As soon as Xu Qing stepped onto Underground Street, he smelled a scent that made every pore of his body involuntarily relax.
Passing the Incense and Candle Shop, the wax oils brought a fresh laurel fruit fragrance combined with the unique scent of animal fats.
Going by the Paper Mache Shop, the aroma echoing that of freshly burnt joss paper over a grave made it irresistible.
Walking a bit further, although the Coffin Shop didn't have anything that made his mouth water, the subtle fragrance of the unpainted coffins gave him a sense of coming home late at night and collapsing onto a soft bed.
He really wanted to rush into the shop right now, find a solid coffin, and sleep in it for a few days...
Walking down Cemetery Street, Xu Qing felt a cat-scratch dog-bite sensation inside his heart, his mind filled with lavish images of feasting on candles, guzzling the scent of burnt offerings, and drunkenly lying in coffins afterward.
Using his self-awareness and willpower to forcefully suppress those chaotic thoughts, he found himself in front of the shop set up by Liu Youdao.
The shop's facade was made up of three interconnected panels, allowing any panel to be removed as needed during daily operations.
For example, you could remove just one panel during bad weather like strong winds or heavy snow; on sunny days with a clear sky, all the panels could be removed to welcome guests.
Xu Qing looked up at the shop signboard with its black characters on the original background; the painted words were very clear, indicating it was a newly decorated shop.
As for the words on the signboard, his knowledge of the Scripture of Books allowed him to recognize them at a glance: Forensic Doctor Shop.
A forensic doctor in ancient times handled corpses, dressed them, carried coffins, excavated and buried them, collected and washed bones, and was responsible for funeral rites.
"Finally here!"
Xu Qing took out the pouch he got from Liu Youdao, rummaging through it until he found the shop key tucked inside a hidden compartment.
Unlocking the lock, he removed one of the panels, and his zombie's gift of seeing as clearly in darkness as in daylight allowed him to easily discern the layout of the shop inside.
There was a counter, two dark wood coffins by the west wall, shelves with tools for cleaning corpses, and various jars and pots for embalming.
In the southeast corner was an altar for ancestral worship.
Upon closer inspection, Xu Qing found that the offering tablet was dedicated to Master Liu Youdao's mentor.
Having checked the outer shop, Xu Qing leisurely strolled to the small courtyard at the back for a look-around.
At this moment, he resembled a prospective buyer, inspecting every aspect of the property thoroughly, even opening the fence of the simple latrine in the backyard to take a peek.
Having looked over the entire shop, Xu Qing seemed very satisfied.
A horse that doesn't gain weight without nighttime grazing, a person doesn't get rich without unexpected wealth.
Who would have thought that within a single night, he would gain fortune that a corpse driver might spend a lifetime to achieve?
However, to properly inherit these assets, he would need to refine every detail.
Now, not only was he proficient in the Corpse Driving Skill, but his abilities in Relocating the Spirit for Burial and Yin Track Positioning were also no less than those of an ordinary Corpse Driver.
With these business capabilities, he could rightfully acknowledge Liu Youdao as his master and reasonably inherit the sect's legacy.
Back in the front shop, Xu Qing, now with a plan, searched all over and found two items.
One was a brush and ink set for bookkeeping on the counter, the other was a blank offering plaque on the shelf.
As the saying goes, details determine success or failure; since he decided to play the role of Liu Youdao's apprentice, he should do it thoroughly.
Since Liu Youdao was already dead, it was only natural for him, as the disciple, to set up a longevity tablet for the deceased 'master.' Otherwise, if someone one day inquired to pay respects yet found that he, the self-proclaimed apprentice, hadn't even set up a tablet for his master, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?
With careful thought, Xu Qing took the brush and ink and approached the worship altar in the southeast corner.
On the altar already stood a tablet, with words written in Liu Youdao's hand from his lifetime: 'Honoring the spirit of Grandmaster Yang Qiying.' The right side read, 'Guided by Immortal Monarch, Achieving Perfect Merit,' while the lower left had 'Unfilial disciple, Liu Youdao, tearfully erected.'
Following the example, Xu Qing dipped the brush in ink and set up a new tablet below the Grandmaster's spirit tablet.
The center of the tablet read, 'Honoring the spirit of Master Liu Gong Youdao,' with the right side: 'The master's功 and ancestors' virtue flow far, disciples inherit endlessly.'
The lower left read, 'Rebellious disciple, the Xu child, mournfully erected.'
After finishing this, Xu Qing held three sticks of incense, couldn't help but swallow a few bites, and only after tasting did he offer them to Master Liu.
Suddenly, the newly lit candle began flickering wildly, causing the room's shadows to sway incessantly.
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, noticing the door to the backyard wasn't closed, letting the wind blow in.
But he clearly remembered closing the door before coming in, so how strong must the wind be to blow it open?
Contemplating for a moment, Xu Qing seemed to sense something and abruptly spoke to himself.
"Liu Youdao, Liu Youdao, I don't blame you for turning me into a zombie. After all, without you, I'd probably be dead in the wilderness by now. Now that you've died unjustly, not only do I refrain from mocking you, but I also inherit your craft, ensuring the continuity of the sect."
"You should thank me. When the Celestial Heart Sect that harmed you is destroyed by the Imperial Court, I might even burn some incense to celebrate for you; wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Strangely enough, after Xu Qing finished speaking, not only did the wind in the yard cease, but even the candle that was about to extinguish rekindled brightly.