Chapter 0001: Linjiang City Funeral Home

After finishing, he bowed and disregarded the objections from the audience, walking backstage

Didi

Over the past year, Xu Shan can be considered one of the most beautiful deceased individuals he has ever seen. She has a charming appearance and an artistic temperament, and she appears to be around 28 years old. Qin Kun recalls the numerous tattoos and cigarette burns on her body, leading him to suspect that she may not be as innocent as she seems on the surface

Qin Kun sat beside Xu Shan, wrapped his arm around her neck, and whispered: "Miss Xu, disobedient ghosts are not well-liked."

Indeed, the stench of decay

On stage is a newly arrived female vocalist, singing Faye Wong's "A Woman Easily Hurt." Her voice is haunting, and her brows are furrowed. She has a beautiful tone, but this song is sung with too much sorrow. The women in the audience are satisfied, but the men who are drinking are not pleased.

Qin Kun sighed, closed his eyes, and traced a line with his index finger on his forehead. When he opened his eyes again, his pair of eternally listless eyes suddenly turned pitch black and cold. The darkness quickly receded, and the surroundings returned to their previous clamor

As he exited the funeral home, Qin Kun called out to the gatekeeper, "Uncle Qu, I am leaving"

Qin Kun felt a cold wind blowing towards him, causing him to shiver

The female lead in front of us is none other than the woman who left in Master Kuang's taxi in the evening, named Xu Shan, and she is also one of the corpses that Qin Kun stitched together today

Moreover, her body was stabbed 16 times, and Qin Kun could not comprehend what kind of enmity this girl had incurred to be mutilated in such a manner

May everyone rest in peace, I am not well-versed in the scriptures, I will ask the elder monk to chant the sutras for your benefit on another day

Xu Shan looked around in disbelief as Qin Kun waved his hand and broke through his own "ghost wall," leaving her feeling somewhat bewildered, followed by a rising sense of panic.

Qin Kun placed his hand on Xu Shan's head, and with a firm grip, Xu Shan's soul was directly pulled out, causing her body to immediately go limp and lean against Qin Kun

On the third floor of the Linjiang City Funeral Home, it was pitch dark outside, and only Qin Kun remained in the empty building. He gazed at the beautiful female corpse before him, her facial wounds already sutured to a smooth finish, and then he slowly pushed her into the freezer

Qin Kun saw the female lead who had just walked into the backstage come out shortly after changing into a different outfit. She sat down in a booth not far from him, so he straightened his clothes and walked over with a drink in hand

Qin Kun is not very old, only 22 years old, but he entered society at the age of 16. He is mature for his age, and due to the nature of his profession, which belongs to the artisan trade, most people who know him would address him as Master Qin

A blast of horn sounded, and two bright lights appeared at the corner in front of Qin Kun, causing him to be momentarily stunned

Qin Kun greeted her and, without her consent, sat down beside her

... ...

Qin Kun smiled awkwardly, indicating that he was aware.

The woman's gaze was somewhat teasing, and Qin Kun touched his nose, chuckling: "The work environment is not good, and the pressure is high; one must find a place to relax. I didn't expect to run into you tonight; we truly have a fate, don't we"

Qin Kun greeted with a smile while lighting a cigarette

As the song came to an end, a few intoxicated men in the audience shouted, "Sister! Sing something more cheerful! I'll send you a flower basket!"

The woman's attitude was ambiguous as she moved a little closer, her loose long shirt hanging down, revealing her chest completely. Qin Kun lowered his head and could vaguely see her smooth skin subtly visible through the long shirt. The woman was sitting very close to Qin Kun, the scent of cosmetics mingling with the smell of alcohol, enveloping him. Amidst these aromas, Qin Kun could still detect a faint unpleasant odor.

Master Kuang saw that Qin Kun did not get into the car, and he did not continue to invite him. "Master Qin, smoke less. Cigarettes are not good for your health! If I pass by next time, I will give you a ride!" After saying this, he drove away.

