C9 Scavenging the Corpse

Soon after, my foster father had finished his bowl of porridge, yet mine remained untouched. My thoughts were consumed by the horrific scene I had witnessed in the storeroom.

"Half Immortal Zhao, you and your son should get some rest. I've got a 'deal' to attend to today. When I come back tonight, I'll catch a few fish and make some fish soup to help you regain your strength," Old Master Jiaang said, preparing to leave. However, my foster father called out to him.

"Old Master Jiaang, please take Changsheng with you. It's tough for you to be on your own, and we feel uncomfortable living here without contributing. Even though I'm incapacitated now, Changsheng is sharp. He could be of help to you in the future," my foster father suggested.

"Half Immortal Zhao, you've been a savior to my family. It's unnecessary to be so formal, but it's a good idea to have Changsheng accompany me..." Old Master Jiaang gave me a significant look, implying he knew from my foster father that my destiny was intertwined with matters of death.

I got up from the kang and was about to put on my shoes when my foster father firmly grasped my arm and said sternly, "Changsheng, you'll need your strength later. Finish your porridge!"

Despite my growing confusion, I couldn't defy my foster father. Suppressing my nausea, I gulped down the preserved egg and lean pork porridge.

Strangely enough, after consuming the porridge, I felt a transformation in my body. I was suddenly brimming with vitality and strength.

Old Master Jiaang and I reached the riverbank, gazing at the swift current. He shared with me the local tales about the river.

The river before us was known as the Weak Water River, a tributary of the Liao River. True to its mythical namesake, it was perilous, with frequent accidents occurring upstream and the bodies of the unfortunate drifting past.

Old Master Jiaang had spent over forty years as a Corpse Dragging Man, pulling countless bodies from these waters. This line of work, often shunned and associated with darker elements, was not for the faint-hearted. Yet, the villagers held a deep respect for Old Master Jiaang, a man who, despite his ominous appearance, commanded reverence.

Old Master Jiaang's fees for corpse retrieval were quite reasonable. Even during what was considered the off-season, he only charged the standard 500 yuan reward offered by the authorities and refrained from asking the victims' families for additional compensation.

Later on, I heard rumors that Old Master Jiaang had once demanded a high price for his services. However, two bizarre incidents that occurred subsequently transformed him profoundly. One of these incidents was intricately linked to a divination performed by his foster father, Half Immortal Zhao.

Once everything was in order, Old Master Jiaang rowed his small boat, taking me down to the lower reaches of the Weak Water River. The riverbanks were lined with dense forests, and in the distance, several green mountains added to the picturesque beauty.

Our boat lacked an engine, yet it moved swiftly. Old Master Jiaang, with his wealth of experience, expertly navigated the currents and the wind.

The sunlight was dazzling, making it hard to keep our eyes open. After more than half an hour of rowing, we finally came across a corpse in a tributary of the river.

From a distance, it was impossible to discern whether the body was male or female. However, Old Master Jiaang confidently identified it as a male corpse from afar.

There was a certain expertise involved in corpse retrieval, known as "men face down, women face up," suggesting that men's bodies tend to float face down, while women's float face up.

Old Master Jiaang approached swiftly. The body, having been submerged, had filled with gases, causing it to bloat and take on a grotesque, almost giant-like appearance.

I caught a glimpse of the decayed corpse and immediately felt the urge to vomit.

"The first time I retrieved a corpse, I felt just like you do now. I couldn't even sleep at night. But you'll get used to it over time," Old Master Jiaang reassured me as he covered the floating male corpse with a white cloth, then felt for the black rope tied around his waist.

Typically, bamboo poles are used to clear away the weeds and branches surrounding a corpse, but Old Master Jiaang preferred a single rope. This rope was rumored to be interwoven with black dog hair, believed to possess the power to ward off evil.

With a glint in his one good eye, Old Master Jiaang cast the rope with the precision of a Western cowboy. The rope, like a black serpent, coiled around the right leg of the male corpse.

Since there was another body to be retrieved, the male corpse was suspended from the boat as we continued our journey downstream.

The height of summer brought with it a nauseating stench from the body. Old Master Jiaang lit a pouch of tobacco and settled at the bow to smoke his pipe, which seemed to emit a unique scent that masked the putrid odor of decay.

As time passed, the relentless sun above drenched us in sweat. Suddenly, Old Master Jiaang gestured for me to cease rowing.

"What's the matter?" I inquired, puzzled.

Old Master Jiaang's complexion soured as he fixed his gaze intently beneath the water's surface. Following his line of sight, I was shocked into silence by the eerie spectacle below.