Five red ropes?

I couldn't help but gasp after hearing that.

Corpse carriers used stretchers and planks in the past, but now they use mortuary beds. However, one thing hasn't changed: the red ropes tied to the front.

Corpse carriers are only responsible for taking the corpse to where it needs to go. They are not responsible for eliminating grievances or dispelling evil spirits. Therefore, they only do two things in the process of transporting a corpse:

First, ensure they don't die at the hands of vengeful spirits.

Second, remind the person behind them what level the grievances of the returned soul have reached.

They remind each other with red ropes: one red rope indicates the lowest danger, and five is the highest.

Five red ropes mean the wronged soul has transformed into a fierce spirit, or even a demon soul.

If the person the corpse carrier brought back that day was the developer Fan Fang, what did he encounter that caused him to turn into a fierce spirit on the spot?

I asked calmly, "Whose corpse was brought in that day?"

"I heard it was a local developer. I forget his name, but he was pretty rich." Little Zhao finished making the bed and sat down, lighting a cigarette he bought outside. "It's not dark yet, so the cafeteria doesn't deliver food. You two will have to wait a while. Or, should I order takeout for you?"

"No need. We'll just wait for the cafeteria food." I felt that this funeral home was strange in every way. I wanted to see what kind of food the cafeteria would send us.

I waited until dark. The cafeteria people delivered the food almost exactly at nightfall.

Strangely, they were carrying a wooden food container used for delivering meals in ancient times. They put the container at the door and left.

Little Zhao picked up the food container and walked into the room, saying, "I don't know what's going on with this funeral home. There are rules everywhere, even for delivering food. You two take out the food. I have to put the container back at the door for them to pick up in the morning."

I watched Little Zhao take the items out of the container one by one. I took the empty container, shook it twice, and then tapped the bottom layer twice. "There's another layer under the container."

"No way," Little Zhao turned his head and said, "This container only has three layers. I've looked at it several times. How could I not know how many layers it has?"

I pressed on the edge of the bottom layer of the container, and a drawer immediately popped out.

It only contained four things: a bowl of white rice, three yellow incense sticks, a pair of chopsticks, and some paper money.

Little Zhao's eyes widened. "Brother Li, how did you know there was something underneath?"

"I guessed!" I replied casually, pushing the container closed. "Put the things outside! Put them where they should be."

Little Zhao still wanted to ask me something, but seeing that I didn't intend to speak, he took the container to the door and placed it on the left side of the gate.

While Little Zhao was turning around, I transmitted my voice to Lin Zhao: "What do you think?"

Lin Zhao responded, "Old Sun is an expert. Those things in the container are probably for him to use himself."

There's an unwritten rule in the world of術士 (shùshì, occultists/daoists): they have to be full before they start working.

Because this meal might be the last one they eat in this life. If they have to go, they should at least be a satiated ghost, so they don't starve on the road to the Yellow Springs.

However, what they eat is different.

Some術士 (shùshì) eat the food of the living. There's not much to say about this. Who doesn't eat when they're alive?

Some術士 (shùshì) must eat while owing a debt. Only by owing a debt can they come back to repay it. It's a lucky sign that they must return.

Some術士 (shùshì) eat the food of the dead. Eating this kind of food can suppress the yang energy in their bodies, making it easier for them to mix with the dead, which is also a way to give themselves more protection.

I looked at Lin Zhao and said, "Do you think there might be a dead person hidden in this room?"

Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment.

I explained, "The things in that container are clearly offerings for the dead. Look at where it's placed. As long as you take the things out and put them at the door, it's like making offerings to someone in the room."

Lin Zhao subconsciously glanced at the room. "But there are only three living people in the room!"

"We'll see tonight." As I picked up my chopsticks to eat, Little Zhao had already returned. Seeing that we weren't talking, he didn't dare to say anything and just ate his food with his head down.

After we finished eating, Little Zhao cleared the table, put out four small plates of pickles, and placed the wine on the table. "Brother Li, look at this wine."

"I'll drink this wine! You should go to sleep!" I took the bottle of wine, first filled the empty glass opposite me, and then poured myself a glass.

Drinking wine at night is also a custom in the Yizhuang (place to temporarily store coffins), whether the caretaker can drink or not, they must at least take three sips. The glass of wine opposite is specially left for the dead.

It's to ask for convenience from those in the Yizhuang, so everyone doesn't bother each other.

The caretakers of the Yizhuang can't really be called術士 (shùshì). If ghosts really come, they can't run away. The only thing they can do is be polite to the ghosts.

Why do caretakers of the Yizhuang choose old men? Because they are old, and the essence of their spirit has declined. Ghosts don't like to eat "cold steamed buns," right?

As long as they see any change in the wine glass, they quickly lie down on the bed and pretend they didn't see anything, and they can probably escape a disaster.

I put that glass of wine down to see my opponent.