Corpse Retriever

Li Zhuiyuan had meant to deepen and enrich that final exchange a bit more, but he could no longer hold out. His state of “walking the shade” was becoming unstable, and his vision fractured into chaos.

Still, it should be enough.

He let go, closed his eyes.

When he tried to open them again, he couldn’t. His eyes felt blocked.

He knew the “walking the shade” had ended because he could hear Runsheng and Tan Wenbin’s voices beside him.

“Runsheng, this bleeding won’t stop. It’s freaking me out.”

“Keep wiping. I’ll fetch more clean water.”

“Binbin-ge.”

“Xiaoyuan, you’re awake. Don’t panic, we’re trying to stop the bleeding.”

“Binbin-ge, check Zhou Yong. Tell me what’s happening with him now.”“He… he keeps shaking his head like he’s having a seizure. But don’t worry, he can’t break free from the basket and net.”

“Keep an eye on him. Tell me every change. I can’t see right now.”

Runsheng returned. Soon after, Li Zhuiyuan felt a cool sensation flow over his eyes.

He could finally open them—but all he saw was darkness.

“Xiaoyuan, your eyes look completely lifeless. Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?”

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.

Right now, even Blind Liu Jinxia could probably boast about having better eyesight than him.

He was, for all intents and purposes, blind.

“Xiaoyuan, will your eyes be okay?”

“Xiaoyuan-ge, don’t scare me!”

“No need to worry. I just overexerted myself. I can’t see now, but I’m not truly blind. With rest, I’ll recover.”

The Chronicle of the Orthodox Demon-Suppressing Arts had similar cases: “Temporary blindness, a旬月 for recovery—learn restraint.”

Wei Zhengdao had once overdrawn himself the same way, and he eventually healed.

That word “旬月,” though—tricky. It could mean a month, or ten months, or something between ten days and a month.

Li Zhuiyuan figured the third interpretation was best. If it really took ten full months, the tone of that record would’ve been a lot more panicked—more like “horrified and reborn” than merely “learned restraint.”

“Xiaoyuan, the mucus in Zhou Yong’s eyes is gone. His eyes are red again. He looks furious.”

“Is he staring at the three of us?”

“No. He’s not looking at us.”

“Good. Then it worked.”

The hatred had been redirected.

“Runsheng-ge, take off the net and basket. Put Zhou Yong in the water.”

“Got it!”

It was a strange request, but Runsheng never questioned why.

He hauled Zhou Yong to the riverbank, removed the restraints, and booted the limp man back into the river like a dead fish.

The moment he hit the water, Zhou Yong sprang to life and dove straight to the bottom.

“Xiaoyuan, let’s get you to a hospital,” said Tan Wenbin.

“Binbin-ge, one more favor—take me home on the trike.

Runsheng-ge, stay here and watch over Grandpa Shan and Great-grandpa.

Starting tomorrow, go check Zhou Yong’s courtyard twice a day—morning and night. If you don’t see that mother and daughter duo sitting out there waving to you, search the riverbank. You might find a dead fish.”

“Xiaoyuan, anything else to watch out for?”

“Make sure to recalculate the payment with the village chief.”

“Okay,” Runsheng agreed. He turned to Tan Wenbin. “You sure you can still pedal?”

“No problem.”

Runsheng asked sincerely, “You look exhausted. Want me to slap you awake?”

“No, no need. I’ll slap myself as I ride.”

“Be careful. Don’t let anything happen to Xiaoyuan.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Runsheng packed up and personally carried Li Zhuiyuan home on his back.

Inside, the two drunk elders were snoring loud enough to shake the beams.

He’d helped Great-grandpa settle another mess.

But really, the boy never minded helping him out. Being around Great-grandpa gave him more freedom in his work anyway. The old man’s logic had never exactly aligned with what people called the “Orthodox Way.”

Then again, maybe the so-called Orthodox Way was the lie. Maybe Great-grandpa’s methods were the true path of righteousness.

Still, if he hadn’t come, Great-grandpa might never have gotten involved in this to begin with.

Without him, even with the Bagua Compass, Great-grandpa wouldn’t have found Zhou Yong’s house.

…

Dawn broke.

Utterly spent, Li Zhuiyuan sat on the tricycle, breeze in his face, but sleep eluded him.

