Li Qiang’s family had been famous Corpse Handlers for three generations in Xiangxi.
Nowadays, most places have mandated cremation, with only a few regions still preserving the burial funeral customs.
Xiangxi is one of them.
Because of its geographical location, deep in the mountains and ravines, and vastly different from city life,
it has been shrouded in mystery for thousands of years.
The locals highly value the concept of returning to one’s roots, so they’ve always followed the custom of burial.
No matter how far the wanderers traveled for a living,
their bodies had to be buried in their hometown’s soil after death.
Due to Xiangxi’s complex terrain and numerous mountain roads,
vehicles transporting corpses often couldn’t reach the villages.
Thus, the profession of Corpse Handler was born.
After death, without the assistance of blood flow, the body’s muscles become stiff.
Therefore, such bodies were also known as Zombies.
Xiangxi’s Corpse Handlers have a secret technique that allows them to refine corpses and control the movements of the dead bodies, making them hop and move swiftly like the wind,
even on mountainous paths.
Truth be told, although they’re termed Corpse Handlers, they’re not much different from the modern funeral parlors that drive hearses.
They both transport bodies to be laid to rest.
It’s just that Corpse Handlers are considered more mysterious.
Li Qiang’s lineage of Corpse Handlers had been renowned in Xiangxi.
By the time it reached his father’s generation, their name was known far and wide.
According to Li Qiang himself, apart from the corpse-driving art, their family inherited other secret techniques that were quite magical.
This was why, a few years ago, Li Qiang’s father received a special invitation.
At that time, Li Qiang was still in school.
A group of guests visited their home.
These guests were not ordinary—their identities were exceptional.
It was said they were official representatives from Dragon Country.
They had been sent on an expedition to investigate and excavate a large tomb in Yunnan.
They had tried several times before to reach the tomb but had to return midway for unknown reasons.
Somehow, they had heard of Li Qiang’s father’s reputation.
They traveled to Xiangxi, especially to request his father to join them in Yunnan to explore the tomb.
Li Qiang didn’t know the specifics of their conversation.
Initially, Li Qiang’s father was reluctant.
Li Qiang’s old man knew that Yunnan was a place with an overabundance of yin and evil energy.
Especially in the deep primeval forests, where they were intending to search for some large tomb.
Who knew what was inside.
Li Qiang’s old man was content to manage the corpse-driving on his own turf and earn enough money to get by.
That’s why he refused at first.
But after persistent persuasion and an irresistibly large sum of money offered upfront by the guests,
the temptation was maxed out!
Seeing the money, Li Qiang’s old man couldn’t walk away.
Left with no alternative, he decided to make the trip to Yunnan with them.
Before leaving, he admonished Li Qiang to study hard at home and manage the ancestral Corpse Handler’s work well.
He was supposed to return in no more than ten days to half a month.
But now, to talk about ten days or half a month seemed pointless.
Li Qiang waited at home year after year.
Nearly four years had passed, and Li Qiang had long since graduated.
Originally, he was just temping for his father’s corpse-driving work.
But now, in Xiangxi, Li Qiang’s reputation as a Corpse Handler had surpassed his father’s!
Yet, his own father had not returned.
Li Qiang wasn’t worried at first because, despite the lack of signal in the mountainous area and being unable to reach his father by phone, they stayed in contact through a secret technique.
However, this form of communication through secret techniques was one-sided.
That is, Li Qiang couldn’t initiate contact with his father.
It had always been his father sending Li Qiang occasional reassurances.
"I’m working, can be back in half a year!"
"Encountered some obstacles, will contact again in ten days!"
"I’m still alive, you keep working!"
But since last June, Li Qiang hadn’t received any word from his father for six long months.
Until recently, over the New Year, Li Qiang finally received a secret message.
The message was truly shocking to Li Qiang.
It read: "Sudden accident, encountered in the underground palace a Nine-headed Monster chasing us, the whole team fell into a chasm, and I fear we won’t make it out alive, take care of yourself..."
After receiving this news, Li Qiang was beside himself with anxiety.
Half a year with no news, and when news finally arrived, it was this grave.
They agreed on ten days to half a month for his return, but instead, it turned into several years, and now his life was in jeopardy—what was going on?
Li Qiang didn’t know what his father had been doing in Yunnan with those people.
Nor did he know what the Nine-headed Monster mentioned in the message was.
But as a son, he couldn’t just sit at home and neglect his old man’s safety.
He rushed to Longguang City overnight to seek the Heavenly Master’s help.
After hearing the whole story, Taoist Jing Xuan also informed the Heavenly Master.
The matter was significant—it was best left to the Heavenly Master to decide.
Taoist Jing Xuan and Li Qiang had just stepped out of the Three Pure Ones Hall’s gate and were preparing to head to the Heavenly Master Mansion at the mountain’s peak.
But as they left, they bumped into several people, among whom the leader was a well-known figure.
It was Master Ye Jiuyun, the official representative from Dragon Country and currently among the top three in Dragon Country’s martial rankings.
Master Ye was here today for a visit, also seeking the Heavenly Master’s help on a matter.
After a brief inquiry, Taoist Jing Xuan realized that Master Ye Jiuyun’s visit was related to the same issue as Li Qiang’s.