despair

Initially, I harbored some concerns, fearing that the Second Master's injuries might have recurred. However, upon closer inspection, a layer of cold sweat immediately covered the back of my neck. The person before me was not the Second Master at all. When I first ascended, I naturally took him for the Second Master, but now, looking again, the clothing he wore was far from the Second Master's style.

Surveying the surroundings, I couldn't help but silently curse. What kind of entity was this... The secret chamber I was in had neither doors nor windows, completely sealed off! I took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm. The Second Master wouldn't vanish without a trace; there had to be something fishy going on here.

Carefully, I approached, holding the gun. The Second Master's sudden disappearance was undoubtedly linked to this person. It was possible he triggered something while investigating.

"Who are you?" I asked tentatively. The person didn't respond. Cursing under my breath, I circled to his front to get a better look at his identity.

As I approached, I noticed the figure, head lowered, and a small brass basin in front of him. His shrunken, pitch-black hands hung over the basin. I glanced inside and saw something dark, resembling ashes after burning.

Standing in front of him for about two or three minutes, he remained motionless. Summoning courage, I lightly tapped his head with the gun barrel. He tilted his head back, and upon closer inspection, I shuddered. The man's face was painted with colors, resembling a malevolent ghost. Although I dared not approach, judging by his lifeless appearance, he seemed to have been dead for a long time.

Considering the situation, I decided to investigate further. The Second Master might have triggered a mechanism while being near him. Suddenly, a voice echoed in the spacious chamber: "Don't move!"

Startled, I jumped, but the voice sounded eerily familiar. Tentatively, I asked, "Is it the Second Master?"

"Yes, I'm right next to you. This wall is a mirror from my side, allowing me to see you. Listen to me, this person should be one of the group from over twenty years ago. Look at the color of his hands and the bronze basin; he should be Tong Tieshou from Jiangxi, a renowned corpse-raiser. Legend has it that his hands turned black from lifting corpses, and he always carried a bronze basin to burn money for peace in the face of ominous events."

I glanced around, confirming that the Second Master's voice indeed came from the wall on my left. I asked, "How did you end up over there?"

"I'll explain later. Don't touch him; he likely spread zombie powder on himself, poisonous." The Second Master warned. I carefully observed a fine powder on his exposed skin. The Second Master added, "Also, be cautious. There's someone else in your stone chamber."

Shocked, I couldn't fathom the sensation of being told you're not alone in a small, enclosed room. The Second Master continued, "I mentioned hearing footsteps above, and upon coming up, I found this sealed stone chamber. It seemed suspicious. However, as I approached the wall, I was pushed and ended up here. Now, the wall has regained its hardness, and I can't push it, but I can see your side."

Holding my gun nervously, I asked, "How did you end up there?"

"I didn't say it was a person."

Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. He continued, "Come over to my side of the wall and check for any mechanisms. I suspect the mechanism might be on your side."

Approaching, I tapped the solid brick wall. Without cracks, it was impossible to pass through. The Second Master fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "Have you considered why Tong Tieshou died here?"

I looked at the corpse and replied, "Doesn't seem like he was attacked. No visible wounds, as if..."

"As if trapped to death here," the Second Master finished my thought.

"Yes, yes, that's what I thought." I nodded. The Second Master asked, "Did you see the bronze basin in front of him? Is there ash inside, possibly from burned paper?"

Realizing the ominous implication, I reluctantly answered, "Yes." The Second Master fell silent, and we both remained quiet.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Second Master finally spoke, "You need to be careful. If Tong Tieshou has been raising corpses for a long time, he might have some items for warding off evil spirits. Check if he has cinnabar; it's said to prevent ghosts from getting close. But be cautious of the zombie powder; it's highly toxic."

Approaching cautiously, I used the gun barrel to open Tong Tieshou's black shirt, revealing a bundle. Simultaneously, to ease the tension, I diverted the topic, asking, "There's a bundle. By the way, Second Master, what's the difference between a corpse-raiser and a corpse transporter?"

"In the early years, during domestic turmoil, many people died far from home. There's a Chinese saying, 'The fallen leaves return to their roots,' so corpse transporters brought these bodies back to their hometowns for proper burial. Corpse-raisers, on the other hand, dealt with corpses in dangerous or contaminated areas, where traditional burial was not possible. They had to raise the corpses and relocate them."

Curious, I asked, "Aren't they constantly dealing with corpses?"

"Of course, and they're not ordinary corpses. This profession has a scarce inheritance, not for the faint-hearted. Unexpectedly, such a prominent figure died namelessly here. After Tong Tieshou's death, it's likely the lineage of corpse-raisers ended."

Picking up the bundle, I asked, "Was this man also hired by my father?" The Second Master responded vaguely. Changing the subject, I inquired, "What's inside?"

Examining the contents, I found seemingly ordinary items – a pair of hooks, ink, inkstone, and a few small bottles. Irritated, I complained, "This man is too stingy. Despite being a corpse-raiser, he never sought protective charms or tools..."

Suddenly, a thought struck me. I clapped my hands, "Right, Second Master, didn't you say the tip of your gun was blessed?"

Realizing my reminder, the Second Master said, "Yes, it was blessed by a high monk a few years ago. He claimed it could ward off evil."

"Perfect," I exclaimed, eager to retrieve it. As I was about to reach for the gun, a piercing scream filled the air. Simultaneously, it felt as though a curtain was lifted, and the tomb became much clearer. I saw the Second Master crouched beside me, and Tong Tieshou lay on the ground.

Was it all an illusion?

Suddenly, I heard a noise above. Looking up, a white figure swiftly entered a passage. I then realized that this chamber wasn't entirely sealed; it was a corridor with openings on both ends. We had just fallen for the trick of this ghostly entity.

The Second Master also snapped out of it, glancing at both sides of the passage. Suddenly, as if enlightened, he exclaimed, "I should have thought of this earlier

."