Even though all he saw was black, he felt joyful—he even hummed the children’s song “Let’s Paddle Our Oars.”

Everything had come too easily before. In the subject of “corpse retrieval,” for the first time, he knew what it felt like to struggle.

He’d worked so hard, hoping for some progress—and you had the nerve to cheat and frame me?

Why?

Fine, then. I’ll destroy you.

Tan Wenbin pedaled and slapped himself while behind him, the boy’s singing made him smile.

From the beginning, the boy had always seemed unnervingly mature for his age. Sometimes, Tan even felt like his own father couldn’t match the kid’s presence.

So when he called him “ge,” it wasn’t flattery. The boy really was smarter and more mature.

Hearing him sing like a child now—he was genuinely happy for him.

“You’re in a good mood, huh, Xiaoyuan?”

“Yeah. Really happy.”

…

The trike rolled safely into their courtyard. Tan Wenbin’s face was swollen from all the self-slapping.

He staggered off the bike, pulled the brake, then collapsed right there and fell asleep.

He’d been nonstop for over a day—frightened, drained, even sucked by a Dead Sinker. That he’d lasted this long was a miracle.

Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu were having breakfast. Seeing them return, they dropped their chopsticks and ran over.

Li Zhuiyuan’s hands were seized—one by Liu Yumei, the other by Liu Ting. The two women exchanged glances.

Aunt Liu let go, dragged Tan Wenbin inside to the dining table, then went to fetch medicine.

Liu Yumei frowned, sighed, and stared at Li Zhuiyuan.

He liked this quiet. No unnecessary questions. Everyone could see the truth.

And now that he couldn’t see faces, there was no need for anyone to manage their expressions.

The world had suddenly become much simpler.

Until his hand was held by another—soft, warm.

The dull world brightened again.

“Ah Li, come here. I have a secret to tell you.”

She leaned close, touching him.

He felt her hair brush his lips—her ear was against them.

“Listen, someone tried to set me up. I’m mad. I’ve already laid a trap. They’re definitely going to get screwed.”

Of course, Liu Yumei overheard.

She thought her granddaughter would be angry about the boy’s condition. But after hearing that, Ah Li just smiled, dimples and all.

“Ah Li, I can’t see. Take me to my room.”

He felt her take his hand with one, support his arm with the other.

Usually, he led the way.

They went inside, up the stairs, into his room, onto the bed.

He lay down, reached for the quilt—missed.

But soon, the blanket was laid over him just the way he liked.

She left. He heard the door.

Then she returned—with a wet towel.

She gently wiped his face, folding it just as he used to for her.

She’d been learning all along.

Then came adult footsteps.

“Xiaoyuan, lie still. Auntie’s putting on medicine.”

“Thanks, Aunt Liu.”

Ointment was applied to his eyes. A cloth band wrapped and tied around his head.

The comfort spread, pulling him toward sleep.

He forced himself to stay awake a moment longer.

“Aunt Liu, how long till my eyes get better?”

“Xun yue.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “……”

She laughed. “Hehe, a month. You’ll finally get some peace.”

He smiled too.

“You brat—how can you still smile?”

“One month. Just in time to finish summer break. I won’t miss the start of school.”

…

That afternoon, Li Sanjiang woke up. Learning that Xiaoyuan and Zhuangzhuang had returned, he didn’t say much—just grabbed his gear and dragged Runsheng along the river again.

Runsheng figured they were just killing time.

Then Li Sanjiang pulled out the Bagua Compass.

It pointed due south. They followed it to the bridge.

Underneath, Li Sanjiang unzipped and took a leak.

Men rarely look down when peeing. Instead, like surveying the land, they scan their surroundings.

He saw the plaque under the bridge and mused:

“Runsheng-hou, this Zhou Yong—he from your village?”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“Tsk tsk. Must be rich, huh? Donated a whole bridge by himself.”

“Uh… I’m not too familiar with folks in the village.”

“You don’t know your own villagers?”

“Grandpa, you know how it is. My grandpa and I do this kind of work. We barely socialize.”

“That’s odd. Aren’t you popular? Who doesn’t like a guy who loses money at cards?”

“My grandpa usually doesn’t even have money to gamble.”

“Oh, fair enough.”

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