It was not until Su Bai had reached the top of the passage did he notice where he was going: into a coffin. The owner of this coffin had already mummified and rotten so much that the body would break into pieces when touched. When Su Bai climbed in, he broke the body; now there wasnt much left of it.
But it was funny to bury a body in this place without knowing that there was a fox demon nest under it? Su Bai thought of the hole that had been blocked. It could be assud that the grave builders did notice sothing strange under it, but sohow they blocked the hole and did nothing else. Luckily, it helped when Su Bai was trying to get out.
Su Bai continued scratching the coffin with his fingernails. Obviously it belonged to so rich landlord in the country, but not any emperor or general, so it wouldnt be buried too deep. Su Bai was planning to break the cover of the coffin and push so soil away, and then he would be free.
However, just when he cracked the coffin lid and started pushing soil, a peach wood sword ca unexpectedly and went right into his shoulder.
Peach wood had a special power against evil, and Taoist Lams sword had been refined in his own spells, so the sword easily broke into Su Bais skin.
Under such a surprise attack, Su Bai roared, grabbed the sword and pulled it down. His hand was smoking; apparently, he was getting burned by the sword, but he didnt care.
From the other end of the sword, there ca a pulling force. It had beco a tug-of-war since neither of them would let go.
Just when they were in a stalemate, a hand reached in with a spell paper and accurately tagged it onto Su Bais forehead. Imdiately, Su Bai couldnt move; but he had already gathered all his cold toxin onto his head in an instant, so a chill was sent through that palm.
Taoist Lam was shaking because of the coldness while Su Bai was motionless in the coffin. Neither of them was giving in. For Su Bai, he was not hurt even though he couldnt move for now; but for Taoist Lam, he was a human, even though he was well-trained, he couldnt stand such coldness for too long. Therefore, after a while, he pulled his hand back. The spell paper on Su Bais forehead fell off, and he was free. Without hesitation, he pushed away the thin soil with both hands and stood up.
Ah!!!!
Ah ah ah ah!!!!
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!
Liang, Kuan and Miss Chen were all standing nearby. Seeing a zombie standing in the grave, they all scread in fear.
Taoist Lam had one of his hand covered in chilblains, but it wasnt serious. He glanced at his students and said harshly:
Chens ancestor has co to life as a zombie. Get the eight-trigram mirror[1] and so spider threads.
Kuan and Liang ca to themselves; Kuan protected Miss Chen to leave, and Liang went to the bag they brought and found the stuff for his teacher.
Chens ancestor?
Su Bai was confused.
But at that ti, Taoist Lam was saying sothing harshly in a rightful voice:
There is a world for the living and another for the dead, now youre against the natural laws! Dont you fear the punishnt? Right your wrong and feast on your descendants offerings, otherwise you will be destroyed!
Su Bai looked at Taoist Lam and felt a little familiar with his face. But he didnt leave much ti for Su Bai to think after he finished his speech. It was like those words that a police officer must say before arresting a criminal: You have the right to remain silence, but everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Certainly, Taoist Lam wouldnt believe a zombie to right its wrong because, as a Taoist, he knew what a zombie was; it was no different from a beast, or even more vicious.
Therefore, when he got the eight-trigram mirror, he bit his finger, sared his blood onto it and lifted it up towards Su Bai:
How dare you co out in such daylight! How dare you haunt people in such a peaceful world!
Sunlight was reflected by the mirror and beca a beam of red light landing on Su Bai. Imdiately, it exploded and burst into a huge fire around the grave.
After the narrow escape from the fox nest, Su Bai was like a spent arrow and couldnt resist Taoist Lams strike. He was blown off and hit the ground heavily.
His clothes and that coffin behind him were all gone in the fire.
Taoist Lam was about to raise his mirror and give Su Bai one last attack so as to destroy him permanently. But Miss Chen suddenly cried out:
Uncle Ying! Please! Have rcy! Thats my ancestor!
Su Bai had only heard so much before he passed out.
Alas! Master, thank you, thank you so much. A man in a ministry councillor costu was walking into the mortuary with Taoist Lam.
The mortuary in the village was also run by Taoist Lam. Once in a while, the county governnt would send so money for its maintenance, as one of the achievents in the governors official career.
