Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Flame of the Spirit Lamp Chapter 55: Brother Walking Corpse

Gu Mo immediately looked at Xiao Yulou with an unusual expression and asked, “Hey, Scruffy, so how exactly are you planning to turn my so-called big brother into a ‘Golden Armored Zombie God’? Just from the name alone, it sounds like my brother is in for a world of suffering!”

Xiao Yulou, with his immortal air and Daoist grace, burst out laughing and answered without a hint of hesitation, “In a word: eat!”

Crack—

As soon as these words left his mouth, thunder seemed to roar in Gu Mo’s mind. “Eat? Eat what?!”

Xiao Yulou flicked his robe sleeves and replied, “No need to worry about the details, Brother Gu. Within a month, your brother will regain his corpse body. Then you two can cultivate together.”

Hearing this, Gu Mo's face was streaked with so many dark lines, he could have knitted a sweater with them. “Hey, Scruffy! Don’t go overboard! Both the White Lotus Sect and that so-called ‘Snack Factory’ are watching us. Don’t mess things up in haste.”

Xiao Yulou merely smiled mysteriously, making Gu Mo’s skin crawl; last time Xiao Yulou smiled like that, pork prices had soared.

“Scruffy, you’re making all these plans, but have you even considered how my brother feels about it? What if he refuses?”

That question seemed to spark Xiao Yulou’s interest. He glanced at Gu Mo with sly eyes and curled his lips into a wicked grin. “Do you think I can’t make your ‘big brother’ speak?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Mo felt a cold chill run through him, his body trembling. “What? You can really make a zombie talk?”

Xiao Yulou scanned the room and then stood up, motioning for Gu Mo to return inside. Gu Mo, filled with questions, followed him.

Within a few breaths, Xiao Yulou gently closed the door, slipped his hand into his robe sleeve, and—

With a swish, Gu Mo’s ‘big brother’ was pulled out from the depths of Xiao Yulou’s black Daoist robe.

This walking corpse named Gu Mo—Gu Mo’s big brother—emerged, his lifeless eyes scanning the surroundings. His gaping maw emitted a foul, rotten stench.

Xiao Yulou reached again into his sleeve and drew out a red-skinned wine gourd. Gu Mo watched this surreal spectacle with his worldview completely upended. “Scruffy, what is this trick of yours—retrieving objects from thin air? I can’t make heads or tails of it!”

Xiao Yulou, clearly enjoying the praise, replied, “Want to learn, Brother Gu? I can teach you.”

Gu Mo shot him a dirty look. Xiao Yulou laughed, uncapped the gourd, and—

With a puff, dense smoke poured out, and the gluttonous black wraith appeared.

This shadowy, smoke-wreathed spirit seemed subdued by something within the gourd. At that moment, it bared four rows of sharp teeth at Gu Mo, threatening to tear him apart.

Gurgle, gurgle—

The menacing sounds left no doubt of its intent to devour Gu Mo, who glared back, ready to teach the ghost a lesson.

But Xiao Yulou calmly formed a Daoist seal and intoned aloud, “Boundless Heavenly Venerable!”

Both Gu Mo and the gluttonous spirit turned their gaze to the sly Daoist. Xiao Yulou smiled and spoke, “Gluttonous ghost, mind your manners. Or I’ll seal you for eternity!”

Instantly, the ghost whimpered pitifully, its eyes shimmering like the Milky Way, full of grievance.

Xiao Yulou smiled at Gu Mo. “Brother Gu, you and this ghost are deeply linked. From now on, it’s your pet.”

Gu Mo snorted in disdain, “To hell with that! I can’t afford to feed this glutton!”

The ghost protested, flashing its rows of teeth.

Just then, Gu Mo felt an icy chill envelop him. With a whoosh—

Dense smoke billowed from the floor, and as it faded, the stunning Lady King of Hell made her grand entrance, enlivening the room.

Jiang Jingxue, the Lady King of Hell, lowered her head gracefully, her eyes clear as spring waters, and after a respectful bow, she looked at Gu Mo and spoke gently, “Why are you so upset, my dear husband?”

Gu Mo, seeing her refined demeanor, felt his anger melt away by half. “Emmm... I’m just considering what to feed this new pet.”

Jiang Jingxue covered her mouth and smiled, evidently fond of the black spirit.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yulou scowled and gave Gu Mo a hard look. “Brother Gu, are you really that afraid of your wife?”

Gu Mo waved him off. “It’s not fear, it’s affection.”

After swallowing a mouthful of dog food, Xiao Yulou sighed and pulled a green branch from his sleeve.

Gu Mo was utterly bewildered. Was Scruffy performing magic tricks?

While Gu Mo puzzled over this, Xiao Yulou plucked two leaves from the branch and stowed it away. He closed his eyes and silently recited the Three Pure Ones’ incantation. With a whoosh, he crossed his hands and swept the leaves before the corpse’s eyes. A faint golden light seeped into the corpse’s gaze.

“Three Pure Daoist Arts, Banana Leaf Opens Corpse Eyes!”

Then, Xiao Yulou scraped some mud from his shoe and placed it in his mouth, speaking indistinctly to the walking corpse bound by chains:

“Now, two paths lie before you... First, I can cremate you. Second, I can forge you into a ‘Golden Armored Zombie God’. If you understand, nod your head.”

