins a month, and a bowl of scallion noodles costs two coins. Even if we eat like farmers, two meals a day, it's not enough. Without side income, we'd starve.

That meager salary is useless. In our line of work, we survive on side income."

Bai Yu nodded with a grin.

"Brother Tong is right. I have a bit of a stomachache now, so I'll go relieve myself."

With that, he left the Charity Mortuary.

Zhu Tong watched Bai Yu's back, shaking his head and muttering to himself:"Why leave for a stomachache? The toilet's inside.

This kid, his conscience is still bothering him. When he gets hungry enough, he'll know to trade his conscience for food and necessities."

As he muttered, he instinctively turned around and suddenly saw Daoist Lin Jiu standing behind him.

"Master Lin."

Daoist Lin Jiu ignored him and instead looked thoughtfully outside the door.

At that moment, Bai Yu was sprinting along the official road, quickly catching up with the lean young man.

The lean young man was standing under a tree, looking up at a branch with a belt hanging from it.

He had suffered a sudden misfortune, losing both parents and spending all his savings.

Now at a dead end, he had thoughts of ending it all.

Seeing this, Bai Yu hurriedly approached and handed over a string of coins:"Wait a moment, brother. We overcharged earlier, so I'm here to refund you."

The young man looked at the coins in his hand in surprise, totaling twenty coins.

These twenty coins reignited his hope.

He knew that money once at the Charity Mortuary was never considered too much, so this must have been returned by the young man before him.

The lean young man solemnly bowed to Bai Yu:"I am Du Jian. Thank you for the kindness of playing a tune for my mother's burial and for your assistance. If I, Du Jian, ever achieve success, I will not forget your great kindness.

May I know your name?"

Bai Yu waved his hand:"It's not a big deal. You can call me Bai Yu.

By the way, what are your plans for the future?"

Du Jian looked into the distance and said:"I've heard there are traces of immortals on Chicken Crow Mountain. I want to try my luck with fate."

"Then, I wish you a smooth journey and success on your path to immortality."

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan