Chapter 3: The Corpse Transport Vehicle

I scratched my head and, disregarding Li Damin's expression, said: "Your life has come to an end, but in order to allow you to continue living, a master has performed a ritual, borrowing your son's lifespan to extend yours..."

Brother Peng said, "Don't rush, wait for me to finish speaking"

At this point, Brother Peng's face radiated happiness. He tapped the ash from his cigarette and said, "I am content in this life to have such a son. This kid usually seems a bit careless, like a child, but when it matters, he can really step up to the plate."

At that time, Brother Peng's son became anxious and said that as long as they could save his father, he would be willing to give half, not just one-third. The man replied that this was what he said, so he should not regret it later. Then they got onto the hearse and headed together to the crematorium

The person insisted that only he and the corpse could be in the trunk, which somewhat violated the rules. Before the salesperson could raise any objections, Brother Peng's son objected. Although the young man was only in his third year of university, he was quite resolute and conducted himself with dignity. He stated that he absolutely could not allow his father's corpse to be placed alongside a stranger. To put it bluntly, if you were to mess around in the back, what would happen to my father's body? You can do whatever you want, but I must be present to supervise the situation. He reiterated that he absolutely could not allow his father's corpse to be placed alongside a stranger. To put it bluntly, if you were to mess around in the back, what would happen to my father's body? You can do whatever you want, but I must be present to supervise.

The man bent down, facing the corpse, and slowly opened his mouth. He formed a blowing shape with his lips and gradually exhaled a stream of white smoke from his narrow lips. The smoke, resembling congealed fat, enveloped Brother Peng's face and seeped into his nasal cavity.

On the yellow satin, dark and gloomy tones depict the Bagua, along with patterns of ascension to immortality. Wrapped around the coffin, it is exceedingly eerie and sinister

"Enough talk, be quiet!" Li Damin frowned: "Stop with the nonsense and absurdities."

Peng Liang

Son, I can no longer bear to look; turn your face away, tears are welling in your eyes.

Relatives and friends are anxiously waiting, and no one has the mind to pay attention to such a person

Li Damin and I exchanged glances, expressing our disbelief

Brother Peng helplessly said: "That day when I woke up, it felt as if I had just experienced a grand dream. The events I went through seemed both distant like a dream and yet so real as if they truly happened. My family was overjoyed when I woke up, and how we celebrated goes without saying. Later, I went back to the hospital for a follow-up, and while I still had heart disease, it had significantly improved. At that time, someone told me, 'Do you know how you were able to survive? It was thanks to the help of a benefactor... My family was overjoyed when I woke up, and how we celebrated goes without saying. Later, I went back to the hospital for a follow-up, and while I still had heart disease, it had significantly improved. At that time, someone told me, 'Do you know how you were able to survive? It was thanks to the help of a benefactor..."

The person glanced at the watch and muttered to himself, "There is still some time left." He then sat on the bench and closed his eyes to rest.

Brother Peng was taken aback: "What does it mean to continue a life? What does that mean?"

The rear compartment of the hearse was illuminated by a small wattage light bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting a dim light. The body lay in the middle of the empty space, with the man and his son sitting on either side. For reasons unknown, this cramped space felt extremely cold, permeated by a chilling, eerie atmosphere. The son, whether from tension or fear, was shivering uncontrollably, hugging his shoulders, his lips turning pale.

Upon hearing this, I had no reaction, but Li Damin seemed to think of something and asked, "Brother Peng, did that person know you before?"

The person asked his son: "What is your father's name?"

At that time, the person proposed a peculiar condition: he must be allowed to stay alone in the rear compartment with the corpse, and no one else was permitted to be present. To explain, in our area, every hospital has a funeral service representative who waits around, looking for families whose elderly members are nearing the end of life. They hand a business card to the relatives, promising a comprehensive service for the funeral arrangements, ensuring a smooth and respectful send-off for the deceased.

Li Damin glared at me and said, "Don't talk nonsense."

The man stood up and took out a black plastic bag from his clothing pocket. He was facing away from his son, and due to the dim lighting, it was unclear what was inside the bag. After a series of movements, the man pulled out three long incense sticks from the bag

What are you doing? " The son exclaimed in shock

The driver is at the front driving, while the family members and the sales representatives accompany the coffin in the rear compartment, transporting the body to the crematorium for refrigeration, marking the final escort.

I blinked: "Could it be that he has extended his life for you?"

The incense burns, gradually releasing a delicate and cloying fragrance, reminiscent of the smell of roasted pig's head.

Li Damin, feeling anxious, asked, "Brother Peng, what did that person do to you in the back compartment?"

The fragrance is different from what is commonly seen; although it is only the length of an adult's palm, it appears robust and sturdy. Its entire body is a deep red color, and it seems to be adorned with some curved patterns.

Son anxiously asked: "Are you going to save my dad or not? Why are you still sleeping?"

As everyone was talking animatedly, no one noticed that there was an outsider sitting in the corridor when Brother Peng was pushed into the emergency room. This person was quite unremarkable, dressed in ordinary clothes, and reportedly wearing a hat, looking just like a simple and honest laborer.

