After Zhang Dabiao’s slow narration, I finally understood what had happened.
It turned out that the person who had invited my father to handle a matter back then was Zhang Dabiao’s father, and the location was this very Moru Village.
There were no less than a dozen people who came together, and it was said that only my father and Zhang Dabiao’s father returned.
When Zhang Dabiao’s father was carried back, he was barely clinging to life. He managed to hold on for half a year before passing away.
At this point, Zhang Dabiao sighed.
“My father, before he left, kept mentioning that he had wronged your father. As the saying goes, a son must repay a father’s debt; it is only natural. From now on, you are my sworn brother. If you ever need anything, your elder brother will carry it for you.”
Zhang Dabiao’s words deeply moved me. I truly knew nothing about the affairs of the previous generation, but from Zhang Dabiao’s expression, I knew he wasn’t lying. If he had intended to harm me, he could have done so earlier.
Even if my father had nothing to do with this, I was grateful to Zhang Dabiao for saving my life.
After all, with my current skills, dealing with a white-haired zombie was still somewhat challenging.
“By the way, Brother Zhang. Did your father mention what business they were there for in Moru Village?” Su Dan Novel Network
Zhang Dabiao shook his head. “He didn’t say.”
This was strange. My father was carried back and remained unconscious to this day.
Zhang Dabiao’s father was also carried back, but he was only left with a breath of life. Both of them had come to Moru Village for some business. What kind of affair could have resulted in one dead and the other in a coma?
Although I didn’t know my father’s geomancy skills back then, they were certainly better than mine now. If even my father was so badly injured, could I survive in Moru Village?
Not only did I fail to earn any money, but I also risked my life. If that happened, my father would be left to die.
Seeing my expression change slightly, Zhang Dabiao asked, “Are you a little scared?”
“Don’t laugh at me, Brother Zhang, but I am a little. After all, my father relies on me to earn money for his treatment. If I die, my father will have no choice but to wait for death. Moreover, this trip was rushed, and I only prepared items for fortune-telling and divination. If I had been properly prepared, I wouldn’t be afraid of these ghostly things.”
This was not me boasting. Ever since I started practicing Yin divination, my master had frequently demonstrated various possible emergency scenarios, even detailing what countermeasures to use and when, several times over, until I had memorized everything.
For instance, mugwort and rooster’s blood were commonly used countermeasures against Yin spirits and ghosts.
“It’s good that you know fear. You must know that Moru Village is extremely sinister. Since there’s nothing else, we’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
Although I was unwilling, I could only return for now. After all, I had already received the money. As long as I gave the money to my master, I would have saved my father.
As for Sui Wan’er, I would settle the score with her after I gathered all my equipment.
“Brother Zhang, do you have a place to stay?”
Zhang Dabiao shook his head. “I rushed here and only arrived today. As soon as I heard about you, I came straight here.”
After hearing this, I was filled with emotion. It wasn’t just because of my father’s connection.
Just the fact that he had traveled a long distance and saved me at a critical moment was enough to make me grateful. After all, since childhood, apart from my “stern” master, this was the first time someone had treated me so well.
I must repay Zhang Dabiao’s life-saving kindness when I have the chance.
“Then let’s go back to my lodgings and rest for a bit. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
Just as I was about to lead Zhang Dabiao to my lodgings, I saw, by the moonlight, several people stealthily approaching from not too far away.
“Who’s there, lurking around? Come out.”
“Is that the young master?”
“The young master is alright.”
“That’s great!”
After a flurry of voices, Fang Huixin, the parents of the male corpse, and some others who had heard the commotion emerged from the darkness.
“Young master, my daughter… how is she?”
Fang Huixin’s arrogant demeanor was gone. It seemed the incident of the corpse’s animation had frightened her considerably, and she was speaking with some difficulty.
“The corpse has returned to normal. I suggest it’s best to bury her as soon as possible.”
I paused after saying this, seeing Fang Huixin visibly relieved, and continued, “You should not proceed with her ghost marriage.”
Hearing this, Fang Huixin’s expression froze, and then she frowned, asking, “My daughter told me in a dream about the ghost marriage. If it’s not performed, won’t her wish be unfulfilled?”
“Hmph!”
“That was an evil spirit borrowing your daughter’s body to cause trouble! And are you sure it was your daughter you dreamt of? If you proceed with the ghost marriage, aren’t you afraid of what happened today happening again?”
My words left Fang Huixin speechless, but her shifting gaze clearly indicated she wasn’t taking my words to heart.
“Believe it or not, I’ve said all I can. The rest is up to you.”
After speaking, I glanced at the anxious parents of the male corpse standing behind Fang Huixin. They both wore worried expressions, tinged with a hint of indignation.
It seemed they had been thoroughly scolded by Fang Huixin. Judging by her appearance, she was the type to insist on her point even when she was wrong. Her daughter’s corpse animation would surely be blamed on the male side.
Seeing me approach, the father of the male corpse asked nervously, “Young master, my son… is it really related to my son that the girl changed… changed?”
“This matter has nothing to do with your son.”
Hearing my words, he visibly relaxed.
Then he opened and closed his mouth twice, clearly having a question.
“Ask whatever you need to ask!”
The old farmer’s eyes were filled with gratitude. After some hesitation, he said, “Then will my son still marry that girl?”
This question made me frown.
The father of the male had not witnessed Fang Huixin’s daughter’s corpse animation, so why was he still concerned about arranging a ghost marriage for his son?
I subconsciously glanced at Fang Huixin beside me and found her looking at me with a strange expression.
When she noticed me looking at her, she turned her head away.
“Your son is suited to enter the grave alone, which will ensure the safety of your household.”
The old farmer quickly stepped forward, intending to shake my hand in gratitude. Perhaps feeling his hands were dirty, he wiped them on his clothes before grasping mine.
“Thank you, young master, thank you, young master.” He then took out a crumpled wad of bills from his pocket and tried to give them to me.
I took one bill, considering it payment for divining for his son, and told him to keep the rest to arrange his son’s funeral.
Afterward, the old farmer, along with seven or eight relatives who had accompanied him, went inside to prepare his son’s body.
“Tch, the son of a bumpkin, and he actually thought he could match my daughter? Even if my daughter is dead, I will find her a suitable match.”
Fang Huixin’s words made me pause.
Was this woman insane?
Her daughter’s corpse had animated, and she was still thinking of finding her a husband?
Just as I was about to say something, Zhang Dabiao nudged me from behind.
I turned around and saw Zhang Dabiao shaking his head.
I had just learned from Zhang Dabiao that Fang Huixin was no simple woman. She might have a powerful figure behind her orchestrating everything. Otherwise, how could she, a mere woman, manage such a large business, especially one specializing in trading in Yin artifacts and ancient corpses?
What I feared most was that Fang Huixin had a master guiding her.
Because her daughter’s fate was very special; whether she was married to either of the male corpses through a ghost marriage would bring her business prosperity and wealth.
However, conversely, the male family would suffer continuous misfortune, with parents prone to illness and disaster, leading to ruin within a few years.
This kind of Yin fate was a fate that harmed husbands but benefited the family.