Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Burning Spirit Lamp Chapter Thirty-Eight: Looking Down on Others

Beneath the shade of the trees.

Ah—

A howl, raw and piercing, erupted from the very depths of the soul.

Perhaps due to damaged vocal cords, the male corpse produced a shrill and terrifying sound, unnervingly sharp. It felt as though the creature hanging upside down was not a cold, lifeless body, but a wild beast, thrashing and alive.

Before the eyes of the assembled crowd, the twisted muscles of the corpse’s face contorted as it struggled violently. Dried, blood-soaked intestines swung back and forth with the body, releasing a pungent stench of advanced decay that assaulted their senses.

Yet the corpse’s limbs were so stiff that it made no attempt to grab anyone. Now, it resembled nothing more than a dried fish, strung up and left to dangle.

Even so, everyone present could not help but gasp, nerves taut, instinctively stepping back in unison. Dumbfounded, none dared believe what they witnessed.

A dreadful atmosphere enveloped the gathering, so chilling that even the sun’s warmth could not dispel the terror in their hearts.

Swish!

A police officer, pistol at his side, flicked off the safety, aiming the cold barrel squarely at the desiccated corpse. Though trembling, he was determined—any further movement from the corpse would result in a bullet through its head.

The others huddled behind him, fear palpable in their stance.

At this point, Officer Liu Haiyang led Gu Mo forward to a portly police captain.

“Captain Niu, I’ve brought him.”

As he spoke, most of those present recovered from their shock and turned their gaze to Gu Mo. When they saw he was only a young man in sportswear, their expressions betrayed skepticism and disdain.

The fat police captain’s smile froze as he turned.

“Haiyang, why isn’t it Master Xiao?”

Liu Haiyang could only lean in and whisper a few words.

Just then, a sharp snap echoed—the overloaded hemp rope finally broke. The corpse plunged headfirst into the blood-soaked organs on the ground.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd. As soon as it landed, the corpse began frantically devouring its own organs, gulp after grotesque gulp.

Crunch, crunch—

The horrific sounds of chewing filled the air.

In a flash, the corpse twisted its joints with dreadful force, the grisly noises sending shivers down everyone’s spine. They looked as though they’d emerged from a sauna, clothes drenched in cold sweat.

The naked corpse, hands mottled with corpse spots, began clawing at its own viscera.

Disgust, horror, anxiety, and even a perverse fascination unsettled the crowd. The minced flesh, mixed with the foul odor, oozed from the wound on the corpse’s chest.

A sudden, guttural cry—

Several police officers, unable to withstand the psychological strain, collapsed.

The scene plunged into a silent chaos.

Seeing this, Gu Mo reached into his black satchel, touching several yellow talismans at his fingertips. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he grabbed a talisman and stepped forward.

At the critical moment, the officer with the pistol stood trembling, finger twitching on the trigger.

Gu Mo grasped the gun, looked the pale officer in the eye, and said firmly, “Don’t shoot yet.”

With a swift motion, Gu Mo darted to the corpse, slapping a talisman onto its forehead.

Instantly, the dust settled; the corpse lay still.

Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Mo held his breath, brow furrowed, examining the corpse closely. There was an eerie sense of familiarity.

He crouched, inspecting the corpse’s features. As he looked, he found a crimson mark amid the black hair.

Tap, tap—

After a few footsteps, Captain Niu, stomach protruding, approached with a respectful tone.

“Mr. Gu, wasn’t the victim already dead? How could he become a zombie?”

Gu Mo kept his eyes fixed on the corpse, not answering immediately.

A tall, thin officer scoffed, full of disdain.

“Zombie? In these times? There can’t be that many demons and monsters! This kid is probably just here to play tricks.”

He turned to Liu Haiyang, sneering.

“Haiyang, brother, where did you find this charlatan?”

Liu Haiyang and Captain Niu’s faces darkened with embarrassment.

Gu Mo paid no heed, continuing his examination. He dismissed such petty ridicule.

Infuriated, Captain Niu glared coldly at the officer, snapping, “Zheng Haishan, if you’re so capable, why didn’t you handle it first? Anyone can talk tough!”

Zheng Haishan, the officer, flushed red with shame.

“Niu... you...”

Gu Mo slowly stood, sizing up the burly captain. The crowd now regarded Gu Mo with new respect. No one had expected the young man to possess such skill.

They gathered around him, while Zheng Haishan pretended to examine the corpse, trying to ease his embarrassment.

Face-slapping came swiftly and relentlessly.

Captain Niu, broad-shouldered and stout, appeared around forty-five, weighing about two hundred pounds. Black hair streaked with gray, his righteous face bore few wrinkles. His blue uniform was immaculate, and his shoes gleamed.

While Gu Mo observed, Captain Niu smiled and extended a large hand. Gu Mo responded calmly with both hands.

“Mr. Gu, hello.”

“Captain Niu, hello.”

Then the captain asked, half-doubtful, “Mr. Gu, what should we do now?”

Gu Mo raised his brow, glanced at the struggling corpse, and asked, “Captain Niu, may I see the victim’s basic information?”

Captain Niu nodded, signaling to a female officer, who handed Gu Mo a notebook.