The female lead singer sweetly smiled and said: "This is my first time here, and today I will present these three songs. I hope that in the future, all the older brothers and sisters will support me more."

Qin Kun slammed on the brakes, staring blankly at the trailing smoke, and suddenly shouted: "Old Kuang! You better stop the car!"

Master Qin, I did not expect you to come to a place like this bar

Miss Xu, coming all the way from the western suburbs at this late hour, is it just to sing a few songs? Qin Kun asked after seeing Xu Shan perform as Lanjina.

The woman's expression was somewhat unnatural, but it was fleeting. In an instant, the demeanor of the little woman revealed itself as she playfully pouted, saying: "You have seen everything of me today, aren't you going to invite me for a drink?"

The radio was playing Yue opera, and Uncle Qu in the security room said without looking up: "The dead do not speak of staying, and the living do not speak of leaving. Xiao Qin, you have been working at the funeral home for almost two years now, so you need to be more careful in the future"

Qin Kun turned his head to the side and glared at the attendant: "Get lost!"

The female lead singer, even with heavy makeup, still reveals a good foundation; her skin is fair, her features are exquisite, her ten fingers adorned with red nail polish and set with diamonds, and she wears high heels that accentuate her straight, elastic legs. However, the only flaw in her beauty is a scar on her face, which even heavy makeup cannot conceal.

The funeral home is located in the western suburbs of Linjiang City. Due to its remote location and the legends of hauntings, almost no one drives past here at night, especially during the witching hour when the yin energy is at its peak. Even the boldest drivers would take a longer route to avoid it. On the main road, Qin Kun sped along, the cool breeze dispelling the summer heat, and the feeling of having the entire road to himself was quite pleasant.

Hehe, Old Kuang, there's no need. I will ride back to exercise. Are you going to the western suburbs this late to pick someone up?

On the deserted road, the bicycle sped swiftly. Qin Kun rode all the way to the Third Ring Road, where Master Kuang caught up from behind, brushed past, and honked the horn twice as a greeting. Qin Kun noticed a woman sitting in the back seat of a taxi, strikingly beautiful, with fair skin and a scar on her face, precisely the woman he had just stitched up.

Master Qin, just off work? Shall I give you a ride?

The night is quiet and cold, the indoor lighting is dim, and a gentle breeze is blowing outside the window

The woman waved at Qin Kun through the car window as the taxi drove away

You sing quite well, Miss Xu

Xixiang Street is a bar street in Linjiang City, rich in nightlife culture. Sitting in a corner booth, Qin Kun gazed at the resident singer on stage, his expression somewhat speechless: She really knows how to pick a place!

The female lead was taken aback when she saw Qin Kun, seemingly not expecting to encounter him here

Qin Kun spread his hands, his expression somewhat innocent: "I truly did not intend to interfere with you. Just obediently return the body, and even if you slaughter everyone in this bar tonight, it has nothing to do with me"

Xu Shan glared at Qin Kun with resentment, noticing that he only mentioned work matters, seemingly disregarding her entirely. She opened her small mouth and let out a puff of black air. The temperature around Qin Kun plummeted, and he found himself surrounded by darkness. The bar suddenly became empty, leaving only Xu Shan across from him, her blood-red eyes staring at him.

In the dead of night, a female ghost seeks revenge; such matters are naturally beyond his control. He is merely a mortician, with little to boast about aside from the curator personally praising his strong fate. His acquaintance with Xu Shan is merely a professional necessity; in fact, Xu Shan is still his 'client.' Which industry does not prioritize the client? His performance bonus is still rated by the deceased's relatives, and if the rating is low, there will be no bonus to receive.

Qin Kun has been working as a mortician for two years. He knows that some people continue to live in the same way after death. This strange anecdote may be hard for many to believe, but those who have worked in a funeral home are well aware of it, and most have witnessed it, so it is not surprising

Xu Shan's ghost was grasped in Qin Kun's palm, and Xu Shan was astonished to find herself in a jar.

