Corpse Retriever

Runsheng had experience retrieving corpses, and he had really worked with Dead Sinkers before. When he said something felt right in his hands, you could believe it.

“Let’s go, Brother Runsheng. Let’s find a place to test it out.”

“Alright!”

Say no more. Brother Bao and Zhao Xing—those two had turned into Ghost-substitutes, yet still dared to show up and threaten him? Time to pay them a visit and settle the score.

Runsheng was the first to head downstairs, carrying all the gear now that it was assembled. When disassembled, it had been too cumbersome to haul all at once.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the bedside and said to Ah Li, “I’m heading out. Be good, Ah Li, go back to sleep, okay?”

After making sure she was settled, he stepped out of the bedroom.

Once the boy left, Ah Li lay down obediently and drifted off to sleep.

As Li Zhuiyuan passed by Li Sanjiang’s bedroom, the door opened. Great-grandpa rubbed his eyes—he’d just had a nap, planning now to take a leak before heading back to bed.

“Little Yuanhou, you going out?”“Yeah, Great-grandpa. I’m going to hang out with Brother Runsheng.”

“Oh, going out to play.” Li Sanjiang instinctively reached into his pocket. He always prioritized studies, but never had the heart to refuse the boy a little fun.

“You already gave me pocket money this morning, Great-grandpa.”

“Then take a bit more.” He pulled out a handful of coins. In the village, people rarely carried big bills—it was a hassle to break change.

“Thank you, Great-grandpa.”

“Heh, why so polite?”

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a hug at his waist. The boy pressed his face to his stomach, eyes shut.

Li Sanjiang patted the boy’s head, puzzled. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Great-grandpa, you’re so good to me.”

“Hehe, alright, alright. I’ll go fetch you a few bigger bills from the room.”

“No need, Great-grandpa, this is enough. I’m heading out.”

“Don’t stay out too late, remember. We’ve still got the Luck-Shifting Ritual tonight.”

“Got it, Great-grandpa.”

Waving goodbye, Li Zhuiyuan’s expression turned calm as he descended the stairs.

He hadn’t lied to Liu Yumei that morning. All he needed was to know that Great-grandpa truly cared for him—nothing else mattered.

Honestly, if he really cared about such things, how was he any different from the Niu siblings?

Besides, there was something he had deliberately hidden from Liu Yumei.

Granny Liu lived here too, but she liked to play the martyr, always saying she was like someone scavenging coins from the gutter. If she knew Great-grandpa was shortening his lifespan just to shift luck to him, wouldn’t she choke on the injustice?

The older people got, the more they cherished life—and feared death.

Yet Great-grandpa, at his age, was still willing to offer his own years to shift fortune in his favor. That alone made Li Zhuiyuan willing to do anything for him as a grandson.

He had never been dragged into this—every time, he had chosen it himself. So there was no place for resentment.

As he reached the final steps, Li Zhuiyuan suddenly paused. He recalled the book The Sutra of Golden Thread and Silken Spiral he’d seen in Great-grandpa’s room.

He had noticed that Great-grandpa’s diagrams always differed slightly from those in the book.

So if Great-grandpa was actually highly skilled and drew his diagrams precisely—if the Transference Array for Calamity worked to full effect—and considering Great-grandpa’s powerful fortune, strong enough to alter fate itself… wouldn’t it overwhelm him?

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Was this the backlash of fortune even the Qin family avoided?

“Phew... that was close.”

But then again, hadn’t he also benefited from Great-grandpa’s luck? Without staying here, he never would’ve found all those amazing books in the basement—or met Ah Li.

Since getting to know her, that cold, hollow feeling inside him had appeared less and less.

“Blessings and disasters go hand in hand.”

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. He wasn’t going to dwell on it anymore. Better to just live freely.

When he reached the dam, Runsheng had already pulled out the tricycle. All the tools were neatly arranged and covered with a plastic sheet.

“Ding ding ding!”

Runsheng rang the bell. He’d never thought there was anything wrong with his gear before, but now, after seeing the good stuff, he felt like a boar craving fine flour.

Li Zhuiyuan climbed aboard.

Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu stood at the entrance to the dam.

“Little Yuan, don’t think your grandma’s nagging you. I just want to give you one last reminder: are you sure about this? Once you go, there’s no turning back.”

Li Zhuiyuan patted Runsheng on the back.

“Brother Runsheng, let’s go. Don’t look back. Just ride forward!”

“Alrighty, hold on tight!”

…

“Little Yuan, didn’t you say we were heading to Shigang? Why’d you have me stop here first?”

“Brother Runsheng, wait by the door for a bit. I’m going in to find someone.”

Li Zhuiyuan hopped off the tricycle and entered the police station, asking around until he found Tan Yunlong’s office.

Tan Yunlong was dozing in his chair, face shiny with oil—he must’ve pulled another all-nighter.

But the moment Li Zhuiyuan stepped in, his eyes snapped open. That familiar eagle-eyed gaze locked on him again.

“It’s you, kid?”

“Mm.”

“How’d you find my office?”

“I asked someone.”

“You even know my name?”

“I asked where the cop was with the long, thick, slightly slanted eyebrows and a scary glare. Everyone got it.”

“Hahaha…” Tan Yunlong laughed. “Alright, kid. So what brings you here?”

“I’m here to report a crime.”

…

As soon as he stepped out of the police station, Li Zhuiyuan turned back and faced the signboard.

Then, arms wide, he stepped forward and hugged it tightly.

A window in the gatehouse opened, and an elderly auxiliary officer poked his head out.

“Hey kid, what are you doing?”

“I want to be a cop when I grow up.”

“That’s great. Being a cop’s a good thing. Good kid.”

The old officer didn’t say more. He lit a cigarette and quietly watched the boy hold the sign.

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t let go for a long time.

Had to get enough of that luck, right?

Looking down, he saw his clothes were coated in dust from the signboard.

He hesitated for a moment, then decided not to brush it off. Better to keep it.

Then he climbed back on Runsheng’s tricycle.

Old Jiang’s place was easy to find—a five-story self-built villa at the town’s edge, with a huge courtyard enclosed by high walls, complete with pond and rock garden.

In this day and age, it was borderline palatial.

Runsheng picked up his Yellow River spade and said, “Little Yuan, let’s go! Let’s storm the place!”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at him, puzzled. Realizing he wasn’t joking, he quickly grabbed Runsheng’s wrist.

“No, Brother Runsheng. Just like at a memorial feast—we don’t take the first round. We wait for the second. Because what we’re dealing with isn’t human.”

“Then who takes the first round? Who handles those people?”

Just then,

from the distance,

came the wail of sirens.

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