You dont have to thank , Mr. Chen. Im just doing my job. In fact, what happened to your ancestor was my fault, I was careless. Taoist Lam didnt take the credit; on the contrary, he admitted his own mistake honestly.
Dont say so, master. Maybe my ancestor knew what would happen to him, and that was why he ca into my dreams and asked to be moved Im so glad youre here, if it were so other Taoist not so skillful as you are, things may get even worse. Now my ancestors corpse has been preserved, thats what really matters. All thanks to you, master. I must thank you with more gifts later.
Councillor Chen and Taoist Lam were walking through the coffins, followed by Kuan, Liang and Miss Chen.
Mr. Chen, this way, please. Heres your ancestor. Taoist Lam signaled his students.
Kuan and Liang walked to a redwood coffin and opened it. There was a man lying in it, wearing an official costu of the Qing governnt.
Councillor Chen looked at the body and was a little confused: Master, why does my ancestor look so young? Apparently he was surprised to see the young man in his early twenties.
Well, your ancestor must have died at a really young age. Taoist Lam said.
Well, must be that. Councillor Chen agreed. Then he kneeled with sincerity before the coffin with his daughter, and kowtowed for three tis. Afterwards, he stood up and grabbed Taoist Lams hand: Master, lets have a further discussion about the new site for my ancestor. And theres sothing Im worried about If we bury my ancestor, will he well, rise again?
Taoist Lam knew what he ant and replied: Dont worry, as long as the new site is right, he will rest in peace.
Thatll be good, thatll be good.
Mr. Chen, lets go to the front room and discuss it there.
Yeah, yeah, lets go.
Taoist Lam and Councillor Chen went out together. Before they left, Taoist Lam ordered: Kuan, prepare so tea.
Yes, master, Kuan replied, casting one more glance at Miss Chan with unwillingness to leave.
Now only Liang and Miss Chen were still in the mortuary.
Liang, you and your teacher are so amazing! I was almost scared to death yesterday! Miss Chen tapped her chest with a little fear after the event.
Heh heh, that was nothing. We deal with that sort of things everyday. Ive seen worse. Liang started boasting.
Youre so brave, Liang. Youre the bravest boy Ive ever t! Miss Chen praised.
Heh heh heh
Ive been thinking about what you said to last night, Suddenly, Miss Chen said.
Liang beca nervous; last night he told Miss Chen about his admiration and wooed her. Now what result would it be?
Miss Chen looked at her ancestor in the coffin with concern: My ancestor, he wont you know, will he?
Dont worry, he wont. Hes got my teachers eight-trigram mirror placed under him, and spell papers tagged all over his body. Hell rest in peace. Liang said.
Well, then let my ancestor be our witness.
Okay Wait, what?
Liang, close your eyes. Dont peep. Miss Chen pointed to Liang.
The lad imdiately close his eyes.
Miss Chen also closed her eyes and moved her lips to him. She was going to return that affection with a kiss.
Liang was standing by the left side of the coffin and Miss Chen by the right; it was not a large coffin, so Miss Chen leaned over it to kiss her love.
People in love could sotis be very hard to understand; they didnt care to bill and coo in a mortuary with a coffin in-between, and it was her ancestors body! They even thought that dead person as their witness!
At this mont, Su Bai finally ca to himself after the long coma. He had turned back to human after he passed out, therefore those anti-zombie stuff couldnt work on him. They were just a mirror and a pile of paper, unless Su Bai suddenly turn into a zombie. But Taoist Lam had no idea about Su Bais suspended animation; he had mistakenly thought that the body turned back to normal because the evil in it was gone.
Waking up, Su Bai subconsciously sat up in the coffin.
And he was right between Miss Chen and Liang.
Then
Miss Chens first kiss
landed on Su Bais cheek.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] eight-trigram mirror: Also known as Bagua Mirror or Tai Chi Bagua Mirror. In Chinese mythology, it has been considered as a symbol of good luck or protection against evil.
[2]Suspended animation: It refers to a state where a person or creature remains alive but his/her body functions decay to a extrely slow rate. But they are not dead; when the situation is right, they can co back to life.
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