I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Funeral Procession

”In the end, it was my fault that this child suffered...” Xiao Zongting said, his face full of self-reproach.

He recalled that years ago, his wife, while pregnant, had died in childbirth due to anxiety over his safety. Although Xiao Baijiao survived, he was left with a lifelong ailment.

Ruan Fengshan, fearing Xiao Zongting would dwell on the past if they continued this topic, immediately changed the subject, asking, ”Have you checked the date for the burial?”

”I’ve consulted Mr. Li from East Street. It was originally chosen for the sixth hour of today’s afternoon!” Xiao Zongting’s face flashed with a trace of worry. ”But now there’s the incident at the government office! I wonder if we’ll be able to leave the city on time?”

”It should not be a big problem. The city gates were already passable yesterday, just with stricter checks!” Ruan Fengshan said, pausing briefly before adding, ”I’ll personally go to the County Office later to discuss it with the County Magistrate. I will ensure that the child can be buried on time!”

”If so, I will be deeply grateful to the shopkeeper!” Xiao Zongting expressed emotionally.

”Elder Xiao has devoted his life to the Escort Agency, this is the least I can do!”

Xiao Zongting personally sent Ruan Fengshan out. A large group, including Ruan Fengshan’s five wives and concubines, left together...

Ruan Fengshan had just left for the time it takes to burn an incense stick when Luan Jingfu and his son Luan Bao arrived to pay their respects!

The mourning hall had been set up for three days, and Luan Jingfu had not come to pay respects until today, when he learned in the morning that Ruan Fengshan had returned late last night and had gone early with his wives to pay their respects at Xiao Zongting’s courtyard.

He rushed over eagerly to make up for it!

Luan Jingfu and his son were courteous, bringing wreaths and couplets to pay their respects before the spirit tablet, after which Xiao Yu appropriately returned the courtesy.

Xiao Yu was well aware that when arranging her sister’s funeral, Luan Jingfu secretly obstructed her from receiving help.

But a matter of gratitude and grievance are separate from courtesy!

Since Luan Jingfu came to pay his respects, she would also give him proper face.

Luan Jingfu stood before the mourning hall and said, ”Niece Xiao, life is unpredictable, there’s no need for excessive grief!”

”Thank you for your concern, Uncle Luan. The suddenness of the situation highlighted your assistance, and I am grateful,” Xiao Yu said gently, her eyes calm as usual.

But Luan Jingfu felt a sudden jolt in his heart, thinking to himself: What a sharp tongue this girl has.

He naturally understood that Xiao Yu was referring to how he secretly instructed the escort masters not to assist her while Ruan Fengshan was absent.

Luan Jingfu’s face showed a trace of embarrassment as he spoke no further, then left with Luan Bao.

Duan Rong did not speak with Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi in front of the spirit tablet, but went into the inner hall to chat briefly with Xiao Zongting before leaving.

Duan Rong returned to his dormitory, having nothing to do, he shut the doors and windows, and began practicing the Wild Bull Saber Technique, which he had already digested.

This martial art, once practiced, truly carried an unstoppable momentum!

It indeed captured the essence of the ”wild” in Wild Bull, attacking relentlessly, even at the expense of exposing flaws in the body technique for the sake of aggression.

As Duan Rong practiced, he gradually realized that the predecessor who created this saber technique probably believed that offense was the best defense!

Pressing forward without leaving a retreat!

”It’s a bit stubborn; no wonder it’s called the Wild Bull Saber Technique!”

Having finished the set, Duan Rong stood holding his saber, his eyes shining. The saber technique, as practiced, grew stronger with each move; if not for his Cloud Serpent Step to dodge continuously, he might have destroyed his own dormitory with just a few strikes.

”This saber technique has merits in one-on-one combat. But if faced with a group attack or surrounded by two opponents, its flaws immediately show! Comparatively, the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber is better; at least it has no obvious shortcomings.”

Duan Rong sheathed his saber; by now, he had absorbed three saber techniques: besides the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, there were the Yellow Springs Saber Technique and the Wild Bull Saber Technique.

These two saber techniques, one excels in defense, the other in attack; while they have highlights, they are narrow in scope compared to the broadness of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber!

After studying the saber techniques, it was time for Duan Rong’s favorite part: practicing the Master Level Bone Shrinking Technique he had absorbed from the longevity lock on Jie Lei’s neck!

The power of the Clavicle Technique, he had seen with his own eyes!