The walking corpse, standing dumbly, suddenly opened its terrifying mouth, trying to speak.

Gu Mo’s worldview shattered completely at this bizarre scene.

Next, Xiao Yulou brought the gluttonous ghost over; the little black ball obediently opened its mouth and touched its drooling tongue to the corpse’s throat.

Afterward, at Xiao Yulou’s signal, Gu Mo placed his hand on the corpse’s hand.

Suddenly, a faint electric current surged through them. In Gu Mo’s mind, a cold voice spoke, “I... I can talk now?”

Gu Mo was totally stunned. “Huh? What’s going on? A walking corpse can talk?”

Puzzled, Gu Mo glanced at Xiao Yulou, who nodded slightly.

“You’re Gu Mo?”

Gu Mo looked into the empty, pale eyes of his ‘big brother’ and nodded.

“You little punk, you got me into this mess!”

Gu Mo’s heart trembled, feeling like a waste, guilt gnawing at his conscience.

He smiled awkwardly. “Sorry…”

The walking corpse sighed in resignation. “Sigh... It’s too late for regrets. Look at me now, a walking dead man.”

Hearing this, Gu Mo felt a wave of guilt rise within him. Although he hadn’t caused his brother’s predicament directly, to claim he had no connection would be a lie.

After a moment, Gu Mo sincerely called out to his brother in the ghost’s special channel.

“Big brother...”

The walking corpse trembled, moved. “We’re not related by blood, just strangers meeting by chance. Yet... you really call me... big brother?”

Gu Mo’s nose tingled, unable to speak further.

After a moment’s silence, Gu Mo stepped forward, tore off the chains from his brother, and draped his own sports jacket over the corpse’s shoulders.

“You... you don’t mind my past or what I am now?”

The corpse’s voice shook as he looked at Gu Mo, who smiled meaningfully.

Then, the walking corpse opened his terrifying mouth, gritted his teeth, and declared, “Alright... If you rise to power, I’ll stand beside you; if you fall, I’ll help you rise again!”

Gu Mo’s heart warmed, tears began to flood his eyes.

After a long while, Jiang Jingxue gently wiped Gu Mo’s tears.

The walking corpse looked at his brother and said, “Tell the Daoist—your brother is willing to become the ‘Golden Armored Zombie God’. No matter how hard the path, I’ll walk it with you!”

Gu Mo was already sobbing uncontrollably.

(Sometimes, the bond between men is strange—a look, a promise, and it’s all sealed with a drink.)

“Brother!”

The walking corpse trembled, lifted his cold, stiff arm, and placed it on Gu Mo’s shoulder.

“Don’t get too emotional, little brother. I have something to say.”

Gu Mo pressed his lips together and nodded quietly.

“Little brother, the one who killed me was a man in black with embroidery!”

Gu Mo squinted, so many dark lines he could knit long johns, yet he asked in confusion, “Brother, was it a man in black or someone wearing embroidery?”

The corpse paused before answering, “Er... It was a man in black, with a small patch of embroidery. He sounded very old.”

Gu Mo frowned and asked, “Brother, you were murdered... can you really remember so much?”

A hint of embarrassment showed on the corpse’s ashen face. “Yes! I was out of town when I got a letter. The handwriting was definitely grandfather’s, and inside was a key to the incense shop. The letter said grandfather’s time was near, and I should hurry home.

But as soon as I opened the shop door, I smelled a faint fragrance. My whole body went limp, and I lost consciousness. After that...”

He shuddered, the memory clearly horrifying.

“Then, an old man in black with white hair appeared. I was helpless, manipulated like a puppet. That old freak was incredibly strong and quick; he suddenly hoisted me up and hung me upside down from the beam in the incense shop…”

The walking corpse opened his mouth wide, hatred burning for the man in black. A trail of bloody tears flowed from his left eye.

“Hanging there, I couldn’t move. All the blood rushed to my head.

Then the old freak took out a black bag and stuffed my mouth with bugs. Can you imagine being bitten by swarms of insects?”

Gu Mo shivered, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Seeing Gu Mo so shaken, the corpse continued, “Later, the old freak stripped me naked and drew red talismans all over my body…”

Gu Mo grew more confused; the pieces now fit together, but—

He coughed and asked, “Brother, why is there a Blood Lotus mark in your hair?”

The corpse thought for a moment and shook his head. “I was half-conscious, my body shredded by insects, my mind gone, I didn’t notice…”

Gu Mo stroked his chin, pondering deeply: Clearly, there was more than one murderer. And since the mastermind used the Blood Lotus mark, their rank in the White Lotus Sect must be high…

After some thought, Gu Mo coughed and asked, “Brother, what happened next?”

The corpse trembled and continued, “After that, I only remember feeling very cold, like I’d fallen into an ice pit. But my ears caught the old freak saying—

‘You didn’t check the almanac before going out! Since you ran into me, don’t blame me for being ruthless! Maybe next life you’ll have better luck!’

Then he cut my chest, roasted my chin with a lighter, and I went icy cold, unconscious.”

Gu Mo, wide-eyed and stunned, pressed on, “Brother, when you were hanging from the tree at the reservoir, why did you eat your own… parts?”

The corpse smiled awkwardly. “Hunger! My mind craved blood and raw flesh. Everyone looked to me like… honey-glazed roast duck!”

At that, Gu Mo broke into a cold sweat…