Bai Yu selected a straight peach tree branch and cut three feet of white cloth.

The white cloth was washed with rootless water and sun-dried for three days.

Then, with swift strokes, he painted numerous talismans such as the Sha-Subduing Talisman, Sha-Transforming Talisman, and Ghost-Interrogating Talisman.

While drawing the talismans, he chanted incantations for consecration.

Seven days later, a Soul-Calming Banner was crafted.

Bai Yu took it to a mountain peak heavy with Sha energy, gave it a gentle shake, and the Sha energy dispersed instantly.

He collected the Soul-Calming Banner and returned to the charity mortuary.

"Well, better safe than sorry."

In the days that followed, he resumed his routine of funeral processions, martial arts practice, and talisman drawing.

He had nearly mastered the middle volume of the Zhuyou Yin Talisman Scripture and had learned two more Blood Talismans.

Calm and unhurried, life was peaceful.

But this tranquility was shattered by someone.

That day, Bai Yu was on duty in the front hall.

A group of monks hurriedly arrived, carrying a corpse.

The leading monk was large and kind-looking, surprisingly a Stage Five Martial Artist.

The four monks behind him, two at Stage Three and two at Stage Four, were all quite formidable.

Strangely, each monk carried a large gourd on his back.

The large monk clasped his hands together:

"Benefactor, my lay disciple died suddenly, and we come to borrow this place for burial. Please grant us this favor."

He kindly offered a tael of silver.

Bai Yu accepted the silver and led them to the backyard:

"Master, please come in. If you need us to perform a ritual, just let us know."

Bai Yu mentioned it casually, as monks usually perform their own rites and don't require the charity mortuary's services.

Unexpectedly, the large monk took out five taels of silver and said:

"Please arrange for a ritual for my disciple, so he may rest in peace."

Bai Yu agreed without much thought.

However, when he saw the face of the corpse, he was momentarily stunned.

The corpse's skin was bluish, its expression pained, yet it seemed inexplicably familiar.

It was Mangzi!

Once a funeral conductor, now being conducted to his own funeral.

Once dreaming of wandering the world, now confined to a small black box.

This made Bai Yu sigh deeply.

"Master, he was once our friend."

"Rest assured, I will choose a good place for his burial."

The large monk clasped his hands together:

"Benefactor, you are truly kind-hearted; you will be blessed in the future."

Upon hearing of Mangzi's death, Uncle Jiu, Zhu Tong, and Old Zhangtou all came over.

Old Zhangtou shook his head:

"This child, he wouldn't listen. The world isn't as easy to roam as he thought."

The group organized the funeral and performed the ritual for him.

Uncle Jiu conversed with the large monk nearby.

From their conversation, Bai Yu gathered the gist of it.

It turned out the large monk was called Master Jinlong, a man of the martial world.

Previously, he had been severely injured in a fight with bandits and was saved by Mangzi.

Mangzi seized the opportunity to become his disciple, asking Master Jinlong to take him on adventures.

But Mangzi remained as reckless as ever. As soon as he learned some skills, he charged into a bandit lair alone, intending to uphold justice and eliminate evil, only to be eliminated himself.

Mangzi's recklessness ultimately led to his own funeral.

Bai Yu finished playing a funeral dirge.

Master Jinlong and his disciples came to offer incense and pay their respects.

They all wore mournful expressions, sighing deeply.

It seemed the bond between master and disciples was profound.

At this moment, Bai Yu glanced at the Record of World Burials.

[Funeral Target: Wang Mang!]

[Identity: Lay disciple of Jinlong Temple.]

[Age: 19.]

[Cultivation: Stage Three Martial Artist.]

[Funeral Participation: 51%.]

[Ordinary Reward: Strength +12, Life Experience +110.]

[Optional Rewards: Iron Corpse Technique, Dragon Force Art, Arhat Fist, Golden Bell Shield, Yin Energy +3, Qi and Blood +45...]

Bai Yu instinctively felt something was amiss.

Mangzi's funeral rewards included things like the Iron Corpse Technique and Yin Energy, which were eerily sinister.

Bai Yu maintained a calm expression, secretly checking the Record of World Burials.

Through the record, Bai Yu could view some scenes from Mangzi's life.

Mangzi indeed saved Master Jinlong.

Then Master Jinlong taught him several powerful cultivation techniques, constantly urging him to practice.

In the past two or three years, Mangzi's memories were solely of cultivation, with nothing else.

The final scene was frozen a month ago.

Mangzi sat in a large vat, soaking in medicinal water.

Master Jinlong and a young man in white stood by, waiting.

The young man in white asked:

"Is everything ready?"

Master Jinlong nodded:

"Just one last step."

The young man in white spoke softly:

"Fear is the best tonic."

"For the great cause!"

Master Jinlong echoed:

"For the great cause!"

The next moment, the young man in white raised his hand, shooting several silver needles into Mangzi's head.

The last thing Mangzi saw was Master Jinlong's kind face.

Bai Yu took a sharp breath in secret.

Mangzi had died a month ago!

The murderer who killed Mangzi was chatting and laughing with Master Jinlong, killing right in front of him.

Even with Bai Yu's steady mind, his hand couldn't help but falter.

Master Jinlong noticed a slight tremor in the suona's sound and turned back in surprise:

"What's wrong, young benefactor?"

Bai Yu sighed and said:

"Master, Brother Mang and I were old friends. Seeing him like this fills me with sorrow."

"Ah, if only I had stopped him from venturing into the martial world."

Master Jinlong maintained his kind expression and said:

"Benefactor, you need not grieve too much. Those who leave home have long seen through life and death."

"Wang Mang ventured into the martial world; he must have been prepared."

Bai Yu sighed, composed himself, and completed the ritual.

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In the evening, Bai Yu tentatively asked:

"Master, according to custom, our charity mortuary should prepare the body and change it into burial clothes."

"This task was originally Zhang Boqian's, but since I'm familiar with Brother Mang, let me handle it."

Master Jinlong chanted a Buddhist phrase:

"Amitabha, benefactor, our Buddhist customs differ somewhat from ordinary people."

"Changing burial clothes and placing the body in the coffin, leave these tasks to my four inept disciples."

Bai Yu didn't insist, but he was increasingly convinced that these monks were up to something.

He cupped his hands and said:

"In that case, we'll follow Buddhist customs."

"Will you be keeping vigil tonight?"

Master Jinlong replied:

"No need to trouble you benefactors. My disciples and I will chant sutras for Mangzi's blessing."

Bai Yu naturally nodded in agreement.

"In that case, we'll take our leave and rest. If you need anything, just let us know."

Bai Yu excused himself and returned to his room with Old Mo.

All the way, he felt a prickling sensation on his back.

He sensed a pair of eyes watching him.

If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't notice, but Bai Yu was already a martial artist of Qi and Blood, highly sensitive to gazes and malice.

He showed no sign of abnormality, quickly returned to his room, drew a few more talismans under the lamp, then extinguished the light and went to bed.

Before getting into bed, he casually patted Old Mo's head.

With a glance, Old Mo instantly understood.

...

Night deepened.

Master Jinlong and two disciples surrounded Mangzi, chanting sutras continuously.

After midnight, two monks descended from the rafters.

"Master, they're all sound asleep."

Master Jinlong suddenly opened his eyes, his previous kind expression replaced by a fierce and sinister look.

"Jueming, you weren't discovered, were you?"

The monk named Jueming quickly replied:

"Rest assured, Master, I've scouted thoroughly. The highest cultivation in this charity mortuary is two martial artists, one at Stage Two and one at Stage Three, both of no concern."

Master Jinlong coldly said:

"Proceed according to plan!"