This is undoubtedly an obscure martial art, with even hints of the Qimen Armor.

Duan Rong stood by the bed, suddenly bending his legs, with both shoulders rotating abruptly, his hands hanging naturally in front, like a ghost...

Duan Rong’s face changed instantly, gritting his teeth and gasping, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

”Damn! Dislocated!”

Fortunately, the Bone Shrinking Technique included various strange joint movements, allowing Duan Rong to reset his dislocated shoulders!

The Bone Shrinking Technique demands high flexibility from joints and ligaments; although he had absorbed the Master Level state, he hadn’t practiced it; abruptly performing it, how could his joints endure?

”This unique skill requires gradual practice to be fully deployed!”

Understanding the reason, Duan Rong began diligently training in his dormitory!

Inside the cramped dormitory, Duan Rong assumed various odd postures. His flexibility was average, and at sixteen, he had already missed the best age for training this Clavicle Technique.

However, as long as he can endure this hardship, even if it peels a layer of skin off, he can still succeed in training!

Duan Rong had only practiced for a while, and he already started gritting his teeth in pain, with beads of sweat dripping from his temple...

As he continued practicing, Duan Rong’s gaze showed signs of madness, as he forced out his inner fierceness!

In the dormitory, Duan Rong trained relentlessly, almost masochistically, until close to the time of the funeral ceremony, when he finally stopped!

Where he stood, there was already a small puddle of shiny sweat on the ground!

Duan Rong took a deep breath, and as his bones moved, they creaked and groaned!

Those were the sounds of his tendons and fascia rubbing against each other!

Duan Rong splashed some clean water on himself, washed up a bit, and then left the dormitory yard, heading towards Xiao Zongting’s courtyard.

The funeral ceremony for Xiao Baijiao was scheduled at the sixth ke of the afternoon, and he had to hurry over to see the procession off!

Moreover, with strict inspections in the city right now, the time to lift the coffin would certainly be moved up.

By the time Duan Rong reached Xiao Zongting’s courtyard, quite a few people were already standing there, and more were coming in!

Shortly after noon, the courtyard was already filled with people, dense and somewhat crowded.

Before the procession, the coffin had to be nailed shut!

The list of people carrying and nailing the coffin was personally chosen by Elder Xiao.

Among the six people for nailing, Duan Rong was one of them!

The other five were all wearing escort master’s attire, though Duan Rong did not recognize them well.

Six people lifted the coffin lid and closed it!

Duan Rong took one last glance at the side of Xiao Baijiao’s face lying in the coffin, and his heart ached involuntarily!

At the moment the coffin was closed, Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, standing aside, unwittingly shed tears.

The person presiding over the funeral was a tall, thin middle-aged man, wearing a melon-rind hat and sporting a gray goatee. Despite his thin appearance, his voice was exceptionally deep and resonant!

”Nail it shut!”

”Begin!”

Duan Rong and the other five already held hammers and coffin nails, standing ready in their positions. Upon hearing the command, they immediately swung their hammers down!

Even though all six were martial artists, none infused their inner breath at this moment, relying purely on muscle strength, and they had to control the force well to hammer three times, completing the ritual.

”Nail it again!”

”The third nail!”

”Nailing done, prepare to lift the coffin!”

As soon as the presiding person’s words fell, the coffin bearers surged forward.

Duan Rong was the only person on both the nailing and coffin carrying list. After nailing, he placed the hammer back on the table and moved to lift the coffin, only to find a dozen people already jostling for position!

This group was also dressed as escort masters, all eager to claim the leading position of the coffin, resulting in some pushing and shoving, until it was taken by a large man full of horizontal muscle. His chubby face accentuated his round cheeks as he hoisted the front of the coffin onto his shoulder, standing alone at the front due to his robust build.

The others squatted on either side of the coffin, raising it with one shoulder.

Duan Rong spotted Zhao Mu and walked over, standing beside him, squatting down and placing his right shoulder under the edge of the coffin!

”Ready!”

”One! Two! Three!”

”Lift!”

With the presiding person’s call, the coffin bearers abruptly exerted force, stood up with their legs, and the heavy coffin rose steadily!

The three benches originally under the coffin instantly toppled two over!

”Move out!” The presiding person shouted loudly, his voice like a great bell!

The sound of suona and strings followed!

The dark coffin, with the mourners’ slow, steady steps, left the hall!

Firecrackers led the way, paper money fluttering!

The sound of weeping rose all around!