Gu Mo took it and read carefully.

Victim: Identity unknown. Estimated age: thirty-two.

Was found naked, hanging from a tree.

Chest wound exceptionally clean, slit from abdomen to throat.

No extra fingerprints or footprints at the scene. (Suspect likely experienced.)

…

Gu Mo pondered a moment, troubled. If he revealed his findings, would it undermine the police?

He smiled slightly, glancing at Liu Haiyang, who immediately understood Gu Mo’s hesitation.

Liu Haiyang cleared his throat and addressed the group.

“Check the area for further clues. Call the witnesses to the scene, and send the collected fingerprints for database comparison.”

The officers dispersed, except for Zheng Haishan, who lingered by the corpse.

Afterward, Gu Mo signaled Captain Niu and Liu Haiyang to follow. The three squatted in the shade, though Captain Niu struggled with his girth.

As Gu Mo reached for his pocket, Liu Haiyang quickly produced a pack of cigarettes.

They lit up, smoke swirling around them. Gu Mo spoke formally.

“Captain Niu, I wonder if I should say this…”

Captain Niu smiled, belly protruding.

“Mr. Gu, you were recommended by Master Xiao. We’re all on the same side here—say what you need to say.”

Gu Mo nodded, taking a deep drag, then addressed Captain Niu and Liu Haiyang.

“You probably can’t handle this corpse.”

Liu Haiyang frowned, puzzled. “Why not?”

Gu Mo smiled bitterly, glancing at the surroundings.

“This isn’t a normal corpse transformation. There’s a ‘Blood Lotus Mark’ in the hair at the crown, and the corpse’s chin has been anointed with corpse oil! The incision is exceptionally clean, yet none of the internal organs were damaged. The killer is no ordinary person! But…”

He inhaled again, letting the smoke linger before exhaling.

Gu Mo smiled, lips curling.

“The victim was murdered beforehand. A normal person hung upside down would have congested blood in the head, but this corpse’s face is waxy pale, and the gray eyes show no signs of protrusion. The few traces of blood on the ground have long since dried.”

Both Captain Niu and Liu Haiyang felt a chill at his words. Gu Mo had already left a deep impression with these observations—details they themselves had noticed.

Still, neither of them understood the strange matter of corpse oil.

Liu Haiyang stroked his chin, speaking quietly.

“Mr. Gu, is corpse oil something from Xiangxi?”

Gu Mo nodded. “Most likely!… You know about Xiangxi’s witchcraft?”

Liu Haiyang grinned broadly.

“Not much, I’ve only seen it in movies.”

Gu Mo turned to Captain Niu.

“Captain Niu, why isn’t the medical examiner here?”

Captain Niu looked embarrassed, and Liu Haiyang explained.

“Mr. Gu, the medical examiner has been notified. But they’re not part of our system—they should be arriving soon.”

Gu Mo nodded calmly.

Ah—

At that moment, a scream like a slaughtered pig rang out from the crime scene, sending a jolt through everyone.

In their view, the emaciated Zheng Haishan scrambled desperately, while behind him, the previously subdued corpse stood upright, pursuing him relentlessly. The yellow talisman on its forehead had vanished!

At once, Gu Mo shouted, discarding his cigarette.

In a flash, he lunged forward.

Zheng Haishan, terrified, saw Gu Mo, Captain Niu, and Liu Haiyang rushing toward him and clung to them as if to a lifeline, screaming for help.

Suddenly, Zheng Haishan slipped and crashed to the ground. The corpse behind him opened its bloodthirsty maw, ready to feast on fresh meat.

In panic, Zheng Haishan rolled over, confronted by the horrific sight, and let out another pig-like shriek.

“Help!”

Captain Niu, belly bouncing as he ran, waved and yelled, “Don’t shoot!”

Within seconds, Gu Mo, faster than a speeding bullet, charged ahead.

With a forceful stomp, Gu Mo unconsciously employed the Seven-Star Heavenly Step.

Ha—

The corpse, seeing Gu Mo approach, reached out with stiff, pale, mottled hands, but Gu Mo ducked effortlessly, circling behind it. The corpse’s movements were so slow, its body so rigid, that Gu Mo’s Seven-Star Step easily outpaced it.

At the crucial moment, Gu Mo eyed the corpse’s back, gritted his teeth, and, lifting his left leg higher than his head, stomped with all his might on the corpse’s shoulder. The tremendous force pinned the creature to the ground.

Yet, being a dead thing, it felt neither pain nor discomfort. Soon, Gu Mo felt a powerful resistance from beneath his foot.

Seeing his move fail, Gu Mo leapt high, landing with both knees in a less-than-graceful “Lotus Pose,” crushing the corpse once more.

A dull thud rang out.

The subdued corpse, though pinned, still snapped its jaws at Zheng Haishan’s groin.

Seeing this, Zheng Haishan nearly fainted with terror.

With a guttural cry, the contemptuous officer finally collapsed.

With the situation stabilized, Gu Mo felt a sharp, tearing pain in his third leg.

“Damn! As expected, you have to drink wine one sip at a time, walk step by step. If you overreach, you’re bound to pull something!”

…