Qin Kun saw a taxi approaching, which stopped beside him, and the driver was an acquaintance.

Watching Qin Kun carry his own corpse, walking towards the outside of the bar, it resembled a hunter who had come to the bar to seek out prey, bearing his catch of the night, absurd and terrifying

Xu Shan's gums were somewhat purplish, and her teeth had become sharp and yellowed, with bloodstains seeping from them. She licked her tongue, her pupils had shrunk to the size of pinpricks, revealing large areas of the whites of her eyes, which made anyone who met her gaze feel extremely uncomfortable

Driver Master Kuang noticed the flames and wrinkled his nose: "I have a big order tonight, taking someone to the city, offering 200 yuan. Are you really not taking the ride? I won't charge you."

The gentle breeze stirred the yellow paper in the fire pit, sparks flew, and the incense flickered intermittently. Upon hearing Qin Kun's words, there was a moment of agitation, which gradually subsided.

"If you have a grudge, take revenge; if you have resentment, repay it. Miss Xu, if you want to kill someone, I cannot stop you, nor do I wish to. However, since you have already become a ghost, there is no need for you to come out in this corpse and cause trouble, is there? This body will be cremated tomorrow, and its appearance has been ruined; I will have to clean it up! I work so hard every day, and there are so many bodies in the funeral home waiting for me to handle; I cannot waste all my time on you."

On stage, a male singer took the microphone. Hearing the men grumbling, he quickly told a few risqué jokes, successfully warming up the atmosphere again

The last bus in the vicinity has also finished its service, but it does not matter. Qin Kun rides his bicycle, slowly making his way into the city; his nightlife is just beginning

Qin Kun has a reserved and taciturn personality, with few friends, and is considered a regular patron of bars in his daily life

Xu Shan smiled at Qin Kun, but due to the stitches on her face, her smile appeared extremely unnatural: "Master Qin, do modern morticians concern themselves with so much? I am here to seek revenge today; will you stop me?"

A waiter rushed over to stop Qin Kun: "Sir, you cannot take her out; she is the resident singer of our bar..."

A trace of sarcasm flashed in Xu Shan's eyes: "Do you really think you can control me?"

Do not think about seeking revenge, just stay put and behave yourself

Xu Shan suddenly felt that Qin Kun's arm was like an iron hoop, pinning her down so that she could not move. His eyes were deep and profound like an abyss. When Xu Shan met his gaze, it felt as if she was being drawn in, a sharp pain surged in her mind, yet she could not utter a single word.

Qin Kun lit a cigarette, his expression somewhat troubled

This road encounters few drivers at night

Three months ago, a series of car accidents occurred in Linjiang. It is said that a taxi driver suffered from low blood sugar, crashing into three vehicles along the way and driving off the overpass. The taxi driver died on the spot. The deceased was Master Kuang, and it was Qin Kun who assisted in stitching the body.

A foul odor filled the air, and Qin Kun fanned his nose, helplessly saying: "Miss Xu, what are you doing?"

Xixiang Street, Linjiang City, Night Charm Bar

At 11:30 PM, inside the funeral home of Linjiang City, Qin Kun removed his gloves, let out a long breath as he walked out of the embalming room, and lit three incense sticks on the offering table

The monotonous and exhausting work of the day has come to an end, and the night belongs to revelry and celebration

Qin Kun waved his hand and said, "No need, hurry up and pick someone up. I will leave first."

Qin Kun was not accustomed to being so close to a corpse, so he shifted slightly away, snapped his fingers to summon the waiter, and ordered a glass of Lanjina to be served to Xu Shan

What if I don't?

Tonight, after seeing Xu Shan being taken away by Master Kuang, Qin Kun was furious. Master Kuang is already dead, yet he still dares to drive to the funeral home to solicit business. Who on earth invented the idea of burning cars and phones for the deceased? Isn't this just creating more chaos

Qin Kun looked at the car heading towards the funeral home and sighed to himself: Old Kuang, you have been dead for three months, yet you are still so dedicated, I truly admire you