Furthermore, during the process of collecting the deceased, the funeral service employs coffins. The type of coffin I have seen is not the large, unevenly proportioned, red-painted coffin often depicted in rural settings or novels. Instead, it is a narrow and exquisite small coffin, covered with yellow satin.

There is nothing to regret, that is my father, said the son

Brother Peng shook his head: "We are strangers to each other."

In today's society, discussions about assistance inevitably involve pricing, and one person audaciously demands one-third of Brother Peng's company's shares.

Certainly, matters are not that simple. The disdain of the doctors, the doubts of the family members, and so forth, need not be elaborated upon. That person merely stated that to save the deceased does not require such complications; simply allowing him to accompany the hearse to the crematorium would suffice. If, upon arrival at the cold storage, the deceased has not awakened, then it is fate that has been sealed, and no one can save him.

This is no nonsense. You all know that a bizarre murder case once occurred in XX place, shocking the entire nation. A rural child was killed, hanging from the roof beam with a weight around his neck

Under our persistent questioning, Brother Peng finally said: "Actually, I don't know who this person is either"

The funeral service is closely linked with the crematorium, and this hearse is a connection between the funeral service and the crematorium. Although it appears to be an old van, not just anyone is qualified to ride in it. Firstly, there must be a driver from the crematorium, and there must also be a staff member from the funeral service accompanying them. The final spot is reserved for a family member, and only one may board.

Brother Peng looked at me and suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming from his eyes: "Xiao Liu, I have to hand it to you; you can come up with such outrageous things."

The process of placing a body in a coffin is also quite specific. The body is washed, cotton is used to block the seven orifices, and then it is wrapped in yellow silk. Two strong men, one lifting the head and the other lifting the feet, place the body into the coffin. Before closing the lid, a representative from the deceased's family must call out: "XX, may you have a safe journey!"

He took a deep drag from his cigarette, puffing out his cheeks as he approached the corpse, lifted the white sheet covering it, revealing Brother Peng's pale and lifeless face

"It can't be saved now, his soul hasn't departed yet..." The latter part of the phrase was spoken quickly and indistinctly, and the son did not catch it clearly, only feeling that the pronunciation was quite strange, somewhat unlike Chinese.

He placed three incense sticks in a delicate small incense burner, then calmly took out a cigarette and lit it. The tip of the cigarette flickered as he slowly exhaled a smoke ring, pinching the end of the cigarette, bringing it close to the incense to ignite it.

Other relatives and friends, whether by private car or taxi, followed closely behind all the way

Since the family members had no objections, the funeral service staff and the crematorium driver were quite at ease, sitting in the front as the driver and co-driver. In the back compartment was Brother Peng's body, accompanied by his son.

The sudden death of Brother Peng has truly taken everyone by surprise, and we are all devastated by this tragedy. Suddenly, when someone said this, they were immediately regarded as a savior

Brother Peng took a deep breath: "I have asked my son this question many times, but he has never responded. Ever since I brought him back, his mood has been very poor, and his expression is extremely gloomy; he hardly ever smiles. He often locks himself in his room and doesn't come out, and I am truly afraid that he might become withdrawn."

The son gritted his teeth and said, "If I have to hold on, then I will." He half-squatted on the ground, grasping his father's hand. The hand of the deceased felt icy cold and extremely stiff; although he had just passed away, the sensation of holding it still felt like a block of ice.

Brother Peng was pushed out of the emergency room. When Sister Peng fainted in shock, that person stood up, walked to Brother Peng's body, looked at it, and said, "This person can still be saved"

Alright, you listen to me. Now you hold your father's hand

At that time, the person made a request that Brother Peng's body should not be placed in a coffin, but rather carried on a stretcher into the back compartment. Relatives and friends were in heated discussion, with some advising Sister Peng and her son that they should not allow such an unknown person to cause a disturbance. Old Peng died suddenly; once dead, he should not be further disturbed. Although Sister Peng was a teacher, she was still a woman and lacked decisiveness. Her son, however, was truly capable; he withstood the immense pressure of public opinion and fully cooperated with that person, agreeing to whatever he said. At that time, if my father does not survive, we will settle the accounts later.

I still wanted to say something, Brother Peng waved his hand: "Perhaps there exists a miraculous spell for prolonging life, but my situation is not like that. After my repeated inquiries, my son finally recounted what happened that day"

Brother Peng's body was completely naked, covered only by a layer of white sheet, and was carried into the carriage on a stretcher. That man and his son also entered together.

That person ignored him and continued to spit leisurely.

The person looked at him with piercing eyes and said, "If you are afraid to hold on, then please get off the vehicle"

How does he know that you own a company and that you also want company shares

After a while, the person opened their eyes and looked at the watch: "It's almost time."

The corpse lay on the stretcher, covered by a white sheet that was not tightly secured, with a pale hand hanging outside. The son glanced at the hand, feeling hesitant; although he knew it was his father's hand, it was still attached to a dead body. The ordinary person's fear of corpses is deeply rooted in their consciousness, and it cannot be easily dispelled.

The hearse started its engine, howling as it sped along the city highway towards the crematorium in the suburbs

Then the person looked at Brother Peng's son and said, "Alright, young man, you must not regret this."